The Fischer quintuplets also known as the Fischer quints, were the first surviving quintuplets in the United States. They are Mary Ann (named after their mother), Mary Magdalene, Mary Catherine, James Andrew, and Mary Margaret.[1] The news of the quintuplets' birth garnered world wide attention in 1963 and the family received a parade, money, and even five medals from Pope Paul VI. The parents sold the magazine and television rights to their story and then attempted to give the "quints" an ordinary life.

Birth

They were born at St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen, South Dakota, on September 14, 1963, and were placed in incubators because they were "tiny, premature babies, so small that any one of them could be held in a hand".[2][1] The nurses at St. Lukes Hospital named the babies A, B, C, D and E.[3] It was thought the quintuplets came from three different eggs, leading to two fraternal twins and three triplets.[4]

Childhood

Their parents are Andrew and Mary Ann Fischer, who treated their children normally despite the public treating them as a "rare natural wonder".[2] Catholic Bishop Lambert Anthony Hoch baptized them in 1963.[5] Exactly a month after they were born, a two-hour long parade was held in Aberdeen for the quintuplets with their parents leading the procession. The parade was watched by 50,000 people, including 24,000 from Aberdeen. Five medals from Pope Paul VI were given to the Fischer family during the parade.[1] Due to the publicity, the family received a large sum of money and bought a $100,000 house and an 800-acre (320-hectare) farm. They were raised near Aberdeen, along with their six other siblings.[2] When their daughter Cynthia was born the following year, Mary Ann said that Cindy kept the quintuplets from thinking that they were "the whole show" because much of the family's attention was focused on her.[2]

In 1980 the parents divorced, and the divorce settlement allowed Mrs. Fischer to stay in the customized home with the eleven children until 1985; the home was to be sold at the time with the funds split between Mary Ann and Andrew Fisher.[6] Mary Ann Fisher died in 2012 and Andrew Fisher died in 2015.[1][7]

Media

John Bird, of The Saturday Evening Post, covered the quintuplets' first summer outside, on their family farm, when they were 22 months old.[2] They were written about in The Saturday Evening Post several times. There was once a sign in Aberdeen that said, "Aberdeen—Home of the Fischer quints".[8]

A 1963 film titled Happy Mother's Day was shown at the Venice Film Festival and Dok Leipzig, winning awards at both of them. The film later aired on European television and was covered in European film journals. However, the film never aired on television in the United States. In Happy Mother's Day, Mary Ann Fischer was shown to be "quietly suffering" because of the publicity.[9] The American television channel ABC showed a heavily cut version of the film, titled The Fischer Quintuplets with negative content being replaced by narration.[9]

When the quintuplets turned five years old they were living in "relative seclusion". After the worldwide publicity, the Fischers decided they wanted their children to have as "ordinary a life as possible." The Fischers signed exclusive contracts with publications which gave them $250,000.[10][11] By 1976 the quintuplets were 13 years old and their parents still kept the children out of the spotlight. Mary Ann Fischer stated that she wanted the quints to be "ordinary, everyday kids". Their father Andrew Fischer had become a cattle rancher.[12]

The quintuplets turned 50 years old in 2013 and the Associated Press ran a story updating their life history.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hevesi, Dennis (December 14, 2012). "Mary Ann Fischer, Whose Quintuplets Were a U.S. First, Dies at 79". The New York Times. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Bird, John (July 31, 1965). "Summer on the farm". The Saturday Evening Post. No. 15. The Curtis Publishing Company. pp. 28–29.
  3. 1 2 "South Dakota quintuplets turn 50 in Aberdeen". Ironwood Daily Globe. Associated Press. October 24, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  4. ↑ P. Crossley, Robert (September 1964). Quints, anyone? Could it happen to you?. Bonnier Corporation. p. 55. Retrieved June 13, 2022. {{cite book}}: |magazine= ignored (help)
  5. ↑ "The Pride of Aberdeen". Time. September 27, 1963. Archived from the original on November 22, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Fischers Divorced". Huron Daily Plainsman. October 8, 1980. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  7. ↑ Langer, Emily (February 2, 2015). "Andrew Fischer, father of famous quintuplets, dies at 89". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  8. ↑ Callison, Jill (September 14, 2013). "Happy 50th birthday, times five. Famous Aberdeen quintuplets will celebrate, with all 11 siblings". Argus Leader. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  9. 1 2 Barnouw, Erik (1993). Documentary: A History of the Non-fiction Film. Oxford University Press. p. 240. ISBN 978-0-19-507898-5. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Fischer Quintuplets Observe Fifth Birthday". Joplin Globe. September 15, 1968. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Fischer and Prieto "quints" remain out of-bounds for curious visitors". The Ottawa Citizen. October 9, 1963. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Fischer Quintuplets Mark Quiet 13th Birthday at Farmhouse in South Dakota". Cumberland News. UPI. September 30, 1976. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
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