Susan Anderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Susan Anderson
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| Born | January 31, 1870 |
| Died | April 16, 1960 (aged 90) |
| Education | University of Michigan |
| Medical career | |
| Profession | Physician |
Susan Anderson (born January 31, 1870 – died April 16, 1960) was an American doctor. She was one of the first women to work as a doctor in Colorado.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Susan Anderson was born in 1870 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Later, her family moved to Kansas. Her parents divorced when she was young. She lived with her father, her younger brother, and her grandmother.
After finishing high school in 1891, her family moved to Cripple Creek, Colorado. Gold had been found there, making it a busy place. Susan first wanted to be a telegraph operator. However, her father encouraged her to go to medical school. She studied at the University of Michigan.
Becoming a Doctor
Susan Anderson became a licensed doctor in 1897. She returned to Cripple Creek after medical school. She then tried to work in other Colorado towns. These included Denver, Greeley, and Eaton. But it was hard for her to find a job.
In 1904, she became the Coroner of Grand County, Colorado. A coroner is a person who investigates deaths. During this time, she looked into many deaths. These deaths happened while building the Moffat Tunnel railroad.
"Doc Susie" in Fraser
In 1907, Susan Anderson got sick with tuberculosis. This made her move to Fraser, Colorado. The people there liked her very much and called her "Doc Susie." For 49 years, she was the only doctor in Fraser.
Doc Susie helped many different patients. She treated various medical problems. This included helping with childbirth and fixing skiing injuries. She was especially busy during the 1918 flu pandemic. Many people had pneumonia then.
Most of her work involved visiting patients at their homes. But Doc Susie never owned a horse or a car. She often got paid with food or firewood instead of money.
Later Years and Legacy
During the 1950s, many newspapers and magazines wrote about Doc Susie. A famous actress named Ethel Barrymore wanted to make a movie about her life. But Doc Susie said no.
She stopped working in 1956. In 1958, she went to Denver General Hospital because she was not well. She stayed there until she died in 1960. Susan Anderson was 90 years old when she passed away. She was buried in Cripple Creek.
In 1997, Susan Anderson was honored. She was added to the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. This recognized her important work as a doctor in Colorado.
Images for kids
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Her grave in Mount Pisgah Cemetery (Cripple Creek, Colorado)
