Posts Tagged "Syracuse University"
Love Letters, Chapter 6
Author Janet Dunning’s extraordinary glimpse into “the life Van Duyn”
New here? Start from the beginning….
I’m back! As promised, I have much to share about my Love Letters story. As you recall from my last post, the Van Duyns of Syracuse, New York were a prominent family known for three generations of physicians: Dr. John S. Van Duyn (1843-1934), Dr. Edward S. Van Duyn (1872-1955), and Dr. John J. Van Duyn (1905-1986). The set of love letters that I purchased on ebay were addressed to the youngest of the Dr. Van Duyns, a well known surgeon who was living and practicing in Duluth, Minnesota at the time. (Why? I’ll get to that in a bit.)
Ruth Ives, the author of the letters, was living in White Plains, New York at the time she sent the letters to Dr. John Van Duyn in September of 1949. She’d grown up in White Plains originally, but had spent the previous several years as a faculty member at Syracuse University, which is, presumably, where she met Dr. Van Duyn (also a faculty member there).
My obvious question was (still), did John and Ruth ever get married?
In Ruth’s second letter, she gives a hint that, if they were to get married, this would not be John’s first marriage. She says, “Sunday must have been very difficult for you without the kids; I thought about you lots.” I wondered who his first wife was, who the children were, and what they were all doing living in Duluth, Minnesota in 1949.
I started Googling.
On the front page of the Society section of the December 22, 1935 issue of the Syracuse Herald, the headline reads:
Young Syracuse Physician Marries Daughter of David M. Dunning, Jr. of Auburn
…Dr. Van Duyn 2d Takes Bride in Home Ceremony
…Member of Widely-Known Syracuse Family Marries Janet H. Dunning
…Rev. Dr. Charles F. Thwing, President of Western Reserve University Officiates
One of the most important of the weddings of the holiday season was that of Miss Janet Hutchinson Dunning, daughter of David Montgomery Dunning, Jr., of Auburn, to Dr. John Van Duyn, 2nd, son of Dr. and Mrs. Edward S. Van Duyn of James Street, which was solemnized Saturday afternoon at 4 o’clock at the home of the bride’s grandfather, David Montgomery Dunning, in Auburn.
The Rev. Dr. Charles Franklin Thwing, president emeritus of Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, and an uncle of the bride, read the service. Mrs. Charles Kruger of East Orange, N.J. attended the bride as matron of honor, and Miss Constance Van Duyn of Syracuse, sister of the bridegroom, was maid of honor.
Now that I had a name, Janet H. Dunning, I was able to do some more Googling. It turns out, Janet H. Dunning (aka Janet Van Duyn), is a published author. I found her biography in a 2002 publication titled Contemporary Authors (Publisher: Tom Gale):
Family: Born September 23, 1910, in Auburn, NY; daughter of David Montgomery and Ruth (Bartlett) Dunning; married John Van Duyn (a surgeon), December, 1935 (divorced, 1949); two daughters. Education: Vassar College, A.B., 1932. Politics: “Registered independent.” Religion: “Also independent.” Memberships: British Museum, Egypt Exploration Society (London, England), Browning Institute (Florence, Italy). Addresses: Home: 135 Lyons Plain Rd., Weston, CT 06883.
Writer, beginning 1968. Janet Van Duyn told CA: “I have done some teaching of English and writing. I have done library work (research), storytelling in the New York Public Library (my first job). I stayed cooped up in many types of worthy offices until the children grew up, but I confess I never really enjoyed any job until I was able to pursue my interests in research and writing. That has all happened recently.”
WRITINGS BY THE AUTHOR:
I Married Them (humorous novel), Howell, Soskin, 1945.
The Egyptians (for young people), McGraw, 1970.
The Greeks (for young people), McGraw, 1972.
Builders on the Desert (children’s history), Messner, 1973.
Looking over the list of Ms. Van Duyn’s published works, I wondered about the title of the first book on the list, I Married Them. I wondered if it was, by any chance, a reference to life with the Van Duyn family in Syracuse. On a whim, I did a quick search for the novel, and found a rare copy for sale on ebay. I paid $1.00 for it, plus shipping.
I can truly say, without a doubt, that this $1.00 was the best investment I’ve ever made in my entire life. This book was such a great read! It was published in 1945, ten years after Janet Dunning’s marriage to Dr. John Van Duyn, and four years prior to the couple’s divorce. Although the first page claims that the book is a work of fiction and that “while certain aspects of its background and its characters are drawn from experience, it’s not intended as a factual or biographical report in any sense”, it’s clear to even the casual observer that this is a page-by-page account of daily life with the eccentric Van Duyn family.
