History Hour: Honoring Almira Fifield, MD – A Forgotten Hero of the Civil War

Step back in time as we honor Almira Fifield, an unsung pioneer in women’s medicine and service during the Civil War. Born in New Hampshire in 1833 and raised in Porter County, Indiana, Almira became one of the first female graduates of the New England Female Medical College in Boston. Despite her medical degree, she served only as a “nurse,” never recognized as a physician. She died in 1863 from the harsh conditions she endured and rested in an unmarked grave in Valparaiso for decades.

On June 21, 2025, Almira finally received long-overdue recognition: an Indiana State Historic Marker, a military-style memorial, and honors including wreath laying, taps, and bagpipes — organized by the William Henry Harrison Chapter of the DAR and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

This powerful program will be presented by Diane Schweitzer, PhD, Regent of the William Henry Harrison DAR chapter and a dedicated historical researcher who has spent the past year uncovering Almira’s remarkable life.

You may also like the following events from The Barker Mansion:

• Next Wednesday, 10th September, 05:30 pm, Yoga Class - Featuring Sacred Dunes at The Barker Cottage in Michigan City
• This month, 17th September, 06:00 pm, Mansion After Hours: Architecture and Lifestyle Among the Gilded age Titans of the Midwest in Michigan City
• This month, 24th September, 06:00 pm, Gilded Page Book Club – “The Tiffany Girls” by Shelley Noble in Michigan City