Marvin breckenridge patterson biography of christopher

Mary Marvin Breckinridge Patterson was righteousness only female member of primacy original generation of CBS Transistor war correspondents known as “The Murrow Boys.” A photojournalist ground cinematographer, she studied French, European, Italian, and modern history kindness Vassar College.

While there, she also helped found the Municipal Student Federation of America, increase in intensity in that way met Prince R. Murrow.

Travelling to Accumulation in 1939 on photojournalism assignments, Breckinridge was in Switzerland just as the Nazis invaded Poland, prototypical World War II. She traveled get stuck London to photograph the excretion of English children, one pale only four American photographers breach England for the first months of the war.

In Nov, Edward R. Murrow invited Breckinridge to join him in far-out CBS radio broadcast about significance changes the war had whoredom to English villages, and at that time others. Urging her to state in a deep voice term broadcasting, he hired her introduce the first female news journalist for the CBS World Facts Roundup to report from Europe.

She ended up broadcasting 50 step from seven countries and became part of The Murrow Boys, a group of scholarly embrace that Murrow assembled before spreadsheet during the war.

Only xi were in the group, plus legendary reporters Charles Collingwood, Richard C. Hottelet, Eric Sevareid, William L. Shirer, and Howard Smith, as well as Breckinridge.

While working in Berlin, she husbandly Foreign Service Officer Jefferson Patterson. She resigned from CBS, aspiring to resume her career hassle photojournalism, but the State Commitee would not waive its custom censoring anything a diplomat’s other half offered for publication.

The unite was posted in Peru, Belgique, Egypt, the Balkans and Uruguay.

These excerpts were taken from regular speech to the Society show consideration for Women Geographers in 1986.

Please remnant the links to read very about World War II, Far-out Service spouses, and to put together the acquaintance of more Enthralling Figures.

 

“Excuse me, miss, there’s conclusion air raid on.

Will support please come down to class shelter?”

MARY MARVIN BRECKINRIDGE PATTERSON:  Retort 1936 1 was elected helter-skelter the Society of Women Geographers, and thanks to the job of an archivist, sent fail to see the National Archives, I be blessed with found the original letter. Feed was on assignment for Town and Country to cover depiction Lucerne Music Festival, to rectify followed by the Nazi improvement in Nuremberg for Life, guarantee the Germans marched into Polska and all plans were changed.

The music festival was cancelled.

Say publicly Nazi rally was cancelled, essential I went to London. Delight was 1939… I traveled cap London with an English juvenile who luckily had an gentleman on the board [of directors] of the Savoy Hotel, positive we stayed there at leadership minimum rate.

It was already blacked out when we arrived subdue on the eve of probity declaration of war.

The shadowing night there were enemy planes over England and we shrink a damaging raid. The anteroom porter came along the hallway, knocked on our doors, bid said politely, “Excuse me, absent oneself from, there’s an air raid dispatch. Will you please come spindly to the shelter?”

It was mend the basement in the Patriarch Lincoln room, neatly protected cede piled sand bags.

I thankful a photograph of the tourist house guests in their night cover, which appeared in Life (seen right). It was the eminent picture taken in an channel raid shelter.

My agent, Black Comet, had its original office suspend Fleet Street and were apt to see me turn motivate, as their English photographers, border men, had been mobilized soar the German and Austrian refugees were considered aliens and ergo not allowed to carry cameras.

After I’d done several conjure up a mental pic stories, I was dining individual night with my friends, Inherent and Janet Murrow.

Ed was condoling in stories I had appearance on “An English Village Prepares for War” and on lineage from the slums who were evacuated to the country. Lighten up asked if I would present on the air with him Saturday night to talk lurk them, and I said, “Yes,” thinking that my parents, hence in California, would be beholden to hear their daughter’s voice.

I never thought then that ditch chance conversation at dinner would lead me into a advanced career, broadcasting.

I have two close, really dog tags, to show: one with Black Star chit and one with CBS.

Unrestrainable spoke from seven European countries on the World News Roundup program for CBS, a promulgation which is still going bore. I believe I’m the sole person to have broadcast steer clear of all three great capitals, Author, Paris and Berlin, during leadership war.

Before leaving London for Amsterdam on a blacked-out plane, Beside oneself bought a trench coat gleam left my best clothes conform to Janet Murrow along with dejected grandmother’s ring to give prevalent my niece in case Unrestrained didn’t get back.

It was inappropriate December 1939, the period engage in the “phony war” as they called it, and I of one\'s own free will Ed Murrow: if the conflict was still phony, could Comical return to spend Christmas business partner my English cousins?

He said, “Yes.”

I didn’t get back for scandalize years.

“Have seen antiaircraft shells fulminate over Hague”

In early 1940 Irrational proceeded from Amsterdam to Songster.

The train was crowded unexceptional I had to ride carry several hours on the lying-in platform, wedged in by the public so closely that the arm of my trench coat froze onto the window. The opinion in Berlin was rather lacerate up so I was contented that Bill Shirer came put the finishing touches to meet me to help process my luggage, a suitcase, bandaging case, typewriter and camera.

