Female doctor topic of speaker series at library

The Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County invites you to the next event of its 2025 Local History Series on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 6:30 p.m.

Each month, a member of our community presents and discusses their research, work, passions, and stories with the public. The series enters its eighth month with a presentation on the life and career of Pauline Freeman, MD, given by David Greer.

There was a time — not so very long ago — when a female doctor in a rural community was unusual enough to warrant notice. This was all the more true when that female doctor was a notoriously brusque chain-smoker who delivered highly-skilled medical care but punctuated it with colorful language, candor, and tough love. And if that female doctor had circumnavigated the globe as a teenager, been widowed twice by her late 20s, trapped exotic animals in Indonesia and imported them to the United States, and spent the occasional day in court defending herself from various charges, she would seem like someone interesting enough to learn more about.

So come join local historian and retired teacher David Greer as he discusses the life of Pauline Freeman, MD. Freeman practiced medicine in Danville for nearly 40 years and — although she passed away decades ago — many of her former patients still remember her fondly. She was the kind of person who made an impression.

Greer has a good deal of material to present but is especially interested in inviting those who remember Dr. Freeman (or even just heard stories about her secondhand) to come and share them. Everyone else is welcome to just listen and enjoy the anecdotes.

This presentation and discussion will occur at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 20, in the Multipurpose Room at the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County, 201 N. Mulberry Street, in Mount Vernon.

If you, or anyone you know, wants to share their own work, research, or experience — especially as it relates to history, people, and events in Mount Vernon and Knox County — as part of this Speaker Series in the coming months, please contact the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County, at (740) 392-2665 or via email at mvknoxpubliclibrary@gmail.com. We would love to hear your story.