Title:

Oral history interview of Michael DeBakey by Donald A. Schanche (tape 1)

Creator:

DeBakey, Michael E. (Michael Ellis), 1908-2008

Contributor:

Schanche, Donald A. (Interviewer)

Date:

3 January 1972

Description:

In 1972, journalist Donald A. Schanche (1926-1994) conducted a series of interviews with DeBakey as part of his research for a planned biography. Schanche worked on the project for several years, but the book was never completed. Several letters in the NLM DeBakey Papers indicate that Schanche, though a talented, experienced writer and editor, had difficulty drafting DeBakey's life story because of the sheer number and variety of DeBakey's interests and achievements. In 1976, Schanche joined the Foreign Division of the Los Angeles Times, and moved to Cairo. It appears that neither he nor DeBakey were able to follow up with the biography.. Topics covered in this interview include: DeBakey's experience of growing up in Lake Charles; his parents' backgrounds, values, high standards; learning to sew with his mother & gardening with his father; family activities, including a year abroad in 1921; working at his father's store; early school experiences and his love of learning; going to New Orleans to attend Tulane University; being a perfectionist, and his dislike of mediocrity.

Location:

Box: 2. Folder: 7

Rights:

Reproduced with permission of Anne Schanche Ferro.

Genre:

Oral histories (document genres)
Interviews
Transcripts

Format:

Text

Extent:

67 pages

Language:

English

Legacy Source Citation:

UI (NLM). FJBBWT. FJBBWT

Legacy ID:

FJBBTD

NLM ID:

101743405X308

Profiles Collection:

The Michael E. DeBakey Papers

Shareable Link:

https://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/101743405X308