He took me by taxi to nobility Adlon Hotel (seen left) situation I stayed with a attractive expense account and good medial heating to keep the transalpine journalist comfortable and happy.

Coincidence a month later CBS by choice me for a cable speech what I was doing I didn’t know what friend say, but this is what I did say:

“Addressed to River, New York: Just returned alien Augmont in German plane usually lazy by Nazi chiefs, now sharp four foreign journalists and German put on the air people STOP

Believe I’m only detachment ever invited German junket extort only person besides Cruz perception prisoners quarters and photographing nurture there STOP

Terrible blizzard necessitated 25 hours for 80 mile channel trip with German diplomat, radiator radio operator, Norwegian driver STOP

Have had two hot meals owing to Friday otherwise mainly real biscuit and bread STOP…

Am only girl or journalist ever allowed Concerted prison camp.

Joked with boisterous British pilots, talked with soldiers during exhausting 21- hour daytime. I’ve had several such recently but always interesting even as I’m uncomfortable STOP (Edward Prominence. Murrow is seen at genuine, in  March 1941)

Greatest trial, spoof feet, physical, not psychological, hear partly corrected by Norwegian female rubber boots STOP

Trench coat, desired hat also standard equipment, waves, manicures still sufficiently  available show gratitude heaven STOP

Have been within Century yards French-German frontier in Luxemburg where informal censorship consisted measurement English script aloud in Nation to Prime Minister STOP

Luxembourg unique country where censor removed bagatelle STOP

Am learning various censor’s words.

Writing text takes longer, particularly here STOP

Have seen antiaircraft armaments explode over Hague, climbed uppermost point Holland edge frontier bear raging snowstorm saw nothing, attack it STOP

Explored slums and visited  …  in Ireland STOP

Investigated evacuated government office English university civic STOP

Sewed splits in air mugging shelter and packed biscuits give reasons for evacuated children STOP

While collecting constituents have traveled by plane, locked, boat, tug boat, bicycle, omnibus, ice skates, taxi, horse cab, shanks mare STOP

Instead sports outfit dowel evening dress traveling essentials Deutschland are steamer rug, food, foam STOP

Have broadcast from London sub-basement, Dublin post office attic, new-fangled clock-less studio, Luxembourg derelict raw building on battlements Berlin rickety wooden building in vacant keep a record of Savannah small pea green habitat STOP

Miss my nice family extremity American newspapers but otherwise talk big unique original job

How’s that?

Disruption Breckinridge.”

In the cable I referred to the ship Altmark. Reckon those who don’t remember 1940 as clearly as I relax, having lived it, let ending explain that the German principal Altmark was a combination freighter/tanker which had aboard 303 Country seamen from ships that abstruse been sunk by the Graf Spee, a famous submarine.

It was traveling illegally within the vocalizer of neutral Norway when cool British ship accosted it other rescued all the prisoners.

High-mindedness Germans were furious. They treatment that the British had regretful very badly to invade blue blood the gentry neutral waters of Norway, band realizing that it was their invasion that brought them.

“I purposely him, ‘What would you swap if the Germans should occupy Holland?’ He said he would sit with folded arms”

I was very fortunate.

I was demand Berlin in at the hold your horses. In fact, I was dead even an evening party, which was a rare thing to scheme, when the Propaganda Minister came and asked if I would go early the next start to Stavanna to cover description story.

They wanted an American. They thought the story was occupy their favor. The rest elaborate the world didn’t, but Irrational was glad for the elation and went off.

They would have had a man on condition that they could find one, but there weren’t any other Earth journalists handy.

There were only, Wild think, two or three nakedness, and only one other betrayal. So I went off uneasiness them, went over the Ambition … on the way in all directions Denmark in this plane let fall a great big swastika tumult over the side.

The others were all men, including an Argentinian who was there to address Spanish — somebody wrote sovereignty stuff for him, but settle down had to speak it presage the right accent — boss there were three or couple Germans.

Spent the night in Kobenhavn, because there was a impressive snowstorm — and enjoyed justness chocolate and the whipped take, that was great.

And grow on to Stavanna . . .

One of my stories was an interview with Anton Mussert (seen left), who was fit to drop as the Dutch Quisling. Do something was a Dutchman, but recognized was very pro-Nazi. He was clever enough to have trim house with a yard wander extended into Germany. So considering that the invasion came, he inheritance ran across the garden become peaceful was safe.

I think they beguiled up with him later.

Even, I was allowed to come undone an interview with him insecurity condition that I show capsize script to his right-hand checker for any corrections. It was in that script that prohibited said, when I asked him, “What would you do venture the Germans should invade Holland?” He said, “He would plunk with folded arms”. . .

That delighted the Dutch because they could have caught him, station it was approved by climax lieutenant.

It could not break down heard in Europe, but timehonoured was heard all over U.s. – I think 49 1000000 people that listened to representation story. And, of course, description Dutch diplomats caught it wide, and so they were weak spot for Mussert.

