Washington County Historical Society Dr. Helen E. Curtis

When Dr. Helen E. Curtis returned to Marietta after medical school in 1881, she certainly must have wondered how the small town of Marietta and surrounding area would receive its first female doctor. Whether that was an issue or not, from newspaper accounts during her lifetime, it appeared that people were unsure of how to address her. Sometimes she was referred to as Dr. Helen Curtis, but often it was Mrs. Harry Curtis or Mrs. Dr. Helen Curtis.

Helen, born in 1854, was a daughter of Judge Davis Green and her mother, Columbia Ferguson Green. When Helen was only seven years old, the judge was shot by a disgruntled past client while walking in downtown Marietta. He survived, but succumbed to death a year later. After Judge Greene died, Columbia married Dr. Ziba D. Walter, a man of Quaker parentage and a homeopathic physician.

In 1879, Helen married Dr. Harry N. Curtis and both then went to New York for two years. Helen attended the New York Medical College and Hospital for Women in homeopathic medicine and graduated in 1881. Upon return to Marietta, Helen worked with Dr. Z. D. Walter and Dr. Harry Curtis. The following year, Helen gave birth to their daughter, Helen M. Curtis. When Dr. Walter moved to Colorado in 1891, Helen and her husband formed a joint medical practice.

After nearly twenty years in medical practice together, Dr. Harry Curtis unexpectedly died after playing golf at the County Club (then located in Devola) in 1909. About that time, Dr. Walter returned to Marietta and joined his stepdaughter in the medical practice until he passed away in 1915. Helen continued to serve patients until she retired in 1918 after 35 years of medical practice.

Helen was known in the community, not only for medicine, but also through her civic roles. In 1895, she was the first woman to serve on the Marietta City Board of Education. She was instrumental with the naming of the new school at Fourth and Greene Streets (where KFC is today). Willard School was named for Frances Willard, an American educator, national temperance leader, and woman’s suffragist.

Dr. H.N. Curtis (H.N. for husband Harry N. Curtis) is listed as serving on the first Board of Managers of the Woman’s Home and served for many years. The purpose of the home was to serve “older women who needed a sanctuary” in Washington County. Opening in 1885, it served women until it closed in 2018.

Dr. Helen Curtis was a life long member of the Unitarian Church. In 1925 she donated funds for one of the stained glass memorial windows to honor her mother and stepfather. Near that window, is also a large wall plaque honoring her husband.

Excerpts from the Marietta Daily Times front page notice of Helen’s death on January 16, 1933:

“The passing of Mrs. Helen E. Curtis, one of this city’s eminent and esteemed women, marked the end of a life which in its contacts and interest influenced the community to a remarkable degree.

All of the activities with which she was connected, the church, the school board and the Woman’s Home were not “institutions,” but the machinery by which individual human beings could be reached and helped.

The list of institutions whose destinies she promoted is impressive but the development of a character which will be an influence on so many people for so many years is her greatest achievement.”

Jann K. Adams is a WCHS member. To learn more about the Washington County Historical Society services and membership call 740-373-1788 or visit wchshistory.org.