Born: 12 June 1864, Finland
Died: 28 August 1930
Country most active: United States
Also known as: NA
The following is republished from the National Park Service. This piece falls under under public domain, as copyright does not apply to “any work of the U.S. Government” where “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties” (See, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 105).
Dr. Alfhild Heideman graduated from medical school at the University of Helsingfors (Helsinki) in Finland. Arriving in Calumet in 1900, she found local doctors resistant to her practice. News of her arrival spread in medical journals from coast to coast.
By 1905 Dr. Heideman’s practice in Centennial Heights was well-established. Moving her office to the Walz Block on Pine Street in Calumet, she soon became more visible in the community. However, like many women of the time she also faced discrimination within her discipline. At one point she was reported by local medical men for not being a registered physician and was arrested. A few short weeks later she passed the state examination and continued her practice.
Dr. Heideman’s niece Miriam lived with her aunt and attended school at the University of Michigan where she successfully petitioned the school newspaper to allow women on staff in 1915. Miriam was also an inaugural member of the University’s Equal Suffrage Association. Following a brief marriage, she returned to the Copper Country and her aunt’s home. Dr. Heideman lived in the Calumet area through her death in 1930. She is buried at Lake View Cemetery.