Dr. Zatae Leola Longsdorff

  General Notes:

She was a doctor also (grad Women's Medical College of Philadelphia in1887) She interned at Women's and Children's Hosp in Boston and then took charge of the Government Hospital at Fort Hall, Idaho. After this she returned and married and then practiced medicine in Manchester, NH. (Stearns)
Dar 108646 and research of Longsdorf@mdn.net

1930 census NH she is age 62; Enid is 29 and Zaeta Gale is 23; also there are two adopted sons: David and Wayne

1940 Manchester, Hillsborough, NH
Zatae Staw; wid with don David and foster dau Gertrude Gray ; single; b. 1900 NH

Dickinson College Class of 1887:
Longsdorf (Straw), Zatae (1866-1955)

http://chronicles.dickinson.edu/encyclo/l/ed_longsdorffZ.html
Per Dickinson College Encyclopedia :
Zatae Longsdorff (Straw) (1866-1955)
Zatae Longsdorff was born on April 16, 1866, the second of six children of William Henry and Lydia R. Haverstick Longsdorff of Centerville, Pennsylvania, a few miles southwest of Carlisle. William Henry, a physician, was a Dickinson graduate of the class of 1856. Zatae's brother, Harold, graduated from the College in 1879. Zatae continued the family tradition by graduating with the class of 1887, becoming the first female graduate of the College. She obtained a master's degree in cursu from Dickinson in 1890. Sisters Hildegarde (class of 1888), Jessica (class of 1891), and Persis (class of 1894) all attended Dickinson in turn. After graduation, Zatae pursued medical instruction at Women's Medical College in Philadelphia, earning her degree in 1890. She served a year as an intern at the New England Hospital for Women and Children, and then relocated to a Native American reservation in Blackfoot, Idaho where she became the resident physician for a short time. A. Gale Straw and Zatae Longsdorff were married November 12, 1891, shortly after Zatae returned to the East. The couple had four children, and Zatae later resumed her medical practice at Elliot Hospital in Manchester, New Hampshire. A. Gale Straw died in 1926 after a long illness following his surgical service in the First World War. In 1924, Zatae won a seat in the New Hampshire State Legislature, going on to chair the House Committee on Public Health. She was chosen to preside over the Republican Party Convention in New Hampshire in 1926, making her the first woman in the United States to hold such a position. A later attempt to win a seat in the New Hampshire State Senate failed, but Zatae nonetheless continued to be politically active. She ultimately became the first woman president of the American Medical Society. For a lifetime of accomplishments, Zatae was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree by her alma mater in 1937, the 50th anniversary of her graduation from the College. Zatae Longsdorff Straw died on October 1, 1955 at her home in Manchester.


Zatae Longsdorff Straw papers, 1874-1952.

