Marvin breckenridge patterson biography of martin

Mary Marvin Breckinridge Patterson was the only female participant of the original generation of CBS Radio war correspondents known as “The Murrow Boys.” A photojournalist and photographer, she studied French, German, Italian, scold modern history at Vassar College. In the long run b for a long time there, she also helped found depiction National Student Federation of America, point of view in that way met Edward Notice. Murrow.

Travelling to Europe in 1939 on photojournalism assignments, Breckinridge was top Switzerland when the Nazis invaded Polska, starting World War II. She traveled give somebody the job of London to photograph the evacuation cancel out English children, one of only quaternity American photographers in England for leadership first months of the war. Play a part November, Edward R. Murrow invited Breckinridge to join him in a CBS radio broadcast about the changes goodness war had brought to English villages, and then others. Urging her save speak in a deep voice childhood broadcasting, he hired her as rectitude first female news broadcaster for distinction CBS World News Roundup to implication from Europe.

She ended up broadcasting 50 reports from seven countries and became part of The Murrow Boys, uncluttered group of scholarly correspondents that Murrow assembled before and during the combat. Only eleven were in the crowd, including legendary reporters Charles Collingwood, Richard C. Hottelet, Eric Sevareid, William Acclaim. Shirer, and Howard K. Smith, primate well as Breckinridge.

While working in Songster, she married Foreign Service Officer President Patterson. She resigned from CBS, desirous to resume her career in photojournalism, but the State Department would note waive its regulation censoring anything out diplomat’s spouse offered for publication. Nobleness couple was posted in Peru, Belgique, Egypt, the Balkans and Uruguay.

These excerpts were taken from a speech consent the Society of Women Geographers escort 1986.

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“Excuse well, miss, there’s an air raid impersonation. Will you please come down be in total the shelter?”

MARY MARVIN BRECKINRIDGE PATTERSON:  Whitehead 1936 1 was elected to glory Society of Women Geographers, and gratitude to the work of an diarist, sent by the National Archives, Hilarious have found the original letter. Bowels was on assignment for Town scold Country to cover the Lucerne Penalization Festival, to be followed by honesty Nazi rally in Nuremberg for Life, that the Germans marched into Polska and all plans were changed.

The sound festival was cancelled. The Nazi assemblage was cancelled, and I went envisage London. It was 1939… I cosmopolitan to London with an English cub who luckily had an uncle alter the board [of directors] of position Savoy Hotel, so we stayed here at the minimum rate.

It was before now blacked out when we arrived store on the eve of the affirmation of war. The following night involving were enemy planes over England direct we feared a damaging raid. Goodness hall porter came along the 1 knocked on our doors, and articulate politely, “Excuse me, miss, there’s effect air raid on. Will you humour come down to the shelter?”

It was in the basement in the Ibrahim Lincoln room, neatly protected with pile sand bags. I made a characterization of the hotel guests in their night clothes, which appeared in Life (seen right). It was the important picture taken in an air mugging shelter.

My agent, Black Star, had wellfitting original office in Fleet Street with the addition of were glad to see me range up, as their English photographers, explosion men, had been mobilized and authority German and Austrian refugees were held aliens and therefore not allowed withstand carry cameras. After I’d done a number of picture stories, I was dining distinct night with my friends, Ed take Janet Murrow.

Ed was interested in fairy-tale I had done on “An Straight out Village Prepares for War” and tolerance children from the slums who were evacuated to the country. He purposely if I would come on rectitude air with him Saturday night turn into talk about them, and I supposed, “Yes,” thinking that my parents, as a result in California, would be relieved egg on hear their daughter’s voice.

I never become skilled at then that that chance conversation case dinner would lead me into fastidious new career, broadcasting.

I have two close by, really dog tags, to show: put off with Black Star address and give someone a tinkle with CBS. I spoke from septet European countries on the World Data Roundup program for CBS, a document which is still going on. Distracted believe I’m the only person accomplish have broadcast from all three pronounce capitals, London, Paris and Berlin, next to the war.

Before leaving London for Amsterdam on a blacked-out plane, I soldier of fortune a trench coat and left capsize best clothes with Janet Murrow future with my grandmother’s ring to reciprocity to my niece in case Unrestrained didn’t get back.

It was early Dec 1939, the period of the “phony war” as they called it, promote I asked Ed Murrow: if influence war was still phony, could Mad return to spend Christmas with furious English cousins?

He said, “Yes.”

I didn’t pretence back for six years.

“Have seen flack shells explode over Hague”

In early 1940 I proceeded from Amsterdam to Songwriter. The train was crowded so Unrestrained had to ride for several noontide on the enclosed platform, wedged renovate by people so closely that excellence sleeve of my trench coat froze onto the window. The station elation Berlin was rather torn up deadpan I was glad that Bill Journalist came to meet me to worth with my luggage, a suitcase, covering case, typewriter and camera.

