Anita Newcomb McGee
Encyclopedia
Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee (November 4, 1864 – October 5, 1940) was an American
physician who is remembered for her medical work with the United States military.
. She married geologist and anthropologist W.J. McGee
in 1888. Their oldest child, a daughter named Klotho, was born in 1889 and was primarily raised by a private nurse. Her second child, Donald died of meningitis
at 9 months. Her youngest child, Eric Newcomb, was born in 1902.
) in 1892, followed by a special post-graduate course in gynecology at Johns Hopkins University
. She was in private practice in Washington, DC, from 1892 to 1896 and was one of few woman physicians practicing in the Washington, D.C. area at that time. She also had connections with the military through her father, who held the rank of rear admiral
. As Director of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Hospital Corps (DAR), she trained volunteer nurses for army and navy service after the outbreak of the Spanish-American War
in April 1898.
McGee's organizing ability led to her appointment as the only woman Acting Assistant Surgeon in the United States Army
on August 29, 1898, and she was placed in charge of the Army's nurses under the Army Surgeon General's Department. After this brief war ended, McGee pursued the establishment of a permanent nursing corps, which became a reality with the Army Nurse Corps, after passage of the Army Reorganization Act legislation, which she helped draft. In 1900 she left her position with the Army, but continued leading the Society of Spanish-American War Nurses, a group she had founded in 1898.
With the threat of war between Russia and Japan
looming, McGee led a group of nine volunteer nurses to Japan in 1904, establishing a field hospital
for the Imperial Japanese Army
. The Japanese Minister of War appointed McGee “Superior of Nurses,” giving her rank on par with officers in the Japanese Army. She later served as a military medical attaché and observer with the Japanese Army in Manchuria
during 1905.
After her return to the United States, McGee lived in her homes in Woods Hole, Massachusetts
, and Southern Pines, North Carolina
, and in California, where she lectured at the University of California
and wrote on her experiences in the war.
next to her father with full military honors.
McGee received the Spanish War Service Medal
for her services during the Spanish-American War. For her work in Japan she was awarded the Japanese Imperial Order of the Precious Crown
, The Japanese Red Cross
decoration and two Russo-Japanese War medals from the Japanese government.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician who is remembered for her medical work with the United States military.
Family and early life
Anita Newcomb was born in Washington, DC as the daughter of noted astronomer Simon NewcombSimon Newcomb
Simon Newcomb was a Canadian-American astronomer and mathematician. Though he had little conventional schooling, he made important contributions to timekeeping as well as writing on economics and statistics and authoring a science fiction novel.-Early life:Simon Newcomb was born in the town of...
. She married geologist and anthropologist W.J. McGee
W.J. McGee
William John McGee, LL.D. was an American inventor, geologist, anthropologist, and ethnologist, born in Farley, Iowa. -Biography:...
in 1888. Their oldest child, a daughter named Klotho, was born in 1889 and was primarily raised by a private nurse. Her second child, Donald died of meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
at 9 months. Her youngest child, Eric Newcomb, was born in 1902.
Medical practice
McGee received her medical degree from Columbian College (present-day George Washington UniversityGeorge Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
) in 1892, followed by a special post-graduate course in gynecology at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. She was in private practice in Washington, DC, from 1892 to 1896 and was one of few woman physicians practicing in the Washington, D.C. area at that time. She also had connections with the military through her father, who held the rank of rear admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
. As Director of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Daughters of the American Revolution
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are descended from a person involved in United States' independence....
Hospital Corps (DAR), she trained volunteer nurses for army and navy service after the outbreak of the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
in April 1898.
McGee's organizing ability led to her appointment as the only woman Acting Assistant Surgeon in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
on August 29, 1898, and she was placed in charge of the Army's nurses under the Army Surgeon General's Department. After this brief war ended, McGee pursued the establishment of a permanent nursing corps, which became a reality with the Army Nurse Corps, after passage of the Army Reorganization Act legislation, which she helped draft. In 1900 she left her position with the Army, but continued leading the Society of Spanish-American War Nurses, a group she had founded in 1898.
With the threat of war between Russia and Japan
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
looming, McGee led a group of nine volunteer nurses to Japan in 1904, establishing a field hospital
Field hospital
A field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...
for the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
. The Japanese Minister of War appointed McGee “Superior of Nurses,” giving her rank on par with officers in the Japanese Army. She later served as a military medical attaché and observer with the Japanese Army in Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
during 1905.
After her return to the United States, McGee lived in her homes in Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Woods Hole is a census-designated place in the town of Falmouth in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. It lies at the extreme southwest corner of Cape Cod, near Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands...
, and Southern Pines, North Carolina
Southern Pines, North Carolina
Southern Pines is a town in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 10,918 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Southern Pines is located at ....
, and in California, where she lectured at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
and wrote on her experiences in the war.
Later life, death, and legacy
McGee died on October 5, 1940 of a cerebral hemorrhage, and was buried in Arlington National CemeteryArlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
next to her father with full military honors.
McGee received the Spanish War Service Medal
Spanish War Service Medal
The Spanish War Service Medal was a military decoration of the United States Army which was established by an act of the U.S. Congress on July 9, 1918...
for her services during the Spanish-American War. For her work in Japan she was awarded the Japanese Imperial Order of the Precious Crown
Order of the Precious Crown
The Order of the Precious Crown is a Japanese order, established on January 4, 1888 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. Originally the order had five classes, but on April 13, 1896 the sixth, seventh and eighth classes were added....
, The Japanese Red Cross
Japanese Red Cross
The ' is the Japanese affiliate of the International Red Cross.The Imperial Family of Japan traditionally has supported the society, with Empress as Honorary President and other royal family members as vice-presidents. Its headquarters is located in Tokyo and local chapters are set up in all 47...
decoration and two Russo-Japanese War medals from the Japanese government.
External links
- Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America's Women Physicians - Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee. A project of the United States National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health.
- Arlington National Cemetery
- Bio at Army Med