Historian presents diary of Sisters physician

Doctor Leonard Vincent practiced medicine in Sisters in the early 1920s and chronicled his experiences, thoughts and opinions in a 600-page typed manuscript. The diary gives a clear picture of life in early Sisters.

The journal was left at the Sisters library in the mid 1980s by a visiting Californian who thought that the historical document should reside in the community where it was written. Not much is known about how the diary traveled to California or where and how it was found.

The fragile book lived in the library for 15 years until local historian Shirley Petrie volunteered to review and research the document and the life of doctor Vincent and pass along its contents to the Sisters community during the annual library lecture series.

"I hope to introduce people to Doctor Leonard Vincent, someone that they never knew," Petrie said.

There are still a few Sisters residents who remember the doctor. Petrie has located and interviewed three residents who have a clear recollection of Doctor Vincent.

Doctor Vincent lived in a downtown boarding house, ate at restaurants and practiced medicine in a house which still stands across from Sisters' city hall. His diary, which contains a complete chronicle of his life, also records the ideas and opinions of this well-educated man.

In addition to life in Sisters and his patients, the writer discusses his many favorite passages from works of poetry, analyzes the writings of Sigmund Freud and presents strong opinions on religion and theology.

According to Petrie, the doctor may have had considerable time to write between patients, since the pace of Sisters life was much slower in the 1920s.

Petrie has been interested in history since childhood.

"It's just a lifelong love," she said. Always a history major, Petrie has studied in three universities in three countries. She received her degree from Sofia University in Tokyo.

Petrie will present an overview of doctor Vincent's manuscript on Monday, February 8, at 7 p.m. at the Sisters library. Admission is free.