Esther Clayson Pohl Lovejoy (She/Her)
By Moss (He/Him)
Esther Clayson Pohl Lovejoy, an obstetrician was more than a woman helping Women’s health. She was on the frontline of women’s right to vote and providing humanitarian aid to the injured of World War I. Dr. Lovejoy was born in Seabeck, Washington on November 16th, 1869, and moved to Portland, Oregon in 1883. In 1890 she entered the University of Oregon; graduating in 1894 with a degree in medicine. She was the second woman to do so. During this time Dr. Lovejoy connected with the community of East Portland as a well-known obstetrician, riding a bicycle between patients like other local obstetricians. She supported her community by sharing her medical experience with Portland Women’s Club. Beyond her professional work, in her personal life she married Emil Pohl after university; having a son in 1901. Unfortunately, her son and husband would die in 1908 and 1911, respectively. Following these somber losses, she married George Lovejoy of Portland. This marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce in 1920; however, she continued to use the Lovejoy surname.
In 1905 Dr. Lovejoy was appointed to the Portland Health Board. Then from 1907-1909, served as the acting City Health Officer. She was the first woman to hold that position in a major US city. During this time, she made health concerns known by working with pure food movement for proper labeling of food items, dairy regulation due to adulterated milk and sanitary disposal of garbage. In 1906 she also worked with the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and other local civic groups like the Portland Woman’s Club for the Oregon campaign. This was to meet a new generation of suffragists who fought for women’s rights by protesting and open discussion rather than working behind the scenes with politicians without public input. While not a complete overview, this provides insight into Dr. Lovejoy’s significant contributions to the Pacific Northwest (PNW), particularly highlighting her involvement in local health and policy.
Dr. Lovejoy’s influence soon surpassed the Pacific Northwest, reaching a global scale. When Dr. Lovejoy worked with the Medical Women’s National Association (MWNA), she supported the New York meeting that took place on June 9th, 1917. The meeting led to her deployment to France as medical support for injured troops and civilians with the American Red Cross. By 1918 Dr. Lovejoy, the American Red Cross and the American Women’s Hospitals were supporting France, Serbia, Greece, Armenia and Turkey with medical aid. This extensive global effort stemmed from her earlier work in Portland, where she began practicing obstetrics and advocating for women’s suffrage, leading to a broader vision of international support. She continued various support campaigns, earning honors such as being Medical Women’s National Association President in 1932-1933 until her death on August 17th, 1967
