Pauline Bertram
Early Keokuk Doctor, College of Physicians and Surgeons Graduate
Cemetery Marker Number
Date of Birth
Date Of Death
Cemetery Location
56
1859
5/8/1949
Block 1, Lot 40
Dr. Pauline Bertram, M.D.
Written by Erika Barrett
Early Life and Education
Born in 1859 in Louisiana, Dr. Pauline Bertram moved to Keokuk, Iowa, where she would eventually become one of the city's first female physicians. She pursued her medical education at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, a daring choice at a time when the medical profession was overwhelmingly male-dominated.
Medical Career and Impact
Dr. Bertram was known for her distinctive presence in Keokuk, not only as a skilled physician but also for her unconventional attire, often seen wearing pants around town, a stark contrast to the norms of her era. Her professional life was marked by resilience and determination, as she navigated the challenges of practicing medicine in an environment initially hostile to women. Despite early resistance, Dr. Bertram and her contemporaries proved instrumental in transforming local attitudes towards women in medicine.
From a Daily Gate City article in 1979, it was noted, "Hundreds of women were educated and trained in Keokuk medical colleges well before the turn of the century... and at least thirty years before the Nineteenth Amendment gave these doctors a right to vote!" This reflects the progressive shift that Dr. Bertram was a part of in Keokuk.
Legacy
Dr. Bertram is buried alongside her parents in Oakland Cemetery, her gravestone proudly bearing the inscription "Pauline Bertram M.D." Her life and work remain a testament to the possibilities that can be opened up through courage and persistence. Her legacy is celebrated among a distinguished group of early female physicians in Keokuk, as noted in "Goodbye My Keokuk Lady" by Raymond E. Garrison. This group includes other pioneers such as Drs. Alice Honce, Mary Osborne Hoyt, Bertha S. Pease, Cora Wittich, and Dr. Mary L. Geiser.
Recognition
Dr. Bertram's contributions extend beyond her medical practice; she symbolizes a break from traditional roles and expectations for women, serving as an inspiration for future generations in Keokuk and beyond.
Sources:
Daily Gate City, February 14, 1979
Garrison, Raymond E. "Goodbye My Keokuk Lady"