1941-1942 Journal of Infant Care Practices Kept by Prominent Michigan Musicians About Their Son, a Future Michigan Radio Personality

On offer is a manuscript journal that doubles as a study of infant care practices in 1941-1942. It is a meticulously kept record of the first 15 months of Michigan musician, conductor and radio personality, Charles Greenwell (1941-2020). The book was kept by parents, both Juilliard graduates, including opera singer mother, Pauline Elizabeth Bugg Greenwell (stage name Pauline Pierce) (1907-1990), and his musician cum Michigan State University voice department chairman father, Gean Greenwell (1907-1982). BIO NOTES ON THE GREENWELL FAMILY AT THE END OF THE LISTING. 

Pauline, Gean, and their baby nurse, Marion Belt, all contributed to this journal, though it was mostly kept by Pauline. While the focus is on Charles and his development, the journal provides deep insight into the application of parenting advice of the time, forming an interesting case study on baby Charles and his parents. Pauline has also recorded a list of “articles needed for baby” and “layette to date”, where every item requested and received for Charles is carefully noted. Pauline has also copied instructions from Dr. Wood with a recipe for baby formula, info on cod liver oil and the introduction of orange juice (when Charles was only one month old!). A bonus in this fascinating journal is three pages of content written by Charles himself when he is a young boy. He has written out the lyrics for two songs (they seem to be originals, written at age 8) and a one page “autobiography” where Charles writes about himself at age 11. Excerpts follow: 

“I nursed Charles for the first time this morning, and the thrill is indescribable!! He nursed right away, just as if he’d done it for months already” [Feb 11, 1941].

“Charles had his first taste of cereal today. 1 teaspoon of Pablum mixed with 3 tsp. of formula. His formula is now 13 oz. Evap. milk and 22 oz. Boiled water, with 1 ½ tablespoons Karo. What fun we had giving him the Pablum. He ate it like a little piggy, got it all over his face and hands because he tried to eat his hands at the same time he was eating the cereal and laughing all the while until we thought we’d have hysterics” [June 1, 1941].

“Today was Charles 6 mo. birthday and we celebrated it with fried chicken, ice cream and cake. Alice and Giff and Ethel ate here for the dinner. Charles sat in his carriage and watched the whole proceedings. Charles pounds now on everything with his hands and squeals on a high note now rather than the low one” [Aug 10, 1941, written by Nurse Marion Belt]. 

“Wed the 10th he began to cough a bit and the next morning his nose was quite congested…This condition existed for 2 days and on Saturday the 13th he still had signs of the congestion and coughing but Dr. Woods said it wasn’t at all serious, so went ahead and gave Charles his first shots for whooping cough. Charles was so dear and brave…Poor darling - it turned out to be that his little upper arms were dreadfully sore to the touch (from the hypos)...Dr Wood had us give Charles a mild sedative (Pheno-Barbitol) so that he slept soundly all night. And this morning his cold even seems better” [Sept 14, 1941].

“...Charles is coming along fine except he has 101.5 degree fever as a result of his vaccination, but he goes a mile a minute and is more adorable than I’ve ever known him to be…The Dr. prescribed ⅓ of an aspirin tablet before. Charles went to bed tonight (put it in some apple sauce) and to keep him on fruits and liquids until the fever is gone” [May 10, 1942]. 

“...When I have nothing to do, oh, say on a rainy day, I like to recall incidents that happened to me when I was little. I’ll never forget when I had my [tonsillectomy]” [Charles Greenwell, June 14, 1951].

This journal would make a phenomenal addition to a collection focused on pediatrics, maternity or family studies. It provides a fantastic contrast to the clinical recommendations for infants today, and there is a lot of opportunity to analyze how and why drastic changes in parental recommendations have occurred. It is also a special piece of music history, kept by a family of musicians, all of whom made a large impact on the Michigan music scene in the mid-to-late 20th century. 

BIO NOTES:

Charles Greenwell (Feb 10, 1941-2020): Oboist and pianist, Greenwell graduated from East Lansing High School in Michigan, and earned two music degrees at Michigan State University, and one at the Royal College of Music in London, England. In 1957, Charles began a radio broadcasting career at Michigan State, and went on to work for radio stations in New York, Atlanta, Detroit and London. He became the Music Director and host for WQRS-FM Detroit in 1977. Charles performed around the world as a conductor, singer, pianist, oboist, actor and stage director. He spent years as a resident conductor for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and also conducted for the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, the Tulsa Philharmonic, the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony, and the Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra . He also hosted Live from the Orchestra Hall webcasts. 

Pauline Elizabeth Bugg Greenwell (stage name Pauline Pierce) (1907-1990): The daughter of Charles Bugg and Gertrude Strassner, Pauline was born in Alton,and  graduated Alton Sr High School before attending MacMurray College in Jacksonville. She studied vocal under Eugenia Getner in St. Louis before her acceptance to Julilliard in New York, where she studied opera singing. Pauline married fellow Juilliard student Gean Ellsworth Greenwell in August 1934 at the Chatauqua Music Festival. Both Pauline and Gean were members of the Chutauqua Opera Company. 

Gean Ellsworth Greenwell (1907-1982): The son of Charles Henry Greenwell and Fannie Ellsworth in Utah, Gean moved to New York City at age 21, in 1928,where he  landed small parts in opera before the stock market crash of 1929, which put his career on hold for 5 years. He sang with a touring opera company with Russian immigrants who escaped the Revolution, and  studied at Juilliard for four years, where he met and married his wife, Pauline. Gean joined the NYC Opera company in 1942 then moved to Michigan with his family to join the music faculty at Michigan State University. Gean became Chairman of the vocal department at MSU, retiring in 1973. He died just days before a major concert he was preparing and had intended to perform in following a heart attack after multiple hip surgeries. The concert, at the Okemos Barn, called “The Songbag” went on in his absence in April of 1982. 

The journal contains approx 72 pages in a three ring binder that measures about 7” x 10”. Pages show age toning but are very legible. Some have come loose from the binder, but all are accounted for. The binder rings have separated from the binder itself, but the pages are all still held together by the rings. It should be noted that someone (maybe the author) has gone through the diary and highlighted some interesting entries with a red pencil crayon. This does not interfere with readability. Overall Fair.