I should make it clear that this book isn’t a slam to the Van Duyns by any means… at least that’s not how I perceived it. (In fact, they remind me a lot of my own family.) Instead, Janet Van Duyn is a very talented and witty author who is spot-on at character development and actually made me LOL at several points during the book.
I Married Them tells the story of the “MacLean” (Van Duyn) family of “Parthia” (Syracuse), New York, who lives in a Greek-revival style mansion on the corner of “East Hall Street” (James Street) and “Sullivan Hill” (North McBride Street). The “MacLeans” were a prominent family with three generations of physicians, starting with “Gramp” (John Van Duyn, 1st), his son “Doctor Mac” (Edward S. Van Duyn), and his grandson “George” (John Van Duyn, 2nd). The novel is told from the point of view of “Janet” (Janet Dunning), the new/young wife of Dr. George MacLean who moves in with the family and lives at the mansion after the couple is married. Also living at the house with them are “Pim” (the Van Duyn’s youngest daughter Constance, mentioned in the wedding announcement above… Janet’s maid of honor), “Aunt Grace” (not sure exactly who this is, but she’s a semi-permanent boarder/artist who comes and goes during the story), and “Brunch” the dog (who’s real name is Ted-dee-boop and even makes his own appearance on the Society pages in a photo with Constance at a dog show for the local Kennel Association. See below).
CAPTION: “Among the dogs and exhibitors to take part in the show at the Coliseum next Sunday are: Miss Constance Van Duyn of 607 James Street with the chow, “Ted-dee-boop, upper left…”
I have much more to share about this novel in my next post (including photos of the real life mansion and some my favorite LOL moments in the book), as well as news from one of the Van Duyn’s daughters who knew Ruth Ives and has agreed to answer my questions!
Stay tuned…
Read MoreLove Letters, Chapter 5
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Dr. John Van Duyn – third in a line of prominent Syracuse physicians
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season, filled with family, friends, peace and celebration. We had a great Christmas and are looking forward to New Year’s Eve when my husband and I will attempt to prepare our first-ever Crown Roast for a small group of friends. (Seriously, how hard can it be?) More on that next time.
Since I blogged last, I have attempted to contact Ruth Ives’ niece who currently lives in California. So far, no luck, but I’ll keep trying. In the meantime, here’s some more background on the recipient of Ruth’s love letters, Dr. John Van Duyn of Duluth, Minnesota.
Edward Seguin Van Duyn, M.D. (1872-1955) Administrator of the Syracuse State School and the middle of three generations of prominent Syracuse physicians.
The following excerpt details the life of Dr. John Van Duyn’s grandfather, also named John Van Duyn, and is taken from the book Encyclopedia of Biography of New York: A Life Record of Men and Women of the Past, Volume 4 by Charles Elliott Fitch.
VAN DUYN, John, M. D.,
Civil War Veteran, Physician.
One of the foremost members of the medical fraternity of Syracuse, Dr. John Van Duyn, in whom the public has long reposed trust and confidence of his skill, was born in Kingston, New York, July 24, 1843, a son of Abraham and Sarah Van Duyn.
His early education, which was of a literary and classical nature, finally led to his graduation from Princeton in the class of June, 1862, and thus broadly equipped, he undertook the study of his profession, having paved the way to success by first learning the power of expressing himself.
His degree of M. D. was received from the Kentucky School of Medicine. At that time he enlisted his services in defence of his country, was a member of the medical cadet corps, and upon receiving his medical degree he became assistant surgeon in the United States Volunteers, and continued as such until the fall of 1865. After the war, Dr. Van Duyn turned his attention to building up a practice, locating at first in the State of New Jersey, where he remained until the year 1868, when he removed to Syracuse, New York, this move being due to his relations with Dr. Wilbur, the founder of the State Idiot Asylum, who offered him the position of physician to that institution, in which capacity he served for a short period of time. He then engaged in private practice in Syracuse, which in due course of time became both extensive and important. He has also taught in the Medical School of Syracuse University since its establishment, and his ability as an educator has found no fewer encomiums than his ability in the art of healing. Many are the scholars who will pass along the secrets of his vast knowledge, for as a teacher Dr. Van Duyn has given as freely of his gifts as he has received them. He was one of the originators and founders of the Syracuse Free Dispensary and of the Hospital of the Good Shepherd, serving the latter institution in the cacapity of surgeon. He is also surgeon for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. He is a member of the Syracuse Academy of Medicine, of the American Ophthalmological Society, of the American Otological Society and of the New York State Medical Association. He is president of the University Club of Syracuse, president of the Princeton Club of Central New York, a member of the Hospital Association, of the Onondaga Country Club, of the Ka-Noo-No Karnival Company, of the Automobile Club, of the Loyal Legion, and of the Grand Army of the Republic. In Masonry he has taken all the degrees of the York Rite and has attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite. He has, moreover, given of his time as commissioner of education and as health officer, in both of which offices he rendered valuable service. In February, 1915, the Syracuse Academy of Medicine and the Onondaga County Medical Society gave an entertainment in honor of the completion of his fiftieth year in the practice of medicine.
