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Ethnic and Professional Clashes: Midwifery Cultures and Obstetrics in late 19th century Chicago
Despite his role as founder of one of the first midwifery schools in the USA, Swedish physician Sven Windrow (1853–1937), has largely eluded historical attention. Opening in Chicago in 1889, the school sought to duplicate the Swedish midwifery training program to cater to the late 19th century wave of Swedish immigrants to the city. The school intended to train Swedish women to deliver babies within their own communities, but what ensued was a power struggle between Chicago’s American physicians over scope of practice. This paper investigates the points of contention, such as Swedish midwives use of instruments, as a window into understanding the transnational circulation of obstetrical traditions during a period of significant immigration. Could the lack of historical recognition regarding Dr Windrow’s school be a consequence of him advocating for a midwifery training incompatible with the professional goals set by North American obstetricians? By comparing information from for example archives (in Chicago and Sweden), letters and articles from newspapers it is possible to find answers to this question. On a general level an analysis of the Swedish midwifery school can deepen our insights about midwifery’s position in the emergent U.S. health care system. On one hand such a study brings new perspectives regarding the role that immigrant communities played in the establishment of Progressive-era health care systems and services, on the other how these communities both challenged and (re)installed gender roles in the medical marketplace.