Post (C) Doris McCraw
aka Angela Raines
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| Image (C) Doris McCraw |
The following is taken from an earlier post.
I have spoken of Dr. Harriet Leonard before, but I felt she deserved for folks to know more about her.
She was born in New York in 1829 and died in Colorado in 1907 at the age of 79 (?). She was married to John Leonard, and they had seven children, four of whom survived to adulthood, according to the 1900 census. John died in 1895/6.
Along with Julia E. Loomis, the first woman doctor in Colorado Springs, Harriet Leonard was the first woman doctor in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Her advertisement appears as early as July of 1878. Her ad read: "Mrs. H. A. Leonard M.D. ELECTRICIAN. Special attention given to nervous and chronic diseases. Office in the Mineral Bath House. Manitou." This form of treatment was not that unusual in the 1870’s. You can read more at: http://blog.nyhistory.org/electric-medicine/
Dr. Leonard was the proprietor of the Bath house in Manitou Springs, a rather unusual position for a woman. Nonetheless, Harriet was constantly working and learning. There is some indication she may have gone to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (originally known as Hot Springs) for a time, but no definite proof has been found. It would not be out of the question, as the town has numerous hot springs. The springs in Manitou are mineral, not hot springs. It would make sense, given her history, that she would spend time there. She was in Denver when she first arrived in the area, according to Denver City Directories.
Another difference between Dr. Leonard and the other female physicians was that she was an allopath, whereas Dr. Loomis and others were homeopaths. Dr. Leonard graduated from the Keokuk College for Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Loomis, a graduate of the Cleveland Homeopathic College for Women, as were the two other women doctors who joined these two early pioneers.
When she fell and broke her leg, she declined quickly and passed away in September 1907, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, CO.
If you want to learn more about Harriet and the other women doctors, you can check out the ebook "Under the Stone" at this link: "Under the Stone"
1 comment:
That is awesome that she was the proprietor of the bath house, and that she had her office there. When I think of who takes care of the bath house, I think in today's world, so a work crew of men. Neve put thought to who did it back in the day, but it's fun to see a female did. Thanks for sharing Doris.
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