My Mother writes about her family in August 1971

Dr. and Mrs. Winthrop Chapman

      Dr. Winthrop S. Chapman [father of Tad Chapman] died at the age of [82?] on September 14, 1965.  I remember Dad as a quiet, kind man, yet capable of a twinkle in his eye. He was best able to communicate about two main subjects – the wisdom of saving, and the stock market. His conversation was not frivolous. His keeping of records was detailed and complete.

      I better understand Dad after my summer’s efforts organizing pictures and newspaper articles about Tad, and a brief scanning of the many letters. (A fat folder for each year since 1917).

      He was a talented young doctor with opportunities of prestige ahead. This changed after Tad’s illness. He refused opportunities for big city success as physician.

      In my scanning, I found that he dealt successfully with many obstacles. No wonder he became an introspective, single-purposed man. Suddenly he had a deaf-blind child. Mother told me they had never seen a blind child before. The first problem was understanding such a handicap. Next came Dad’s desire to find some way to enable Tad to communicate with the world and retain his speech. Their early unskilled efforts with Tad, finding someone – anyone – that believed as they did, then finding a teacher who could teach Tad as they believed. Next came finding out the laws of the state, and problem of getting Tad admitted into a school. (School for the Deaf at Sioux Falls, South Dakota) After that step, money had to be appropriated by the State Legislature for a special teacher. Later selecting and being admitted in a school for the blind (Perkins Institution for the Blind.) The Depression came immediately after this which presented greater financial problems and burdens. There were also problems of school administration (Sioux Falls), and the desire to exploit Tad (Perkins), etc. It would seem that Dad only solved one obstacle to meet another. So many of us would have been defeated.

      Mother gave of herself physically – the house, Tom and myself, communication with Tad, preparation of things for Tad to do, and her wit. Dad gave his determination, his meeting obstacles and solving them, his projection into the future. “When I am gone, I want Tad ….” It was fortunate that Tad had such a combination of parents.



Amanda and Tad in 1969

      There is one more very important person, Amanda Harmening. Amanda is still with Tad and us [until her death in 1973]. Without her devotion, neither my parents, nor Tad, could have achieved so much. We love her dearly, and are eternally grateful and indebted to her. She is one of our family.

      Someday I hope to condense the files and compile an unprofessional but meaningful record. There are many wonderful people who helped – from all over the United States and the world. Included should be the effects on Tom, myself, his wife and my husband and our children. Tad has not known fame as others have; yet he and our parents truly “opened a door” in history and education.

 

From right to left: Janet Chapman Beavis, Tad Chapman, and Adrian Fickes