Dr. Almira Fifield Day was celebrated in Valparaiso on Saturday, June 21, 2025. The event was well-organized and well-attended, and the Society of Indiana Pioneers played a significant role in the celebration.
Almira Fifield, M.D., who was one of the first female physicians in the United States. She was born in 1833 and settled in Porter County, Indiana, with her family when she was about eight years old. She became a teacher in Valparaiso, but later decided to become a doctor, graduating from the New England Female Medical College.
Originally intending to return to Valparaiso following her graduation, Dr. Fifield instead requested the opportunity to use her degree treating Union soldiers in the Civil War, which was then being fought. Female doctors were rare in the 1860s, and those who served in the war were often told to downplay their medical degrees. Dr. Fifield was initially a nurse in Paducah, Kentucky, but was soon put in charge of the surgical ward at the Union Hospital there. While many deaths in the Civil War were the result of actual battle injuries, many also died of infectious diseases such as typhoid or dysentery.
Dr. Almira Fifield died in 1863 and was buried in the Old City Cemetery in Valparaiso. Unfortunately, many of the headstones of the pioneers of Valparaiso and Porter County have been vandalized over the years.
Dr. Barbara Brandt, who taught health professional education for many years at the University of Minnesota, is a descendant of Dr. Fifield and led the effort to have her ancestor recognized for her pioneering service, both as an early female medical professional in the U.S., and also for her sacrifice in the Civil War.
On Saturday, two blocks were blocked off for the ceremony, and Civil War era music greeted everyone as they arrived. The William Henry Harrison Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution did an outstanding job, along with the Porter County Historical Society and the county historian. Diane Schweitzer, regent for the W. H. Harrison chapter, was a great master of ceremonies for the day. Several DAR chapters were represented.
Around 175 people attended, including about 60 members of the Fifield family from ten states. Two large tents with chairs were set up for the unveiling of the Indiana Historical Bureau marker on Franklin Street. The David D. Porter Camp of the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War posted the colors. Dr. Jane Schultz described the day-to-day life in a Civil War hospital and what Almira’s life must have been like while she served as a nurse during the war. She probably died from meningitis.
Casey Pfeiffer of IHB gave a very good presentation about the two-year process of nominating, selecting, and producing new historical markers, and working with the Pomeroy Foundation, Dr. Brandt, and the Porter County Historical Society.
After the colors were retired, the event moved several blocks to the Union City Cemetery where the Fifield family is buried. Almira was in an unmarked grave until May of this year.
There was a welcome and invocation. Larry Hautzinger, Commander of the David D. Porter Camp, SUVCW, gave a presentation and a medallion. The Society of Indiana Pioneers was represented by President Terri Gorney Lehman, who read our resolution honoring Dr. Fifield as a “Distinguished Hoosier in History.” The resolution was written by Society board member Patrick Smith. She also spoke about the Society and its history. Dr. Brandt and the Fifield family members were very appreciative for the honor.
The Post-Tribune featured a nice article about Dr. Fifield on June 10, which was also available on the Chicago Tribune’s website. The Society was also mentioned in the article in the Valparaiso newspaper.
It was nice to see Dr. Fifield honored in her hometown. Barbara Brandt already has more research trips planned to New England hoping to find more on the family and Almira’s life.
You can read more about Dr. Fifield in our previous post about the memorial event here on the Society’s website.
Almira Fifield, M.D. (1833-1863)
Front of the new historical marker honoring Dr. Fifield.
Reverse side of the new historical marker honoring Dr. Fifield.
Gravestone for Dr. Fifield, recently installed after being unmarked for decades.
Resolution naming Dr. Almira Fifield a “Distinguished Hoosier of History”
