Many thanks for both the tip and the MA thesis.

On Wed, Mar 15, 2017 at 1:42 PM, Metz, John (LVA) <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Sorry for the follow-up, but you might check the birth records for the
> locality...I know that the Carroll County birth records from 1892 list
> births by midwife.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family history.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Metz, John (LVA)
> Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2017 1:37 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [VA-ROOTS] Midwives in Shenandoah Co. VA 1870-1915
>
> Dear Susan,
>
> It has been some time that I have dealt with midwives in the historical
> record, but finding them or following them through a period or over a
> career is difficult, unless you have a situation like your where the woman
> is identified as being engaged in that profession, and you have
> corroborating evidence as you do.  My understanding is that licensure and
> tracking are later 20th century developments.  I'll have to look back at my
> sources to suggest some texts that address midwifery at least in part, but
> you may be interested in the following master's thesis:
> https://theses.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04272007-
> 142756/unrestricted/cmthesiscopy7_11.pdf
>
>
> Best of luck
> John
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family history.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Susan Hines
> Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2017 5:28 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [VA-ROOTS] Midwives in Shenandoah Co. VA 1870-1915
>
> I've been lurking on this listserv a while but it occurred to me that I
> might use this resource to gain some insight into the above.
>
> My great, great, grandmother, Sarah Harshbargar Lightfoot (1839-1912)
> supported her family, at least in part, through the practice of midwifery
> in New Market, VA. She first claimed "midwife" as her occupation on the
> census of 1900. However, there is no reason to suspect that she was not
> practicing as a midwife prior to that date. In fact, an excerpt from Mattie
> Bushong Good's diary indicates that "Aunt Sarah" was not available when she
> went into labor and that her mother Mary helped her " as well as Aunt Sarah
> or anyone else" when she gave birth on Jan. 27, 1900.
>
> The fact that she uses the honorific "Aunt" may indicate that Sarah
> presided over Mattie's own birth in 1877. The families were neighbors, and
> even a quick look through the diary reveals weekly, if not daily,
> interactions between the Lightfoot and Bushong families over the years.
>
> My question has to do with any state or local engagement or oversight of
> the work of midwives in Shenandoah County, prior to licensure. For example,
> when called to deliver babies of the very poor, did midwives received
> recompense from the state or local government? If such records exist, would
> they be among those left by the Overseers of the Poor or some such
> entity?.Where would they be located now?
>
> Ironically, as both an undergrad and a grad student I did research on 19th
> century midwives. At that time, I wasn't aware of Sarah's profession, which
> her daughter noted on Sarah's death certificate. However, it does mean I am
> familiar with the historical literature, including the efforts of
> physicians to take over the realm of birth--something many women may have
> welcomed. Given the plenitude of doctors in New Market before and after the
> Civil War--e.g. the famous Henkels, and the less renown Rices, I'm sure
> Mattie could have had a doctor. While Mattie's birthing mother preference
> is interesting, I would like to know if midwives and doctors who aided the
> poor might have left some trace on the public record.
>
> Thank you in advance for any help,
>
> Susan Hines
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
> at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
> at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
> at
> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html
>

To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html