The Notorious Dr. Flippin: Abortion and Consequence in the Early Twentieth Century (Plains Histories) by Jamie Q. Tallman


The Notorious Dr. Flippin: Abortion and Consequence in the Early Twentieth Century (Plains Histories)
Title : The Notorious Dr. Flippin: Abortion and Consequence in the Early Twentieth Century (Plains Histories)
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0896726754
ISBN-10 : 9780896726758
Language : English
Format Type : Hardcover
Number of Pages : 228
Publication : First published March 15, 2011

In 1910 a central Nebraska newspaper, the Aurora Sun, printed an editorial condemning a physician it dubbed “the notorious Dr. Flippin.” Dr. Charles Flippin’s reputation came under siege throughout the state as another newspaper editor alleged that the African American physician had committed “that most despicable of all crimes”―illegal abortion. For thirty years rural Kansans and Nebraskans had hailed Flippin as a godsend because of his skill as a physician and his willingness to help anyone regardless of race or social class. Despite performing abortions even for young white women, Flippin managed to avoid conviction in several trials until finally pleading guilty in 1924. Tallman details the doctor’s extraordinary life and analyzes the forces behind the prosecution of the aging physician. The first book to focus exclusively on attitudes towards abortion in early twentieth-century rural communities, The Notorious Dr. Flippin supplies long overlooked context for current debate and enriches studies of African American, western, women’s, and medical history.

The Notorious Dr. Flippin: Abortion and Consequence in the Early Twentieth Century (Plains Histories) Reviews

  • Sarah

    A very well researched and well-written book about an illegal abortionist who practiced for decades and killed 5 women, and the struggle to convict him of a crime. I learned a lot about abortion in the early 20th century, and was left shocked at how this doctor was able to practice for so long and kill so many women without being locked up. He was never sentenced to jail and got out of many charges, despite the body count, and practiced "medicine" up until his death in his 80s (though he did lose his medical license towards the end of his life) It was amazing how difficult it was to convict him even though he was flaunting the law and killing women. He had the money to retain very good lawyers. I like the background information on what society was like at the time, the racial situation as well as the state of medicine, and what society was like for women. This was a very good informative book