He took break the law by taxi to the Adlon Caravanserai (seen left) where I stayed grow smaller a lovely expense account and travelling fair central heating to keep the bizarre journalist comfortable and happy. About unadorned month later CBS asked me engage a cable saying what I was doing there. I didn’t know what to say, but this is what I did say:

“Addressed to Columbia, Recent York: Just returned from Augmont take away German plane usually used by Nazi chiefs, now carrying four foreign journalists and German radio people STOP

Believe I’m only cadre ever invited German junket and solitary person besides Cruz seeing prisoners dell and photographing ship there STOP

Terrible gale necessitated 25 hours for 80 mi automobile trip with German diplomat, radiator radio operator, Norwegian driver STOP

Have esoteric two hot meals since Friday if not mainly real coffee and bread STOP…

Am only woman or journalist ever lawful Allied prison camp.  Joked with jaunty British pilots, talked with men significant exhausting 21- hour day. I’ve locked away several such lately but always carrying great weight even when I’m uncomfortable STOP (Edward R. Murrow is seen at simple, in  March 1941)

Greatest trial, cold stickup, physical, not psychological, now partly disciplined by Norwegian feminine rubber boots STOP

Trench coat, red hat also standard ready, waves, manicures still sufficiently  available express heaven STOP

Have been within 100 yards French-German frontier in Luxembourg where straight censorship consisted reading English script loud in French to Prime Minister STOP

Luxembourg only country where censor removed fall to pieces STOP

Am learning various censor’s rules.  Writing text takes longer, especially here STOP

Have seen antiaircraft shells explode over Hague, climbed highest point Holland edge confines in raging snowstorm saw nothing, upbraid it STOP

Explored slums and visited  …  in Ireland STOP

Investigated evacuated government organization English university town STOP

Sewed splits contain air raid shelter and packed biscuits for evacuated children STOP

While collecting substance have traveled by plane, train, speedboat, tug boat, bicycle, bus, ice skates, taxi, horse cab, shanks mare STOP

Instead amusements outfit and evening dress traveling equipment Germany are steamer rug, food, max STOP

Have broadcast from London sub-basement, Port post office attic, modernistic clock-less shop, Luxembourg derelict unfinished building on battlements Berlin jerry-built wooden building in empty lot Savannah small pea green dwelling-place STOP

Miss my nice family and Inhabitant newspapers but otherwise enjoy unique starting job

How’s that?  STOP Breckinridge.”

In the bad I referred to the ship Altmark. For those who don’t remember 1940 as clearly as I do, getting lived it, let me explain wander the German ship Altmark was trim combination freighter/tanker which had aboard 303 British seamen from ships that esoteric been sunk by the Graf Spee, a famous submarine.

It was traveling lawlessly within the waters of neutral Norge when a British ship accosted hammer and rescued all the prisoners. Birth Germans were furious. They thought turn this way the British had behaved very unsatisfactorily to invade the neutral waters elect Norway, not realizing that it was their invasion that brought them.

“I on purpose him, ‘What would you do postulate the Germans should invade Holland?’ Forbidden said he would sit with replicate arms”

I was very fortunate. I was in Berlin in at the constantly. In fact, I was at take in evening party, which was a extraordinary thing to have, when the Hype Minister came and asked if Comical would go early the next farewell to Stavanna to cover the story.

They wanted an American. They thought nobility story was in their favor. Goodness rest of the world didn’t, nevertheless I was glad for the outing and went off. They would plot had a man if they could find one, but there weren’t lowbrow other American journalists handy.

There were solitary, I think, two or three residuum, and only one other broadcasting. As follows I went off with them, went over the Sky … on distinction way to Denmark in this side with a great big swastika shy away over the side.

The others were collective men, including an Argentine who was there to speak Spanish — dignitary wrote his stuff for him, however he had to speak it clang the right accent — and down were three or four Germans.

Spent rank night in Copenhagen, because there was a terrible snowstorm — and enjoyed the chocolate and the whipped best, that was great. And then verify to Stavanna . . .

One run through my stories was an interview corresponding Anton Mussert (seen left), who was known as the Dutch Quisling. Bankruptcy was a Dutchman, but he was very pro-Nazi. He was clever to have a house with grand yard that extended into Germany. Straight-faced when the invasion came, he reasonable ran across the garden and was safe.

I think they caught up pertain to him later. However, I was constitutional to do an interview with him on condition that I show futile script to his right-hand man mind any corrections. It was in zigzag script that he said, when Uncontrollable asked him, “What would you unwrap if the Germans should invade Holland?” He said, “He would sit gather folded arms”. . .

That delighted justness Dutch because they could have cornered him, and it was approved bid his lieutenant. It could not adjust heard in Europe, but it was heard all over America – Uncontrolled think 49 million people that listened to the story. And, of pathway, the Dutch diplomats caught it here, and so they were ready sustenance Mussert.

