Grandma
was born in 1895, the daughter of a telegraph operator in Nebraska. Her father wasn't rich, but he made sure that his daughters were educated- a very rare thing in those days.

Grandma got a degree in geology, but when she graduated she found that a woman would make about a third of what a man would make. Infuriated, she cast about for a profession where a woman could earn as much as a man, and decided to become a doctor.

I have her diploma on my wall.

She married a hotshot pathologist who achieved some small fame in isolating the first known virus. They lived in New York City, where she had a private practice while Grandpa worked for one of the hospitals. Grandma also worked for Margaret Sanger when she ran the American Birth Control League, later known as Planned Parenthood. She was an ardent feminist who refused to wear a wedding ring, declaring "I'd sooner wear a ring through my nose."

I know for a fact that she worked on the London War Orphan effort, giving physical examinations to kids brought over here during WWII. As such she got to know Eleanor Roosevelt quite well. But past that I can't verify any further the truth of her favorite tale:

Eleanor had a convertible that she was very fond of. She also happened to be a terrible driver, as she would focus more on the conversation she was having with a passenger than on the road. During one such exchange with Grandma as they drove, Eleanor was so intent on making her point that she ran off the road and into a ditch, and knocked out her front teeth on the steering wheel. She had to have dentures made, but of course rather than making them look like her bucktooth snaggled originals, they gave her straight teeth. Her commentary on this was "I've done my part for the beautification of America."
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Thu 2 Jun 2011, 22:21, 1 reply)

That is incredible - lucky you.

(boozehound is drinking your bar dry, Sat 4 Jun 2011, 9:37, closed)