Dr. Van Duyn married, December 1, 1866, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Sarah Faulks, who bore him two sons and one daughter, namely: Edward Seguin, Wilbur, and Gertrude, who became the wife of E. F. Southworth, of Syracuse. Edward Seguin Van Duyn was born in August, 1872; graduated from the Syracuse High School, class of 1889; Princeton University, class of 1894; Syracuse Medical College, class of 1897; Rhode Island Hospital, 1899, and studied in New York and abroad during the years 1900 and 1901. He is professor of clinical surgery at the Syracuse University Medical School, surgeon of the Hospital of the Good Shepherd and of the Syracuse Free Dispensary, consulting surgeon of the Ogdensburg State Institution, president of the board of managers of the Syracuse State Institution for the Feeble Minded, and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Professor Edward S. Van Duyn had conferred on him the degrees of B. S., M. D. and F. A. C. S. Mrs. Van Duyn died December 21, 1915. For many years she was prominent in social circles of Syracuse. She was a member of the Fortnightly Club, of which she was one of the founders, and the Social Arts Club. She was widely known in church circles and took an active interest in causes of religious and charitable natures.
The Rev. Dr. A. H. Fahnestock, pastor of the First Ward Presbyterian Church, a cousin of Mrs. Van Duyn, officiated at the funeral services and interment was in Oakwood Cemetery.
The demands made upon Dr. Van Duyn by his profession have left him little time to lead what might be generally termed a social life. But this man, to whom so many have come in time of need to profit by what he has learned through wide study, research, investigation and experiment, can claim undoubtedly more of a place in the hearts of the people than one who has striven merely to be socially popular.
Next time… more on Dr. John Van Duyn’s first wife, author Janet Dunning Van Duyn
Read MoreLove Letters, Chapter 3
New here? Start from the beginning…
An introduction to Ruth L. Ives
In 1949, Ruth Ives was 32 years old, living in Syracuse, New York. A native of White Plains, near New York City, I was curious how/why she’d ended up in Syracuse… a city in Central New York, about 150 miles east of Buffalo. I started Googling.
Syracuse Herald Journal - January 8, 1947
I found another photo of Ruth Ives from the Syracuse University yearbook, dated 1947. Miss Ives was also mentioned in the 1949 yearbook (the same year the love letters were written) in this description of the Opera Workshop, for which she was the director:
Ruth Ives, Onandagan Yearbook, 1947
I found one other mention of Ruth Ives, in the 2009 obituary of her brother, Edward “Sandy” Ives. You may recall in Ruth’s second letter she referred to her brother Sandy when she was asking John Van Duyn about his new car: “Do tell me more about the car. What color is it? Is it four door? Dad and Sandy say that 4000 miles is practically brand new.”
It turns out Ruth’s younger brother, Sandy, was a respected English professor who took up an interest in folklore and folksong history while he was teaching at the University of Maine. He became a respected author, historian, performer, and recording artist of northeast/northwoods folksongs. Heres a snippet from Sandy’s obituary, published in the Bangor Daily News on August 4, 2009:
Edward D. “Sandy” Ives passed away peacefully Aug. 1, 2009, at his home. Sandy was born Sept. 4, 1925, in White Plains, N.Y., the son of Warren L. and Millicent (Dawson) Ives. In addition to his loving family, he leaves behind a legacy of songs, stories and cherished memories among the countless people whose lives he touched as teacher, researcher, writer and friend. He was predeceased by his parents; an infant brother, Baby John; and his beloved sister, Ruth.
By now, I had a pretty good idea of who Ruth Ives was. From her letters, we know she’d moved back to White Plains from Syracuse in 1949 and was working at Altman’s Department Store in the cosmetics department. She was a fairly good tennis player, a terrible bridge player, and she was very much in love with a doctor by the name of John Van Duyn, working at the Arrowhead Clinic in Duluth, Minnesota.
So, who was this mysterious Dr. John Van Duyn? How did they ever meet? Did they ever work out their differences and get married? More next time…
Read MoreAbout Me
Join me in my sporadic ramblings as I embrace the curious life. Wife of a turkey farmer. Mother of two teenage boys. Avid ponderer. Treasure seeker. Curator of the written word. I enjoy sparking interest in the mundane and uncovering a compelling backstory.
