Our Family History - La Paz, Bolivia - October 1-10, 2000
Drs. Frank and Bessie Beck (Bindy's grandparents)
Nelson Beck (Bindy's father)

 
 
My grandparents spent their lives in Bolivia from the 1910s to the 1960s, and they touched many people's lives during that time. We realized that this was the time to travel, because most of the people that would remember my grandparents and my father, Nelson would be 70-80 years of age. I learned so much about my father and his family while they were living in Bolivia. I was introduced to many of the people who had known my family. They would look into my eyes and nod, "Yes, I see that she is Dr. Beck's granddaughter."

. . . for complete story
Instituto Americano

La Paz American Institute
-or- El Collegio Instituto Americano

  
Doc was a director of this school prior to getting his medical degree. Bessie was a professor and Nelson attended, until he went to college in the States.

. . . for complete story
and more photos

 
First Medical Clinic
In the fall of 1928, Dr. Frank and Bessie Beck returned to Bolivia to begin the medical work.

"We went through an unlocked gate from the school grounds to the front of the old clinic. In the parking area of the clinic there was a beautiful landscape view of Mt. Illimani."
   

. . . for complete story
and more photos

 
Hospital Metodista

Bessie states., "When the hospital was completed in 1934 it was the most modern in Bolivia, capable of handling 80 patients. Beck's particular pride was the home and school for 30 nurses."
   

. . . for complete story
and more photos

 
Medical Clinic in Ancoraimes

The Frank and Bessie Beck left Ancoraimes in mid-1964 when Dr. Beck was 76. They returned in 1966 to visit mission medical work and went to the hospital he had planned in Ancoraimes which was now finished and named after him. It had twelve patient rooms and a small operating room.

Public health care program known today as Curamericas in the United States and Consejo de Salud Rural Andino (CSRA) in Bolivia.

 

 
   

. . . for complete story
and more photos

 
Straits of Tiquina


Dad after race

Bessie states in letter: "I do not know the
exact width of the straits, but it takes a
motor launch a half-hour to cross it."
 

. . . for complete story
and more photos

 
Chaco War

In 1932, with a war being waged between Bolivia and Paraguay, Beck was asked to provide medical assistance for tile Bolivian Army. The war was fought in a disease-cursed jungle area called the Gran Chaco-more realistically dubbed "the Green Hell." Soldiers died like flies from tuberculosis, malaria, intestinal infections. Beck, burning with malaria himself, fought to save casualties of both germs and bullets. He could operate only between four and six o'clock in the morning, after the clouds of mosquitoes had dispersed and before swarms of vicious gnats took over. For his unsparing labors during the fighting he was awarded the "Condor of the Andes," the highest honor that is ever given to foreigners. He was recalled to La Paz to take care of a maternity case of the wife of President Tejada-Sorzano.

 
Condor of the Andes

In 1940, Dr. Frank S. Beck received "The Condor of the Andes" from the Bolivian government for his medical work during the Chaco War with Paraguay and his founding of Clinica Americana Hospital.

This is the highest decoration
given in Bolivia.
   

 
Methodist Church

 

Mina Leyton showed us the Methodist church across the street from the Hospital Metodista. There were two main buildings. The original church, (see photo) which is currently being used as a childcare center and the new church. The original church is where Dad would get elbowed in the ribs by Doc when his dog would come in the church during Sunday's service looking for him.

 

We visited the church on the corner near the Instituto Americano, but Nat Robison felt that this church was rebuilt in the 1950s.
Cemetery

Bessie states: "There was an old cemetery on a hill above the hospital site (Obrajes), and you gathered some old bones that were protruding from the ground. You gave these to the nursing school for their studies in anatomy. You kept for yourself a skull that you put on the window sill as a special protection. You knew that the Indian workmen were very superstitious and they would not bother anything you had while the skull was there. The skull was also used to secure the autographs of all your friends. You even secured an autograph of a movie star who was visiting in LaPaz."

 


Dad (far right) holding skull
with Miriam (next to Dad)
Strike between the Government and the Campesinos
 
Peasants and schoolteachers agreed to end protests, but coca growers refused to lift a blockade of Bolivia's main highway after three weeks of protests that have left 10 people dead and caused millions of dollars in losses to South America's poorest nation.
News article from
Associated Press
 

. . . for complete story
and more photos

 
Slide Show
This is an web-based Slide Show that includes Hospital Metodista in La Paz, Instituto Americano in La Paz, and Dr. Frank S. Beck Hospital in Ancoraimes. There are about 160 slides, some include audio files from Bessie and Frank. To hear the audio files click on the "Bessie" or "Frank" icon that appears on the right hand side of some pages.
 
Daily Schedule
Monday - arrive and sleep
Tuesday - visit Instituto Americano with Martha Loetz (Emily Medina's sister) and Markets near San Francisco Church
Wednesday - visit Methodist offices, Instituto Americano, and Andean Rural Health Care offices with Nat Robinson, director of ARHC
Thursday - visit US Embassy and Beatice Fiorillo's house (friend of Sylvia Cohn)
Friday - visit Hospital Metodista with Mina Leyton (Ruth Fuentes' sister) and Martha Loetz. Bolivia's 3 week Strike between the Government and Campesinos ends.
Saturday - Tour of Altiplano starts with William Pedro of Apa Apa Trek
     
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