Mercy and Madness: Dr. Mary Archard Latham’s Tragic Fall from Female Physician to Felon by Beverly Lionberger Hodgins is a fascinating, thoroughly documented biography of Spokane, Washington’s first female physician. The engaging story includes the period of Dr. Mary Latham’s life, 1844-1917.
The well-written biography begins with a haunting event that took place when Mary was four years old. The unforgettable incident left a lasting impression on little Mary Archard, as it did with me.
In 1888 Mary, together with her three young sons, left their home in Ohio and moved to Spokane, Washington where she would pursue a career in medical practice, particularly of women and children. Her husband, Edward, also a physician, later joined the family for a time, but soon moved to Colville, Washington to serve as physician for several native tribes. Mary and Edward subsequently divorced.
Dr. Mary A. Latham was well known in the community and was a strong advocate for women and children, and especially the poor. She was highly respected, and in addition to her medical practice helped found the Spokane Humane Society and the Spokane Public Library. She also helped numerous children, often orphans born of unwed mothers, find loving homes. Mary was a prolific writer of letters to editors, essays, short stories and articles, often for the benefit of women.
Mary’s world came crashing down when her adult son, James, was accidently killed in a railroad yard accident. She was observed wandering the streets, inconsolable in her grief. Her behavior became increasingly erratic as her physical and mental health declined. In 1905 she was accused, arrested, and convicted of arson, and sentenced to four years at the state penitentiary in Walla Walla. She eventually returned to Spokane, a broken woman, but still determined to continue her life helping others, particularly downtrodden women. Dr. Mary A. Latham died in 1917.
Mercy and Madness is a compelling story told in decisive, effective clarity. The many pages of bibliography references document the author’s thoroughness. When referring to dollars, essential in telling the story, I appreciated the author’s converting the money of the period to today’s values. I also enjoyed reading much of the story in Dr. Latham’s own words through her letters and articles. The biography is well organized and kept my attention throughout. I highly recommend Mercy and Madness especially to those interested in Northwest history, and particularly of noteworthy women.