From Diana in conjunction with Niles Film Museum:
Dear friends and loyal Baby Peggy Fans:
I find myself in the familiar but unpleasant position of being simultaneously a helpless observer and the subject of a highly controversial situation. In May of 2015, I asked a friend to approach someone in authority at the MPT Fund, to ask who I should question about seeking some financial help. I have been living on a quite modest pension from the University of California for my twenty years of service as manager of the trade book department in its San Diego campus bookstore. The cost of living has increased considerably over the past few years and I was hoping I could discreetly increase my dwindling income.
To my surprise, I learned there were no paper records of my film career in the early 1920’s. This fact was somehow insensitively made public by the Fund. Although I did not protest the facts, to my surprise some of my long-lived fans publicly blamed the MPTF and created a strong partisan movement against the fund’s “refusal to help me,” stating that my University pension met my basic needs of life. About this time, my son lost his job and as he had become my caregiver he was unable to simply walk away from that duty. I asked for an increase in financial assistance, to pay for a caregiver, so my son could be free to return to full time employment, because I am now 97 years old now and cannot be left alone all day.
Unfortunately, having become a popular author and advocate for performing children, the former “Baby Peggy” had become a newsworthy Hollywood figure again. So, when the Fund failed to convince the protesters it was legally impossible to break its ironclad rule about charitable loans, the President of MPTF offered me Residency in its Country Home. By early December, although I had never wanted that option, everyone on “both sides” was focused on me moving into the Home. At one confusing point I temporarily gave in to extreme pressure from close friends to accept the MPTF’s, offer but once I read the contract and other documents I sent my thanks for the offer along with my letter of refusal!
Despite the fact that my own mother was happy at the Home, her life experiences and my own were vastly different. I spent a working childhood of unquestioning obedience, programmed to satisfy my parents in order to purchase personal psychological peace. The life changes that I would need to make in order to reside at the Home are more than I can bear as they involve restricting earnings from my own creative work and a very limited live-work space for my supportive archive, research library of books and photographs. I also adhere to a highly individualized nutritious diet that has kept me healthy and that kind of personal, focused attention could not be available there. I think it has been a huge part of my longevity and I think success breeds success! At last, I have a happy family life with my son and granddaughter who has all the joys of young womanhood which I can look forward to enjoying with her. These years will make up for my lost childhood, which I know is what my friends and fans wish for me.
Diana is staying put in Central Valley by her choice but she does still
need help with living expenses. We can all understand how hard it is to make this problem public but it is true that any assistance would very much be appreciated.
Diana understands that it was a kind and generous offer to allow her to move to the Motion Picture Country Home but she feels her need doesn’t quite warrant that radical of a change.
While slowing down a bit, she still has her wits about her and just needs basic assistance at home, not a complete change of venue. This very hard decision is one which she made after much soul-searching and feeling a great deal of stress - realizing what was the right answer for her (and anyone who knows Diana, knows this was a difficult decision for her to make and these are definitely her own words)
“As a child, I was made to make decisions to do what I didn’t want to do, rather than what I felt was best for me. This really bothered me greatly, and I would not choose to repeat it. I felt it was my job to always make everyone else happy. I am still conditioned to feel that way. At last, I have a happy family home life with a son and grand daughter who love me unconditionally, and everyday is lived at my own pace, not someone else’s schedule.”
A couple other points: she would like to continue having enough room to spread out her manuscripts, archive of books and documents and have computers and printers ready for use and not have a limited amount of space and boxes in storage. She is still a working author and historian helping others. As well, continuing to live with family, her health and nutrition are their focus. Her intent was not to ask to move into the home, rather just some financial assistance for a daytime health aide/ companion while her son was at work.
She appreciates everyone’s concern about her well-being and kind words that have been expressed to her. She is feeling a lot of gratitude and a bit of awkwardness about how this whole situation has transpired. And the financial need is still there.
Our museum will continue its plans for the Baby Peggy weekend as a fundraiser – the monies raised will go to her basic living expenses. I am sure you all can understand how tough this is for a 97 year old to be going through. She has given us all so much, first with sharing her childhood up on the big screen and later with her public appearances and eloquent stories in print and in person. What a gracious lady. Let’s help her out.
-Rena Kiehn, Board Member, Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum
-January 8th 2016
And now for our own word: many silent film authors and historians have met and befriended over the years. Many are kind and well meaning. Sadly it seems from Diana’s statement something was been lost in the game of telephone. At her age she does not do much online and was not online during the MPTF ordeal.
A Star for Baby Peggy advocated not for Diana to be moved into the home, but to receive medical care via MPTF. We understood she did not quality for the home move but she still should have qualified under present rules for some assistance in her home. It was communicated to us that she needed help getting around and staying independent.
MPTF at the time held fast and made much of Diana’s private affairs public, which we found tasteless. Occurring during the holidays there was a brief pause and it was said that MPTF had finally done their home visit, let’s wait it out. After that it was reported Bob Beitcher had extended to Diana the offer to move into the MPTF Home, which was very generous as it was not what had been asked as we knew that was impossible. The news went she had accepted and now we were fundraising for her move.
Its too bad somehow it became garbled this way. We as a campaign will always support Diana in whatever choices she wishes to make. So its very important we underscore the garbling that happened and that MPTF has not only done what they were supposed to do (access her health and finances, which is what we wanted) but they actually did go above and beyond in making the home offer to her. It is VERY important fans realize this.
With the trouble of the end of 2015 behind us, and Diana’s health affairs shored up, let us focus on her wishes. If you can donate to Diana, the tax deductible button is in red text under the Baby Peggy banner here: http://nilesfilmmuseum.org/#0931001
Niles is a fine organization and a trusted partner of Diana’s. Please spread and help!
