| Notes |
- The New York Times, Monday, October 23, 1922
Dr. Mary Imogene Bassett
Special to The New York Times.
Cooperstown, N.Y., Oct. 22 - Dr. Mary Imogene Bassett, Chief of Staff
of the $2,000,000 hospital opened here June 1 and named after her, died
suddenly Saturday at her home here of a paralytic stroke. She was 60 years
old, the daughter of two physicians, Drs. Wilson T. and Mary Augusta Bassett,
of this city.
Mary Imogene Bassett - A Brief Biography
provided by Jane Schlesser, Director of Public Relatio
Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown, New York
Mary Imogene Bassett was born to Doctors Wilson and Mary A. Bassett in
Mount Vision, New York in 1856. In 1874, the family moved their growing
medical practice to Cooperstown. They practiced in a house that still stands
on lower Fair Street and treated their patients for $6-$12 week -- including
room and board!
At a time when few women found recognition in medical careers, Dr.
Mary Imogene distinguished herself early. She was only 31 when she graduated
from the Woman's College of Pennsylvania. She received further training and
became an instructor in Nervous Diseases at the Philadelphia Polyclinic and
College for Graduates in Medicine. She published several articles in th
field and was subsequently elected delegate to the Philadelphia County Medical
Society and the American Medical Association (AMA).
After the death of her mother in 1893, she abruptly turned to a rural
general practice in Cooperstown with her aging father. Her father died in 1905
and Dr. Mary Imogene continued alone. She had a very active practice in and
around Cooperstown. She was a beloved, dedicated physician who was called "Dr.
Molly" by most of her patients.
Among her friends and patients was Edward Severin Clark. He had great
admiration for Mary Bassett. According to anecdote, he heard her express a
wish for a laboratory to provide scientific data with which she and the other
Cooperstown practitioners could better care for their patients. Mr. Cla
granted her wish, building not only a laboratory, but a fully-equipped 100-bed
fieldstone hospital building. Named "The Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital", it
was meant as a living memorial to Dr. Bassett.
In 1918, the hospital was nearing completion and was offered by Mr.
Clark to the xxx for use as a convalescent home for aviation officers until
late 1919. The public opening of the hospital came in June 1922, with D
Bassett serving as chief of staff. Tragically, she suddenly died of a stroke
at home in October of that year. Mr. Clark directed that the light in t
cupola be lit every night in memory of her - and it is to this day.
Catalog of the Otsego Co. Musical Society Convention held in Cooperstow
January 29, 1856 Under the Direction of Prof. Wm. B. Bradbury of New Yo
Assisted by Prof. Thos. Hastings and Miss Kate Bennett 1956 ---- Wilson T.
Bassett, Mount Vision.
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Bassett Family Association Database
Abt 1856 - Abt 1922 (~ 66 years)