Bessie Moses
Encyclopedia
Bessie Louise Moses, M.D. (1893-1965) was a U.S. gynecologist and obstetrician who advocated birth control
practices for women.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Moses began her public career after graduating from Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1922. She began private practice as an obstetrician, but this path proved ill-suited when she became emotionally attached to the outcome of every birth she attended, so she instead chose to pursue gynecology. It was at this juncture of her career that Moses found her niche and her calling as Director of the Baltimore Bureau for Contraceptive Advice, which became the Baltimore Birth Control Clinic.
The Baltimore Bureau for Contraceptive Advice was incorporated in 1926, opened its doors to patients in 1927, and operated until 1932. The Bureau originally was set up as a public health research venture with strict rules about referral of patients for its services. In order to avoid controversy and prosecution, the women who were referred to the clinic for participation in the study had to be married and their health in such a deteriorated state that further pregnancies could prove fatal. As the social stigma and legal proscription of disseminating contraceptive information and devices eased during the Great Depression
, the Bureau became the Baltimore Birth Control Clinic, which eventually became part of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America
.
From the inception of the Baltimore Bureau for Contraceptive Advice in 1927, through to her retirement in 1956, Moses was the medical director for these community resources. Moses fought to expand contraceptive services to additional communities and lobbied for inclusion of contraceptive instruction in medical school curricula. She was integral in the fight for legislative reform of the prohibition of sending contraceptive information and materials through the mail. As a result of her contributions to legitimizing birth control through the avenue of public health, Moses was honored with the Lasker Foundation Award
in 1950, which she received along with Margaret Sanger
. In 1991, she was posthumously added to the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame.
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
practices for women.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Moses began her public career after graduating from Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1922. She began private practice as an obstetrician, but this path proved ill-suited when she became emotionally attached to the outcome of every birth she attended, so she instead chose to pursue gynecology. It was at this juncture of her career that Moses found her niche and her calling as Director of the Baltimore Bureau for Contraceptive Advice, which became the Baltimore Birth Control Clinic.
The Baltimore Bureau for Contraceptive Advice was incorporated in 1926, opened its doors to patients in 1927, and operated until 1932. The Bureau originally was set up as a public health research venture with strict rules about referral of patients for its services. In order to avoid controversy and prosecution, the women who were referred to the clinic for participation in the study had to be married and their health in such a deteriorated state that further pregnancies could prove fatal. As the social stigma and legal proscription of disseminating contraceptive information and devices eased during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, the Bureau became the Baltimore Birth Control Clinic, which eventually became part of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
.
From the inception of the Baltimore Bureau for Contraceptive Advice in 1927, through to her retirement in 1956, Moses was the medical director for these community resources. Moses fought to expand contraceptive services to additional communities and lobbied for inclusion of contraceptive instruction in medical school curricula. She was integral in the fight for legislative reform of the prohibition of sending contraceptive information and materials through the mail. As a result of her contributions to legitimizing birth control through the avenue of public health, Moses was honored with the Lasker Foundation Award
Lasker Award
The Lasker Awards have been awarded annually since 1946 to living persons who have made major contributions to medical science or who have performed public service on behalf of medicine. They are administered by the Lasker Foundation, founded by advertising pioneer Albert Lasker and his wife Mary...
in 1950, which she received along with Margaret Sanger
Margaret Sanger
Margaret Higgins Sanger was an American sex educator, nurse, and birth control activist. Sanger coined the term birth control, opened the first birth control clinic in the United States, and established Planned Parenthood...
. In 1991, she was posthumously added to the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame.