Physician, suffragist, and citizen: Dr. Margaret Long and early twentieth-century feminism

Abstract

Dr. Margaret Long (1873-1957) was a medical philanthropist, an activist in the suffragist movement, and a notable travel writer. Long demonstrated that women's progress required simultaneous action across all spheres of society, challenging gender norms and creating space for women. With financial and family support, Long dedicated her early life to pursuing an education, bypassing domestic expectations for women. She established her career as a physician in Denver, working alongside a non-profit sanatorium to advance women's progress in society through focused public health efforts that improved conditions for women. Her professional career and dedication to social progress frame her as a representation of feminist ideals that sought equality in education, the workforce, and society. Long believed in bold political action, using suffrage as a platform for equality, and she dedicated her time to national suffrage campaigns through leadership in radical and militant organizations. Her legacy of historical writings and maps highlights her dedication to recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of women and other trailblazers in the American West. She defied gender norms by attending college, obtaining a medical degree, practicing medicine, advocating for women’s suffrage, having same-sex relationships, and traveling alone. Long’s contributions during her life represent a shift in societal expectations for women and a leading example for generations of women to come. Long’s biography helps us understand the early wave of feminism through the life of a woman who embodied feminist ideology. Drawing on oral histories and archival collections, this paper examines how Long’s public activities demonstrate the tenor of twentieth-century feminism.