Leonie von Meusebach–Zesch (November 27, 1882 – July 7, 1944) was an American early 20th-century pioneer female dentist who practiced in Texas, Alaska, Arizona and California.
During the Great Depression, Meusebach–Zesch provided dental care to enrollees and officers with the Civilian Conservation Corps, and later to inmates at the California Institute for Women.
Three years of her dental career were spent in Arizona, where her patients included people from the Hopi and Navajo populations.
To accommodate patients who could not travel to her practice in Winslow, Arizona, she hooked her equipment to the back of her Model T automobile and held mobile dental clinics around the state.
For fifteen years, Meusebach–Zesch practiced in the Territory of Alaska, with offices at varying times in Cordova, Nome and Anchorage.
Throughout Alaska's interior, she traveled by dog sled to hold mobile dental clinics for both Inuit and non-indigenous patients.
As a child, Leonie had witnessed the aftermath of a public lynching in Mason, the corpses of the accused hanging from a tree in the town square.
[4] She became a practicing dentist in June 1902 after passing the California State Dental Board examination and being hired on to work for Swedish immigrant Dr.
[10] Meusebach–Zesch was expected to replace the duties formerly held by Dr. Matson's wife, and her work hours were initially presented as being 8 am – 9 pm.
[14] The United States Army under the command of Brigadier General Frederick Funston immediately went into rescue operations when the earthquake hit.
Her mother began working with the combined efforts of the Army and the American Red Cross to document survivors and assist with their needs.
She did not receive many new clients, but she had additional income from appointments as dentist to the Children's Hospital and to the Maria Kipp Orphanage.
On the train she met a group of Belgians who appeared to be smuggling clothing, jewelry and uncut diamonds across the border.
[26] She declined one offer from a Dallas businessman to front a statewide chain of dental offices that he intended to manage in the background.
[26] Meusebach–Zesch accepted a position with a dental practice in San Antonio, where she treated members of the city's Maverick family.
Anarchists Emma Goldman[27] and Alexander Berkman[28] were friends of the owners and came into town during a visit to San Antonio by President Howard Taft.
[31] In 1910, Jim Ferguson had served as campaign manager for the unsuccessful gubernatorial bid of Robert Vance Davidson.
She held mobile dental clinics in remote locations, traveling across the state in her Model T touring car, with her equipment and instruments hooked on the back of the vehicle.
[35] En route with her mother to a sightseeing adventure at Petrified Forest National Monument,[36] she was tracked down by a patient needing immediate treatment.
[39] In December 1915 after living in Winslow for three years, Meusebach–Zesch visited her sister and brother-in-law in the Territory of Alaska, with the intent of returning to her practice in Arizona.
[40] The Second Organic Act of 1912 had created the Territory of Alaska out of land the United States had purchased from Russia in 1867.
[48][49] Named for Wilds P. Richardson,[50] the community had a population of a few hundred people, and the roadhouse was run by Fred Wilkins.
[53] She took temporary leave from Alaska to do post-graduate work at Northwestern University in Chicago in 1918, and survived an influenza bout while in San Francisco.
[60] Their route took them through Cape Nome, Solomon, Bluffs, White Mountain School, Moses, Dime Creek, and Candle, each village giving her a welcoming all-night party.
Returning, they witnessed the aurora borealis at Kotzebue, and spent the night at a barabara built inside a snow bank.
[62] Half the dog team fell through the ice near Cape Douglas, and Johnson advised leaving them to drown.
[63] Chartering a plane to Point Barrow in 1929, she survived a crash and walked partway to Kotzebue before being transported by an Inuit whose water craft was pulled along by his dogs on the beach.
[64] In March 1928, Meusebach–Zesch and her assistant Mrs. Cheney scheduled dental clinics at the White Mountain School for Inuit children, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Mission at Pilgrim Hot Springs, and in Council.
[65] Leonhard Seppala, known for winning multiple-year dog sled races, and for participating in the 1925 serum run to Nome,[66] had been alerted about the women's hazardous trek.
[69] Meusebach–Zesch remained a member of the UXA until at least 1934, commuting to semi-monthly meetings during breaks from her work with the Civilian Conservation Corps.