Esther Pohl Lovejoy

File:Esther Pohl Lovejoy.jpg

Esther Pohl Lovejoy

Esther Pohl Lovejoy (November 16, 1869 – August 31, 1967) was an American physician, public health pioneer, suffrage activist, congressional candidate, and a central figure in early efforts to organize international medical relief work. She was born Esther Clayson in a lumber camp near Seabeck, Washington, and received almost no formal early education. Despite this, she became only the second woman to graduate from University of Oregon's medical school (1894), and was among the founders and served as first president of the Medical Women's International Association (1919). She was awarded the Elizabeth Blackwell Medal in 1951 and 1957.

She created the Everybody's Equal Suffrage League ahead of the 1912 election, when Oregon became the 7th state to grant women the right to vote.

External links

• 'Neither Head nor Tail to the Campaign': Esther Pohl Lovejoy and the Oregon Woman Suffrage Victory of 1912 by Kimberly Jensen, Oregon Historical Quarterly Fall 2007