The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Electronic Theses and Dissertations Fogler Library 2006 "All for Health for All": The Local Dynamics of Rural Public Health in Maine, 1885-1950 Martha Anne Eastman Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/etd Part of the Public Health Education and Promotion Commons, and the Social History Commons Recommended Citation Eastman, Martha Anne, ""All for Health for All": The Local Dynamics of Rural Public Health in Maine, 1885-1950" (2006). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 116. http://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/etd/116 This Open-Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. "ALL FOR HEALTH FOR ALL": THE LOCAL DYNANIICS OF RURAL PUBLIC HEALTH IN MAINE, 1885-1950 BY Martha Anne Eastman B.S. Boston University, 198 1 M.S. Boston University, 1983 A THESIS Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (in History) The Graduate School The University of Maine May, 2006 Advisory Committee: Marli F. Weiner, Bird and Bird Professor of History, Advisor Nathan Godfried, Professor of History Richard Judd, Bird and Bird Professor of History Howard Segal, Professor of History Nancy Fishwick, Associate Professor of Nursing O 2006 Martha Anne Eastman All Rights Reserved "ALL FOR HEALTH FOR ALL": THE LOCAL DYNAMICS OF RURAL PUBLIC HEALTH IN MAINE, 1885-1950 BY Martha Anne Eastman Thesis Advisor: Dr. Marli F. Weiner An Abstract of the Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (in History) May, 2006 Following new discoveries in bacteriology, public health developed slowly in rural Maine during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, initially in response to communicable diseases and poor sanitation. The legislature created the Maine State Board of Health in 1885 and in 1887 required towns to appoint boards of health. Local responses to public health problems and disease control methods led to both cooperation and resistance. By the 1920s governmental and non-governmental health programs involved the participation of farmers, housewives, school children, women's club members, summer residents, business leaders and health professionals. Voluntary health organizations, such as the Maine Public Health Association, the American Red Cross, the Maine Federation of Women's Clubs, and the Maine Medical Association cooperated to develop Maine's public health services. When an increasing number of health policies and programs originated at state and federal levels (such as the Sheppard-Towner Act of 192 1 and the Social Security Act of 1935) or from the national offices of voluntary organizations (including the peacetime public health program of the American Red Cross initiated after World War I), tensions emerged at the local level. Politicians disliked federal interference in state affairs; the legislature initially rejected the federal Sheppard-Tower funds for maternal and infant hygiene because of states' rights concerns. Growing local support for public health nursing services changed Maine's attitudes about this federal funding by 1927. With increased federal funding in the 1940s public health nurses organized town health councils throughout the state, assisting the Bureau of Health to better meet local needs. The local dynamics of rural public health in Maine between 1885 and 1950 highlight changes in conflict and cooperation among those with similar goals. This study shows how health professionals and volunteers in communities across Maine improved public health among the state's residents. While working to meet local needs, these individuals managed not only to gain a measure of control, but to give life to the slogan adopted by the Maine Public Health Association, "All for HEALTH for All." Over time the balance of conflict and cooperation in rural public health shifted in favor of cooperation. DEDICATION To the late Doris Porter, my friend and Vassalboro neighbor, whose engaging stories about her caregiving experiences in the first half of the twentieth century launched me on this journey. ACKNOWLEDGNIENTS Many people helped me achieve the goal of finishing this dissertation. First, for their patience and encouragement over the past seven years, I thank my dissertation committee: Marli F. Weiner, Nathan Godfried, Richard Judd, Howard Segal, and Nancy Fishwick. Dottie Poisson at the University of Maine Graduate School deserves special thanks for her prompt response to e-mail questions and her willingness to interrupt her busy schedule on short notice for in-person consultations about format issues and requirements. I also appreciated the understanding and assistance of Associate