Jane Lord Hersom

American physician

Jane Lord Hersom (August 6, 1840 – November 29, 1928) was an American physician and suffragist.

Jane Lord Hersom
Portrait of Jane Lord Hersom from "A Woman of the Century"
Born	(1840-08-06)August 6, 1840 Sanford, Maine
Died	November 29, 1928(1928-11-29) (aged 88) Portland, Maine
Education	Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania
Occupation(s)	physician, suffragist

Early life and education

Jane Lord was born in Sanford, Maine, August 6, 1840. Her father and mother, Samuel and Sophia Hight (Smith) Lord,^[1] were of English descent.^[2]

She was educated in public and private schools in Springvale, Maine,^[1] where the family had removed. She began to teach before she was sixteen, going to school in the fall and winter and teaching in the summer.^[2]

Career

In 1865, when she was 25 years of age, Jane Lord married Dr. Nahum Alvah Hersom. They settled in Farmington, New Hampshire. In 1862, Dr. Hersom, entered the army as an assistant surgeon, was promoted to first surgeon, and afterwards had charge of a field hospital during the American Civil War.^[2]

After the war, Nahum Hersom opened a country practice. His strength soon waned, and he took a five year leave from his practice. The Hersoms then moved to Portland, Maine, where Nahum soon acquired a demanding practice. In 1881, Nahum Hersom went abroad for needed rest and died in Dublin, Ireland, one week after arriving.

Jane Hersom had read medical works to her husband during his sickness, and enjoying them, continued to read them on her own. Her husband had reportedly told her often that she would make a fine physician. Hersom began studying medicine with Professor Stephen H. Weeks, of Portend, Maine. In 1883, she entered the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia,^[3] where she studied for three years.^[4]

After earning her medical degree, Hersom established a successful medical practice in Portland. She was elected physician of the Temporary Home for Women and Children in Portland, a position she held for four years, until she was obliged to resign in order to attend to her other duties. She was a member of the American Medical Association, and the State and County Medical Societies. In 1896, Hersom served as president of the Pediatrics section of the Maine Academy of Medicine and Science.^[5] She was also a member of the Practitioner's Club, of which she was elected president in 1892.^[3] She was a contributor of medical papers in societies and clubs and in literary clubs.^[1]

Hersom was also an active member of the Woman's Suffrage Association. She became a suffragist through her exigence as a student and physician.^[3] She served as treasurer of the Maine State Woman's Suffrage Association, and president of the Portland Equal Suffrage Club.^[1]

In religion, Hersom was a Congregationalist; in politics, a Republican. She was a member of the Civic Club, Woman's Literary Union, and Monday Club.^[1]

Personal life

The Hersoms had two children, a daughter, Mabel Lord (Mrs. Rufus Harton Jones),^[1] and a child who died in infancy.^[3]

She died in Portland, Maine, November 29, 1928.^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Leonard 1914, p. 384.
^ ^a ^b ^c Willard & Livermore 1893, p. 374.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Willard & Livermore 1893, p. 375.
^ Motter 1911, p. 595.
^ Maine Academy of Medicine and Science. 1895, p. 405.
^ "Woman Doctor Dies at 87". Rutland Daily Herald. 30 March 1928. p. 2. Retrieved 24 April 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

Attribution

This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Leonard, John W. (1914). Woman's Who's who of America. Vol. 1 (Public domain ed.). New York City: American Commonwealth Company.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Maine Academy of Medicine and Science. (1895). Journal of Medicine and Science. Vol. 2 (Public domain ed.). Maine Academy of Medicine and Science.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Motter, H. L., ed. (1911). Who's Who in the World, 1912 (Public domain ed.). New York City: International Who's Who Publishing Company.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Willard, Frances Elizabeth; Livermore, Mary Ashton Rice (1893). "Jane Lord Hersom". A Woman of the Century: Fourteen Hundred-seventy Biographical Sketches Accompanied by Portraits of Leading American Women in All Walks of Life (Public domain ed.). Charles Wells Moulton.