Fannie Almara (Dunn) Quain (1874 - 1950)

Born 1874 in Bismarck, Dakota Territory

Ancestors

Died 2 Feb 1950 at about age 76 in Bismarck, Burleigh Co., North Dakota

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Biography

Dr. Fannie Almara Quain was an American physician and public health advocate. She was the first woman born in North Dakota to earn a Doctor of Medicine degree. She is remembered for championing the state campaign to eradicate tuberculosis and for helping to establish baby clinics and a state sanitarium.

Birth

Fannie A. Dunn was born on December 13, 1874, in Bismark, Dakota Territory. She was the daughter of John P. Dunn and Christine (Stiles) Dunn. [3]

Career

Dr. (Dunn) Quain earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Michigan in 1898. She was the first North Dakotan woman to hold a Doctor of Medicine degree. She interned at Minneapolis, Minnesota. After which, she returned to North Dakota to practice medicine. Dr. Dunn joined the battle to eradicate tuberculosis. [4]

In1909, she was a founder of the North Dakota Tuberculosis Association (now the American Lung Association of North Dakota). She served in various positions for many years: 1909 to 1921 as secretary,;1923 to 1928 and 1948 to 1950 as vice president; from 1928 to 1936 as president and from 1939 to 1948 as its treasurer. [4]

Dr. Quain worked to increase public awareness of tuberculosis and to establish institutions to combat the disease. Dr Quain helped found North Dakota's first baby clinic. She also helped found the North Dakota State Tuberculosis Sanitarium. [4]

From 1923 to 1933, Dr. Quain served the North Dakota State Board of Health and was the board's president for several years. [4]

From 1920 to 1940, Dr. Quain chaired the Nurses Training School Committee at Bismark Evangelical Hospital. During the 1930s, she was president of the nurses training school. [4]

From 1933 to 1934, Dr. Quain served as regional director of the Medical Woman's National Association (later renamed the American Medical Women's Association). [4]

Death

Dr. Fannie A. Quain died on Feb 2, 1950, at Bismark, North Dakota. She was buried at Fairview Cemetery, Bismark, Burleigh County, North Dakota. [3]

Sources

• [1] 1910 United States Federal Census - Year: 1910; Census Place: Bismarck Ward 3, Burleigh, North Dakota; Roll: T624_1140; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 0032; FHL microfilm: 1375153

• [2] Anders Bergman

• [3] Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59110992/fannie-almeria-quain: accessed 9 January 2023), memorial page for Dr Fannie Almeria Dunn Quain (13 Dec 1874–2 Feb 1950), Find a Grave Memorial ID 59110992, citing Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck, Burleigh County, North Dakota, USA; Maintained by Brian Backes (contributor 47148484).

• [4] Changing the Face of Medicine, Fannie Almara Quain, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. https://cfmedicine.nlm.nih.gov/physicians/biography_351.html

• [5] 5 INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN FROM NORTH DAKOTA’S PAST, State Historical Society of North Dakota. https://blog.statemuseum.nd.gov/blog/5-inspirational-women-north-dakotas-past

• [6] Dakota Datebook Archive, Fannie Dunn Quain, By Merry Helm, Prairie Public Broadcasting. https://news.prairiepublic.org/show/dakota-datebook-archive/2022-04-25/fannie-dunn-quain