The Dr. Kathleen Jordan Project started in 2022
By Patricia Buschette
Linda Heen and Carol Heen of Maynard, Minn., Cynthia “C.J.” Jamison from Jasper, Minn., and Cynthia Lavin, Mary Kelly, Dr. Darrell Carter, and Peggy Kvam, from Granite Falls, Minn., each with unique and significant experiences and abilities, have found a common interest and objective.
This group of people, collectively known as “The Dr. Kathleen Jordan Project,” have been working since December of 2022, to coordinate “a public tribute honoring Dr. Jordan’s dedicated human rights and humanitarian services including her medical testing of children throughout Minnesota to work toward eradicating tuberculosis.”
Each of the members of the Dr. Kathleen Jordan project brings a special connection to the tribute. In the case of Mary Kelly, the connection is highly personal.
“My grandmother had tuberculosis when my mother was born in 1915 and so she was in the care of others for the next year and a half. My grandparents lived in the Twin Cities and when the San opened in 1915 my grandmother was admitted there. Because my grandfather had to take the train to Granite Falls, he asked if there was someone in Granite who could take care of his little girl so he could see his daughter and his wife at the same time. August and Mary Schempf took care of my mother. My grandmother died after 342 days at the San. My mother knew her dad, but he died when she was seven. The Schempfs adopted her.
Carol Heen describes her connection with the genesis of the project. “It was at a Yellow Medicine County Historical Society meeting when member Paul Benson brought photos of Kathleen Jordan’s years in Algeria. We were captivated by them, and concerned about their preservation. Our interest began with the photos but we realized that Dr. Jordan was a figure who changed health in the state. The breadth of it became clearer. We have Kathleen’s epidemiology and her handwritten records from every county and every school, we can tell where she was on a certain day in 1938. In 1938 she was in 22 different counties testing kids,” she said.
“I have a background in history and art, and was anxious to learn more about how disease can be spread,” Cynthia Lavin said. “I heard about Kathleen Jordan, and the Sanatorium. I joined the committee and have learned more about her and the need to honor her.”
Cynthia Jamison, known as C.J., is a newer member of the group. “I am new to the project but have been reading. It is infectious – you have a thirst for it – you want to learn more. I am an art major and was an English teacher. I hope I can contribute.”
Peggy Kvam’s connection to Dr. Jordan was the unique technique she used to administer Mantoux tests. Peggy remembered her experience as a child. “Before she gave me the shot in my left forearm, she asked what animal I wanted to shoot with my right hand. I remember choosing a rhinoceros. I was concentrating so hard to see the rhinoceros in the basement lunchroom, that I did not even notice the shot she administered,” Peggy said.
Dr. Darrell Carter, self-described as a “partly retired physician” is new to the committee. “My input can provide general medical information, and am hopefully contributing medical aspects as we weed through complexities of the history of tuberculosis that evolved over decades and spread worldwide,” he said.
Who is Dr. Kathleen Jordan?
Dr. Jordan, a humanitarian, well-known for her efforts to combat tuberculosis, was born in England in 1901. Her parents, Percy and Ettie Boyt Smith, missionaries in Algeria, sent Kathleen and her siblings to a French school, but spoke English at home.
It was her soft, lyrical accent that captivates everyone those who remembers her. “She was so pretty; she had an accent,” Mary Kelly remembered.
Kathleen graduated from Ohio Wesleyan in 1923. While in medical school symptoms of tuberculosis brought her to a sanatorium in New York where she met Dr. Lewis Jordan. She graduated with honors from Case Western Reserve University.
The committee has done much research. Dr. Darrell Carter spoke of the results of Kathleen Jordan’s licensure test. “It was remarkable that the level of her scores was in the 98-99 percent percentile. She was the top of the top,” he said, hastening to add that there was a 97% score as well!
Kathleen arrived in Granite Falls in 1930. She married Dr. Lewis Jordan who managed the Riverside TB Sanatorium. Kathleen turned her attention to working with school children.
Over the course of 40 years, Dr. Kathleen Jordan would perform around two million tests while she and Dr. Lewis Jordan conducted their epidemiology work. She did outreach work and tested school children for tuberculosis, charting the presence of disease and educating the public. During this time Riverside Sanatorium focused on the counties of Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Renville and Yellow Medicine.
Dr. Carter, who has studied the disease and Dr. Jordan’s efforts, said “She saved the lives of thousands of people. It is unknown how many lives were impacted by her work.”
Sharing the unique personal memories and the statistics of the accomplishments of Dr. Kathleen Jordan through a public tribute is a complicated task.
Carol Heen explained the process. “Since the Dr. