How do you make history?
As a woman in the early 1900s, Kate Pelham Newcomb’s path to achieving her dream of becoming a doctor was far from smooth, but she didn’t let that keep her from working to make it happen. Once she did, new challenges crossed her path. As a physician in the northwoods of Wisconsin, reaching her patients sometimes meant trekking through the snow, or canoeing across water to get there. Kate forged ahead to help thousands of patients, eventually helping to build a hospital to better care for her community.
Meet Kate Pelham Newcomb
Questions to Consider
What happened in Kate’s life that made her want to become a doctor? Are there experiences you’ve had that have made you think about what you might want to do for a career?
When Kate first told her father that she wanted to become a doctor, he didn’t let her pursue her dream. Why? Can you think of a time when you really wanted to do something and someone told you that you couldn’t do it? How did you feel and what did you do about it?
What qualities did Kate demonstrate as a doctor, and in her work to build a new hospital? Are these qualities that are important to you? Do you see them in people around you?
Peek Into the Past
Dr. Kate
Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb.
Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb Museum.
Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb Museum
A photograph of Kate at age 4. By this age she had already taught herself how to read.
Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb Museum.
Kate Pelham Portrait
Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb as a young woman.
Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb Museum.
Kate the Doctor
Dr. Kate with an infant.
Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb Museum.
The Newcomb Family
Dr. Kate with her husband, Bill, and son, Tom.
National Library of Medicine.
Dr Kate in Snowshoes
Dr. Kate sometimes traveled on snowshoes to see her patients.
Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb Museum.
Kate with Pennies
Dr. Kate with pennies donated to build the Lakeland Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb Museum.
Dr. Kate and Baby
Dr. Kate delivered over 3,000 babies.
Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb Museum.
Counting Pennies
People counting pennies as part of the Million Penny Parade (March 22, 1954).
Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-56206.
Dr. Kate Checkup
Dr. Kate gave checkups to summer campers.
Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb Museum.
Lakeland Memorial
Lakeland Memorial Hospital in Woodruff, Wisconsin. Kate was instrumental in the hospital’s realization.
Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb Museum.
Dr Kate Gives a Shot
A boy getting a shot from Dr. Kate.
Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb Museum.
Dr. Kate and Bill
Kate and Bill Newcomb.
Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb Museum.
Read On
Kate Pelham Newcomb: Doctor of the Northwoods
Get the full story with this biography book. Audio files are available on each page if you’d like to listen along!
Project Credits
Producer
Dan Kaplan
Becky Marburger
Kurt Griesemer
Associate Producer
Joe Young
Illustration
The Brave Union
Animation
The Brave Union
Animation Voice Over
Dawson McKay
Audiobook Narration
Aika Zabala
Audiobook Editing
Kerman Eckes
Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Vicki Way Kipp
Educator Support Materials
Mia Forslund
Web
John Vieth
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Tim Schneider
Design
Charles Barrows
Translation Services
University of Wisconsin-Madison Cultural Linguistic Services
Executive Producer
Peggy Garties
Story Advisors
Brenda Autz
Park Elementary School
Middleton, WI
(2013)
Charlene Dupler
Lakeview Elementary School
Wind Lake, WI
(2013)
Kristen McDaniel
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Madison, WI
(2013)
David J. O’Connor
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Madison, WI
(2013)
Amanda Price
Marshall Elementary School
Marshall, WI
(2013)
Tanya Schmidt
Oshkosh Area School District
Oshkosh, WI
(2021)
Corey Thompson
Cardinal Stritch University
(2013)
Stephanie Unertl
Lake Mills Area School District
Lake Mills, WI
(2013)