After the court case was finished Dr.
Hummer moved to the Sioux Falls area
where he attempted to revive a career
in psychiatry. His reputation though,
as the infamous warden of Hiawatha,
limited his patient load and tarnished
his reputation considerably. While he
continued his life as if he'd done
nothing wrong, participating in the
Masons and local chorale groups,
Harry Hummer's life was not the
success he'd hoped for. Buried in
Washington DC, Dr. Hummer was
given all the accolades in death that
he so desired in life - and all that his
patients in their deaths were denied.
Hummer moved to the Sioux Falls area
where he attempted to revive a career
in psychiatry. His reputation though,
as the infamous warden of Hiawatha,
limited his patient load and tarnished
his reputation considerably. While he
continued his life as if he'd done
nothing wrong, participating in the
Masons and local chorale groups,
Harry Hummer's life was not the
success he'd hoped for. Buried in
Washington DC, Dr. Hummer was
given all the accolades in death that
he so desired in life - and all that his
patients in their deaths were denied.
While the majority of his victims were not
afforded obituaries, Dr. Hummer had at
least two, possibly three. One located in
the Sioux Falls Argus Leader and the other
in the Congressional Cemetery Record
which seems to contain snippets from
other locations as well.
afforded obituaries, Dr. Hummer had at
least two, possibly three. One located in
the Sioux Falls Argus Leader and the other
in the Congressional Cemetery Record
which seems to contain snippets from
other locations as well.
Hummer, Harry Reid b. 27 Jan 1879 - d. 28 Aug 1957 R80/E-2
Hummer, Dr. Harry Reid. On Wednesday, August 28, 1957 a.m., Sioux Falls, S. Dakota, Dr. Harry Reid
Hummer, husband of Norena Guest Hummer, father of Dr. Francis L. Hummer and Radm. Harry R.
Hummer, jr., U.S. Navy (retired); brother of Mrs. Georgie H. Lepper and John B. Hummer. He is also
survived by four grandchildren. Services will be held at Gawler's Chapel, 1756 Pennsylvania avenue
northwest on Sunday, September 1 at 3 p.m. Interment private.
The Evening Star, August 30, 1957, p. A-20
Dr. H.R. Hummer, Formerly On Staff at St. Elizabeths
Dr. Harry R. Hummer, 78, a former staff member of St. Elizabeths Hospital, died Wednesday in Sioux
Falls, S. Dak., after a brief illness. Dr. Hummer was born in Washington and attended public schools
here. He received his medical degree from Georgetown University. A medical intern at St. Elizabeths
in 1899, when only 20 years old, Dr. Hummer became an assistant physician and in charge of one of the
buildings. He left St. Elizabeths in 1908 and became superintendent of the Indian Insane Asylum at
Canton, S. Dak., a position he held until his retirement in the early 1930s.
Dr. Hummer came out of retirement in 1947, serving five years as a member of the staff of consultants
in the Veterans Hospital in Sioux Falls. Dr. Hummer was a member of the South Dakota and Sioux
Valley medical Associations and the Memorial A.M. Psychiatric Association of America. He was a Mason
and a member of the Sioux Falls Consistory and of the El Riad Temple of the Shrine. He sang with a
singing group, the Chanters, for 20 years. He was a past president of the Crusade Commandery of
Canton and in 1933 and 1934 was grand commander of the Scottish Rite of South Dakota.
Surviving are his wife, the former Norena Guest of Sioux Falls; two sons, Dr. Francis L. Hummer of
Madison, Wis., and Rear Admiral Harry R. Hummer, USN, retired of San Diego, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Henry
A. Lepper of 9303 Harvey road, Silver Spring, and a brother, John B. Hummer of 1 Franklin avenue,
Silver Spring. Four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren also survive.
A service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Gawler's funeral home, 1756 Pennsylvania avenue N.W. Burial
will be private. Interments in the Historic Congressional Cemetery
Hummer, Dr. Harry Reid. On Wednesday, August 28, 1957 a.m., Sioux Falls, S. Dakota, Dr. Harry Reid
Hummer, husband of Norena Guest Hummer, father of Dr. Francis L. Hummer and Radm. Harry R.
Hummer, jr., U.S. Navy (retired); brother of Mrs. Georgie H. Lepper and John B. Hummer. He is also
survived by four grandchildren. Services will be held at Gawler's Chapel, 1756 Pennsylvania avenue
northwest on Sunday, September 1 at 3 p.m. Interment private.
The Evening Star, August 30, 1957, p. A-20
Dr. H.R. Hummer, Formerly On Staff at St. Elizabeths
Dr. Harry R. Hummer, 78, a former staff member of St. Elizabeths Hospital, died Wednesday in Sioux
Falls, S. Dak., after a brief illness. Dr. Hummer was born in Washington and attended public schools
here. He received his medical degree from Georgetown University. A medical intern at St. Elizabeths
in 1899, when only 20 years old, Dr. Hummer became an assistant physician and in charge of one of the
buildings. He left St. Elizabeths in 1908 and became superintendent of the Indian Insane Asylum at
Canton, S. Dak., a position he held until his retirement in the early 1930s.
Dr. Hummer came out of retirement in 1947, serving five years as a member of the staff of consultants
in the Veterans Hospital in Sioux Falls. Dr. Hummer was a member of the South Dakota and Sioux
Valley medical Associations and the Memorial A.M. Psychiatric Association of America. He was a Mason
and a member of the Sioux Falls Consistory and of the El Riad Temple of the Shrine. He sang with a
singing group, the Chanters, for 20 years. He was a past president of the Crusade Commandery of
Canton and in 1933 and 1934 was grand commander of the Scottish Rite of South Dakota.
Surviving are his wife, the former Norena Guest of Sioux Falls; two sons, Dr. Francis L. Hummer of
Madison, Wis., and Rear Admiral Harry R. Hummer, USN, retired of San Diego, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Henry
A. Lepper of 9303 Harvey road, Silver Spring, and a brother, John B. Hummer of 1 Franklin avenue,
Silver Spring. Four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren also survive.
A service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Gawler's funeral home, 1756 Pennsylvania avenue N.W. Burial
will be private. Interments in the Historic Congressional Cemetery
Dr. Hummer's Ultimate End
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