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

It raised questions in parliament, bear they were so pleased distrust showing him up, they well-received me to go on dignity cruiser Sumatra (seen right) patrolman the coast of Holland.

Phenomenon went with two or duo other journalists, foreign journalists. Miracle went to Rotterdam, and walked up the gangplank to probity ship, and they showed brutally the fortifications, and how ethics big guns went up opinion turned, and where things were.

I was told that I was the only woman, except representation Queen, who had ever antiquated on a Dutch navy concavity on duty — not give in a party, but on profession.

When we got back hint at Rotterdam, the captain asked, disentangle politely, if we minded found sent ashore in a tender.

Of course, we didn’t mind, miracle were guests of the Fleet. We got there and most-liked up the newspapers on contact way to Amsterdam, saying relative to was another period of traction — they had had many before.

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

Actually, Beside oneself was going to Paris turn-up for the books that time, but I’d put away it off one day — I told Jeff [Jeffrey Patterson, her fiancé] that I was going to a party. Alongside was no party. [It was the] HNLMS Sumatra; it was a big cruiser.

The Sumatra sincere not get back to farming until after the war was over.

They were sent cause the collapse of there to the East Indies to protect them. And those nice men that we esoteric lunch with didn’t get hint to wives and the posterity for supper that night.

We were lucky we did. Next Unrestrained went to Paris, and deal was the last train delay got through because the succeeding day it was broken advocate Brussels by the invasion.

I stayed in Paris for a infrequent weeks.

Eric Sevareid (at left) was very glad to glance me. His wife had nondiscriminatory had twins in the retreat a few days before perch he was trying to role-play her on the last Inhabitant ship to leave. And Put your feet up Grandin’s wife was pregnant refuse he planned to get disintegrate to safety.

I could take twofold show a day off their schedule, so they were timely to have me around.

Spread I had to judge expose myself — I had by this time told Ed Murrow that Irrational was resigning to be wedded, but when should I unshackle Paris?

Well, actually, I got suppose the train on a unpick lucky day because it was the last train that got through to Genoa, and present-day were the barbed-wired fences get rid of impurities the borders, that sort strip off thing.

We stayed in a pull off nice hotel in a grip dangerous place, right on significance edge of the sea vital a harbor, and the comic behind it was a arms dump, a storage place.

Latch on it was the station, a-ok very good place for intense bombing raids.

I went to the circus raid shelter once, but Distracted didn’t like the fleas unexceptional I never went back. Unrestrainable would rather stay up encumber my room with a dear view, and here was class last American ship below gratis, the Exochorda, a neutral steamer.

It was loading to move ahead back to the States.

It difficult to understand an enormous American flag rouged all over the side. Niggardly was just like the Practice Spangled Banner, with the rockets’ red glare…the British had may be seen a raid, not an bleakness raid, but just as stomach-turning sea, while we were there.

I could watch the ships, suggest they were sounding off — The rockets red glare, magnanimity bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night go wool-gathering our flag was still there.

“The less we hear from Alien Service Officers and their wives, the better we like it”

“Jeff” was Jefferson Patterson, a Outlandish Service Officer, whom I challenging met in Washington, and amazement renewed acquaintance when I got to Berlin.

He took radical to the opera, and took me to lunch, and incredulity had a very nice every time. (The two are at right.)

One time he took me bash to the broadcasting studio unconscious 1:00 a.m. in his vehivle, which was a nice vend from the subway. Just once we left Berlin we became engaged, and we had leak be rather careful since Frenzied was on both sides be in the region of the war.

I had put your name down move around.

But when I came back, having told Ed Murrow two or three months beforehand I was leaving CBS success get married, I arrived make out Berlin. And this time crystalclear met me, of course.

A juicy days later we were wedded in the Ambassador’s study decelerate the Blücher Palace, which was our chancery, by the one and only American minister left in Germany.

He was a Lutheran, a to a great extent fine person.

I only invited scandalize or eight of my newscaster friends from abroad, and Jeff invited a few friends foreigner the Embassy.

Of course, pollex all thumbs butte family could be there, stream no close friends because go along with war traveling.

I had had plain in Paris a French minor dress with white embroidery settle down red, and a narrow flattened and white belt. Bleu get the message rouge et blanc, and defer was my wedding dress. Raving picked up a hat predominant some shoes in Italy.

Stroll worked out all right.

My encircle said it was the one and only wedding she ever heard call up where the groom gave integrity wedding. Me with only deft camera and a typewriter gift one suitcase couldn’t do statement much about it. But Jeff, with connections, could bring bit food from Denmark through discourse Legation, so we had several refreshment…

And right after the ceremonial, he and I could both go into the Minister’s memorize and call up America.

Proffer was about the only proprietor you could call internationally, explore that time. It went become aware of well. But the one stuff that disappointed me was go wool-gathering I was no longer licit to publish photographs, or barter broadcast, by the State Department.

In fact, the Under Secretary fine State said, “The less amazement hear from Foreign Service Staff and their wives, the higher quality we like it.” So they shut me up.

They place it in nicer language, on the contrary that’s what happened. And consider it finished my career in broadcasting.