Dean Scott Delcourt. I am especially grateful to all the archivists and librarians who assisted with finding documents and who sought answers to my numerous reference questions. Early in my research Daniel May welcomed me at the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and pointed out Diane Bronkema Hamilton's article in the Fall 1989 issue of the Bulletin of the History of Medicine. Thomas Rosenbaum and Erwin Levold retrieved documents during my time at the Rockefeller Archive Center, and Susan Robbins Watson helped me locate American Red Cross materials at the Hazel Braugh Records Center. Anne Small retrieved and photocopied materials at the Maine State Archives. Me1 Johnson at Raymond H. Fogler Library at the University of Maine shared information about local sources and contacts as well as reference resources. Many other Fogler Library staff members assisted me along the way, including staff from the Reference, Circulation, Interlibrary Loan, Microforms, and Special Collections Departments. Those deserving special appreciation include: Betsy Paradis, Chris Whittington, Frank Whibby, Deborah Rollins, Christopher Tuthill, Nancy Lewis, Libby Norton, Ben Proud, Paige Lilly, Richard Hollinger, Elaine Smith, and Cynthia Crosser. While researching at Special Collections I especially enjoyed talking with Francesca Ruggieri; her cheerful and industrious spirit encouraged me to stay on task. Maine libraries and historical societies also provided important sources and much assistance. Liz Breault at the Dexter Public Library and Rick Whitney at the Dexter Historical Society suggested local people to contact. Carol Feurtado located documents at the Dexter Historical Society and welcomed me at the Miller's House. Robert Pyle granted me archive privileges at the Northeast Harbor Library and was extremely helpful, despite his busy schedule. The late Lucy Smith of the Women's Club of Northeast Harbor gave me permission to utilize the Women's Club archives at the Northeast Harbor Library. Rachelle Blais at the Maine Medical Center Archives offered encouragement. The Union Church provided overnight accommodations on the floor of their parish house in Northeast Harbor. Many staff members and volunteers were friendly and helpful at the following libraries: Maine Legislative and Law Library, Maine State Library, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives at Bowdoin College Library, Mount Desert Historical Society, Northeast Harbor Library, Seal Harbor Library, Madison Public Library, Milo Historical Society and Milo Free Library. Bill Cook, at the Bangor Public Health Library always asked about this work and the reference librarians, particularly Jim Riordan, responded to many questions as this project progressed. Several people shared personal experiences and took a particular interest in my study. The late Edward Dunham, 111, of Seal Harbor, grandson of Mary Dows Dunharn, referred me to his cousin, Lydia Vandenberg of State College, PA, who generously shared many documents and pictures belonging to her family. Retired public health nurses Mary Hayes, of Dover-Foxcroft. the late Ella Young, of Otter Cliffs, and Eleanore Irish, of Yarmouth, answered questions about their experiences in the field. The late Doris Porter, of Vassalboro, Mary Flynn, of Dexter, and Pearl Hamlin, of Brownville, also added important details about rural health care in Maine. Several agencies and organizations allowed me to review their archival materials, including the American Lung Association of Maine, in Augusta, the Maine State Grange, and the Dexter Public Health Association. The Mount Desert Public Health Nursing Association gave me access to their historical documents, including early records of the public health nursing service of the American Red Cross Mount Desert Chapter. Cindy Dawson, the dispatcher at the Madison Police Station, helped me locate and retrieve bound copies of The Madison Bulletin and shared my concern about these valuable documents. Janet Rines organized historical files of the Dexter Public Health Association and put me in contact with public health nurse, Brenda Clarke, who allowed me to view the records one day during her office hours. Carroll Dean accompanied me to the Grange Hall in Madison where I reviewed minutes of the Kennebec Valley Grange No. 128. The staff of many organizations responded to my inquiries about sources and made my research visits pleasant with both assistance and interest in the study. I am grateful for the help of others who assisted me in various ways through telephone, e-mail, and in-person consultations including: Phyllis von Herrlich, Marylyn Ladd, Linda Huff, Fran