Interview with Peggy Elrington, March 5, 1993

Interview Summary

Elrington was a British trained nurse midwife who had worked a nursing station in Kentucky that was under supervision of the FNS and at CMI where she became an instructor in clinical practice until its closure in 1970. She was associated with St. Vincent's Hospital, a private hospital in Santa Fe, NM, and worked as resident nurse in St. John's College. She and her husband worked in the Santa Fe area from 1964-1985.
Elrington reads from a 6-page-paper about the reason why CMI came to New Mexico and its accomplishments with respect to improvement of the health and well-being of the Spanish-American mothers in the area. She gives the statistics before and after CMI. Mention is made of Dr. A. Dengel, the founder of SCMM-Society of Catholic Medical Missionaries, the MCH-Maternal and Child Health program of the Children's Bureau, Washington, D.C., the New Mexico department of public health, and archbishop Gerken. She reads about the Sisters and Dr. Nancy Campbell, a fully qualified obstetrician, CMI's medical director. Elrington remembers Sister Mary Stella Simpson who, just like CMI in NM, was able to reduce infant mortality rates in MS. She also remembers her success in increasing the acceptance level of the "family centered care" concept. Elrington tells about the superstition of the local people and their trust in the people who provided the home delivery service.

Interview LC Subject

Childbirth Elrington, Peggy Elrington, Peggy--Interviews Maternal health services Midwifery Midwives Nursing--Study and teaching

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