The early immigrant Scudders and missionary-minded Scudders featured in this issue had unique opportunities to engage with people of other races, ethnicities, cultures, religions and politics that were different than their own. They moved to different countries or colonies where they were considered the strangers by those who were already present.
For over 200 years the Scudders have provided direct medical care and comfort to the peoples of India. For over 100 years Scudder families have provided financial support to those medical services through the philanthropic efforts of the Scudder Association Foundation. It is a tradition we have quietly continued. However, not since the turbulent period of Indian Independence in the 1940’s, has the work begun by the Scudders and continued by the thousands of graduates of the CMC Vellore and Scudder Memorial Hospital medical programs come under a graver threat to the welfare of the communities they serve, than now.
The old saying, “The hand that rocks the cradle is that hand that rules the world,” seems particularly fitting for Elizabeth (Scudder) Lathrop. Many in her posterity have been motivated by a strong desire to make the world a better place.
It all started with a phone call. What was going to be a simple outing to a car museum for my dad’s 79th birthday, turned into a deep dive into my family’s ancestry with several surprising connections along the way.