Dr. Kate: Angel on Snowshoes

by Rebecca Hogue Wojahn, W.H. Beck

Pioneering North Woods doctor Kate Pelham Newcomb comes to life in this addition to the Badger Biographies series for young readers. Born in 1885, Kate Pelham was suppose to grow up to be a proper young lady in Boston, but despite her father's wishes 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 North Woods. She visited patients by snowmobile, by canoe, and by snowshoe and never sent a bill. Instead she was paid in firewood and vegtables.

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. As the news spread, coins poured in from countries across the globe. Students carted bushels of pennies, and Dr. Kate read thousands of letters cheering on her effort. Her dream came true in 1954 when the Lakeland Memorial Hospital opened its doors. Young readers will warm to Kate's spirit of compassion and never-say-never attitude.

Genres: Biography

104 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2009

About the author

Reader. Writer. Teacher-librarian.
Also writes under the name W.H. Beck.

Reviews

[Danine Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, how I loved this book! My family has had a cabin in the same area where Dr. Kate lived and worked and I have been hearing about her my entire life. We've never visited the museum even though we've driven by it thousands of times so I didn't really know much about her except that she was a pioneering country doctor. Love the local Northwoods Wisconsin history, love the women's history!!

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

While escaping to the northwoods of Wi stopped to see the world's biggest penny on a lark, and found myself in the Dr. Kate museum learning about a remarkable pioneer who made significant impact on public health and access to care. This biography tells her unlikely path from New York school teacher, to Detroit pediatrician who leaves all comforts to live in the Northwoods of WI. In any era her life would be worth of a movies but for a woman of her time, marrying in her 30s, son born at 37 and then committing to be a backwoods physician covering 300 miles is remarkable. The region was isolated and far removed from the comforts she had known as child and young woman. She faced numerous tragedies but did so with Grace. Generations of families are indebted to Dr. Kate.

[Sandy Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I read was authored by Adele Comandini, and was published in 1956 by Rinehart &Co. It was a loan so I am guessing it is no longer in print. It is an amazing story about a woman doctor in northern Wisconsin. The time frame is about 1890 or so until roughly 1954 and follows her life beginning in childhood.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring young reader book

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very interesting book as her son Tom was one of my junior high teacher. It was nice to find out all the good she did.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with loads of interesting B&W photos, biographical info on an amazing woman in Wisconsin history and also background info about the times in which she lived.