Dr. Martha H. Griffith--One of the First Women Doctors in Indiana!

     From the December 20, 1924, Crawfordsville Daily Journal comes the story of the life of Dr. Martha H. Griffith, the oldest female physician in the county at the time of her death.

Dr. Martha Hutchings Griffith,
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Martha was born in Hanover, Indiana, in 1842, to John and Elizabeth Hutchings. Her father farmed, and also represented Jefferson County in the state legislature in 1856-7. He also took part in the organization of the Republican Party in Indiana. The family moved to Jennings County in the early 1860’s so that Martha could study at the Jennings Academy with a small class of young men. Having completed those studies and with the young men going off to war, Martha began to study medicine in secret with a local doctor in a time when women were not really encouraged or allowed to study medicine. When the time came for her to attend proper medical school, her neighbors and school friends were astonished and scoffed at her ambition. She entered the Women’s Medical College in Philadelphia in 1866, and eventually graduated as one of the first women in Indiana to hold a medical college degree recognized by her profession.

Griffith house, Darlington,
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     She began practicing medicine in Madison, Indiana, in 1870. In 1871, she met and married Dr. Thomas J. Griffith and moved to Darlington, where she carried on a large obstetrical practice. After completing more coursework and certification, she and her family moved to Crawfordsville.  She became deeply involved in community work. She was one of the organizers for the Carnegie Library. She started up the Community House, located where the Post Office is now. Here people could come for help and a meal. Martha was a member of several local clubs, and held state office in the State Federation of Clubs She and her husband had two children—Dr. J. B. Griffith, and Helen, who died in childhood. Dr. Griffith was a fine example of how a woman could be a mother and a wife, and successfully work in a profession.