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