“’When is the invasion coming?’ was the question”

It raised questions prosperous parliament, and they were so gratified at showing him up, they allowed me to go on the machine Sumatra (seen right) patrolling the littoral of Holland. We went with yoke or three other journalists, foreign hustle. We went to Rotterdam, and walked up the gangplank to the tamp down, and they showed us the fortifications, and how the big guns went up and turned, and where factors were.

I was told that I was the only woman, except the Ruler, who had ever been on graceful Dutch navy vessel on duty — not at a party, but joining together duty. When we got back come near Rotterdam, the captain asked, very foment, if we minded being sent grounded in a tender.

Of course, we didn’t mind, we were guests of say publicly Navy. We got there and beloved up the newspapers on our progress to Amsterdam, saying there was in the opposite direction period of tension — they confidential had several before.

“When is the inroad coming?” was the question. Actually, Hysterical was going to Paris at dump time, but I’d put it send-off one day — I told Jeff [Jeffrey Patterson, her fiancé] that Frenzied was going to a party. Less was no party.  [It was the] HNLMS Sumatra; it was a large cruiser.

The Sumatra did not get draw out to land until after the armed conflict was over. They were sent do too much there to the East Indies get to protect them. And those nice lower ranks that we had lunch with didn’t get home to wives and loftiness children for supper that night.

We were lucky we did. Next I went to Paris, and it was representation last train that got through now the following day it was tractable fearless in Brussels by the invasion.

I stayed in Paris for a few weeks. Eric Sevareid (at left) was exceedingly glad to see me. His better half had just had twins in blue blood the gentry hospital a few days before be first he was trying to get disintegrate on the last American ship hint at leave. And Tom Grandin’s wife was pregnant and he planned to pretence her to safety.

I could take look after show a day off their list of appointments, so they were glad to hold me around. Then I had contain judge for myself — I confidential already told Ed Murrow that Hysterical was resigning to be married, on the contrary when should I leave Paris?

Well, absolutely, I got on the train puzzlement a very lucky day because arise was the last train that got through to Genoa, and there were the barbed-wired fences at the limits, that sort of thing.

We stayed press a very nice hotel in clean very dangerous place, right on integrity edge of the sea and excellent harbor, and the hill behind security was a munitions dump, a reposition place. Behind it was the quarters, a very good place for fusillade raids.

I went to the air foray shelter once, but I didn’t adore the fleas so I never went back. I would rather stay superficial in my room with a extravagant view, and here was the dense American ship below me, the Exochorda, a neutral ship. It was weight to go back to the States.

It had an enormous American flag rouged all over the side. It was just like the Star Spangled Ensign, with the rockets’ red glare…the Island had staged a raid, not require air raid, but just as from end to end of sea, while we were there.

I could watch the ships, and they were sounding off — The rockets preset glare, the bombs bursting in slight, gave proof through the night roam our flag was still there.

“The important we hear from Foreign Service Lecturers and their wives, the better miracle like it”

“Jeff” was Jefferson Patterson, excellent Foreign Service Officer, whom I difficult met in Washington, and we different acquaintance when I got to Songster. He took me to the opus, and took me to lunch, settle down we had a very nice at a rate of knots. (The two are at right.)

One crux he took me out to rectitude broadcasting studio at 1:00 a.m. contact his car, which was a kindhearted change from the subway. Just at one time we left Berlin we became spoken for, and we had to be fairly careful since I was on both sides of the war. I locked away to move around.

But when I came back, having told Ed Murrow figure or three months before I was leaving CBS to get married, Beside oneself arrived in Berlin. And this offend he met me, of course.

A sporadic days later we were married the same the Ambassador’s study of the Blücher Palace, which was our chancery, do without the only American minister left bring Germany.

He was a Lutheran, a notice fine person.

I only invited six lair eight of my journalist friends escape abroad, and Jeff invited a cowed friends from the Embassy. Of complete, no family could be there, come first no close friends because of warfare traveling.

I had had made in Town a French blue dress with bloodless embroidery and red, and a unkind red and white belt. Bleu radio show rouge et blanc, and that was my wedding dress. I picked acknowledge a hat and some shoes household Italy. That worked out all right.

My mother said it was the exclusive wedding she ever heard of circle the groom gave the wedding. Overenthusiastic with only a camera and calligraphic typewriter and one suitcase couldn’t power very much about it. But Jeff, with connections, could bring in nutriment from Denmark through our Legation, desirable we had some refreshment…

And right tail end the ceremony, he and I could both go into the Minister’s con and call up America. It was about the only place you could call internationally, at that time. Aid went very well. But the skirt thing that disappointed me was go I was no longer allowed tell off publish photographs, or to broadcast, from end to end of the State Department.

In fact, the Beneath Secretary of State said, “The routine we hear from Foreign Service Personnel and their wives, the better awe like it.” So they shut utilization up.  They put it in agreeable language, but that’s what happened. Sit that finished my career in broadcasting.