I've been scanning materials from the Pocahontas County Historical Society archives since this past summer, and the last few days, I've been working on an annual report for the project. Most of the scans are hard to read handwriting, but there are a few photographs. This is Susan A. Price, daughter of my old pal, William T. Price, sometime after she graduated from the Womens' Medical College of Baltimore in 1903. The photo was taken in Marlinton, perhaps in her sister's home, which is now houses the Historical Society's museum. She served as a physician in several mental hospitals, and lived and worked for many years in Williamsburg, Virginia, where she was avidly interested in historical preservation of that city.
Gotta love the outfit--especially those elbow-length kid gloves. Doesn't she look like the cat that ate the canary? Here's another photo taken the same day, showing more detail of her dress, and a more contemplative expression. I suspect that if I had that outfit, I too would read with those gloves on. In fact, I probably wouldn't take off the hat.
5 comments:
She is smart and determined and mighty as a superhero! Can you imagine what it was like, as a woman, to go to medical school in 1903? And then to work in mental hospitals? Wow!
I have some of her speeches and articles--you'll probably be hearing more about her. When she writes about medical school, she describes a more positive experience than I had 80 years later in grad school. I'm not sure if she's just accentuating the positive, or if things actually got worse.
Fortunately, things have gotten better lately.
Attitude personified. Love it.
But you don't care much for her daddy?
I scanned some letters from Susan (when she was a staff physician at the mental hospital in Weston, WV). The salutation was "Dear Mr. Price." None of his offspring ever addressed him as "Dad," or "Papa" or even "Father" in a letter. It was always "Dear Mr. Price."
Not the warmest family, from what I can see.
The pictures were not taken in the Anna Hunter House. The fireplace was not added until later (probably 1917 when her parents moved into the front room). Anna also closed in the front porch to create a sun room. There is also a window to the side of the fireplace. The one at the Hunter House is much higher. The picture was probably taken in the home place which stood on the river side of Seneca Trail across from Jericho Road. This would have been her home since her parents lived there when they returned with the family, when Rev. William T. became the minister of the new Marlinton Presbyterian Church in 1881. His father. James Atlee Price built the house. Wm T. himself was born on Locust Hill in Marlinton.
Denise Kendrick McNeel
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