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Press Release
DR. KATE AND ONE MILLION PENNIES The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the release of "Dr. Kate: Angel on Snowshoes" (ISBN: 978-0-87020-421-0; $12.95) by Rebecca Wojahn. This book is part of the Badger Biographies series for young readers, a unique collection of stories about real Wisconsinites. Pioneering Northwoods doctor Kate Pelham Newcombe comes to life in the newest addition to the Badger Biographies series in an accessible format that includes historic images, a glossary of terms, sidebars on the medical profession, and suggestions for classroom activities and discussion. Born in 1885, Kate Pelham was supposed to grow up to be a proper young lady in Boston, not to serve as the only doctor in the wilderness of northern Wisconsin, but she was determined to be a doctor. After medical school, her husband's health brought them to the clean air of northern Wisconsin, and before long Kate knew every back road and cabin in the Northwoods. She visited patients by car, by snowmobile, by canoe and by snowshoe - whatever it took - and never sent a bill. Instead she was paid in firewood and vegetables! But what Kate dreamed of more than anything for her patients was a hospital. And that's when the kids of the community got involved. They set out to collect a million pennies - $10,000 - to help Dr. Kate build a hospital. What they didn't know was that their local efforts would set off a worldwide campaign. As news spread, coins poured in from countries across the globe. Students carted bushels of pennies, and Dr. Kate received thousands of letters cheering on her effort. In 1954 her dream came true: the Lakeland Memorial Hospital opened its doors, providing important medical services to the people of northern Wisconsin. Told in an engaging, narrative style, the story will have readers warm to Kate's spirit of compassion and never-say-never attitude. Media: For review copies of the book, or author or book photos, please contact Melanie Roth, Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 816 State St., Madison, Wis. 53706; (608) 264-6465; e-mail: melanie.roth@wisconsinhistory.org The Wisconsin Historical Society Press, publishing since 1855, is the state's oldest publisher.
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