Zatae Longsdorff Straw (1866-1955) was the first woman graduate of Dickinson College as a member of the class of 1887; she went on to a successful career as a doctor and politician. The collection of her papers includes correspondence, printed and manuscript materials, scrapbooks and scrapbook materials, photographs, and artifacts. The bulk of the documents in this collection focuses on Zatae's life in Manchester, New Hampshire, both private and professional. There are some items, however, about her life at Dickinson, namely her dress and medal for the Pierson Prize in Oratory, 1886, and her writing desk.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Zatae Leola Sturgis Longsdorff was born on April 16, 1866, the eldest daughter and the second of six children of William Henry and Lydia R. Haverstick Longsdorff of Centerville, Pennsylvania, a few miles southwest of Carlisle. William Henry, a physician, was a Dickinson graduate of the class of 1856. Zatae's brother, Harold, graduated from the College in 1879. Zatae, having been educated in area schools, entered Wellesley College in 1883. However, when Dickinson first allowed female students to attend in 1884, Zatae and her sister Hildegarde enrolled. Graduating with the class of 1887, the eldest Longsdorff girl became the first female graduate of the College; she obtained a master's degree in cursu from Dickinson in 1890. Sisters Hildegarde (class of 1888), Jessica (class of 1891), and Persis (class of 1894) all attended Dickinson in turn.
After graduation, Zatae pursued medical instruction at Women's Medical College in Philadelphia, earning her medical degree in 1890. She served a year as an intern at the New England Hospital for Women and Children, and then relocated to a Native American reservation in Blackfoot, Idaho where she became the resident physician for a short time.
Amos Gale Straw and Zatae Longsdorff were married November 12, 1891, shortly after she returned to the eastern U.S.; the couple settled in Manchester, New Hampshire. They had four children (Enid, Zatae Gale, David, Wayne), and also raised Gertrude Grey as their foster daughter. Longsdorff later resumed her medical practice at Elliot Hospital in Manchester. In addition to her thriving practice, she was very involved in the community as a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the PTA, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She would serve as state president of the American Legion Auxiliary for the year 1935-1936.
In her later years, Longsdorff became active in New Hampshire politics. In 1923 she became the first woman to preside over a state Republican convention. A year later she was elected to the New Hampshire State House of Representatives, and was elected to a second term in 1926. Serving on the Committee on Public Health, she became its chairperson during this second term; she also served on the Committee on Fisheries and Game, being an avid hunter and fisher herself. She ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the New Hampshire State Senate in 1928.
However, this high point in Longsdorff's public life was marred by personal tragedy. Her mother, Lydia Haverstick, died in 1921, having outlived her husband by 16 years. Amos Gale Straw died in 1926 after a long illness resulting from his surgical service in the First World War. In 1929, the youngest daughter, Zatae Gale, died shortly after graduating from Brown University, and a year later son Wayne drowned. Still, Zatae Longsdorff maintained her public profile and continued with her medical practice. Her daughter Enid graduated from Wellesley College in 1921, and in 1937 she married Dean Chamberlin. Son David continued to live in Manchester, and Gertrude remained at home with her foster mother.
Longsdorff ultimately became the first woman president of the American Medical Society. In 1941, she was honored by the New Hampshire Medical Society for a half-century of service in the medical field. For her lifetime of accomplishments, Longsdorff was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree by her alma mater in 1937, the 50th anniversary of her graduation from Dickinson College.


New Hampshire Women Legislators
1921 - 1971
Prepared by Leon B. Anderson
Mrs. Straw, native of Centerville, Pa., became the first woman graduate of Dickinson College in 1887, while youngest of her class. Three years later she became a physician, and the following year she married Dr. A. Gale Straw of Manchester, who died in 1919 from ill health brought on by arduous overseas service through World War 1.
Mrs. Straw was ever outspoken and fearless. While guest at a reception for Governor Charles W. Tobey, Dr. Straw denounced smoking by women, and berated the "flappers" for their tight and short dresses. She battled in vain to outlaw cosmetics, as chairman of the House Public Health Committee. She also served with vim and vigor on the Fisheries and Game Committee, as an ardent member of the Izaak Walton League of America.
Also -
Later the same year, Dr. Zatae L. Straw, also of the Queen City, who pioneered walking as a health measure, became the country's first woman to preside over a state political gathering, as chairman of the biennial Republican State Convention.
This Republican pair revelled in the political pool. Mrs. Pillsbury had six children (one adopted) and Dr. Straw had four adopted youngsters - yet they found time for daring. The Pillsbury children still recall how the twain hiked the 18 miles to their legislative chores in Concord, to protest faulty train schedules. It's recorded the time was four hours and 40 minutes.

Mrs. Zatar Longsdorf Straw.
DAR ID Number: 108646
Born in Centerville, Pa.
Wife of A. Gale Straw.
Descendant of Martin Longsdorf, as follows:
1. William H. Longsdorf (1834-1905) m. 1859 Lydia Haverstick (b. 1835).
2. John Adam Longsdorf (1796-1847) m. 1825 Mary Lenseman (1803-89).
3. Martin Longsdorf m. 1773 Anna Catherine Boor (1756-1830).
Martin Longsdorf (1749-1804) served as an Associator of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania militia. He was born in Germany; died in Cumberland County, Pa.

Find A Grave Memorial# 75389733

Zatae married Dr. Amos Gale Straw, son of Daniel Felch Straw and Lucretia Ann Kenney, on 12 Nov 1901 in Carlisle, PA. (Dr. Amos Gale Straw was born on 9 Feb 1864 in Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, died on 13 Mar 1926 in Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire and was buried in East Candia Cemetery Candia, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA.). The cause of his death was Acute nephritis; cardiac insufficiency.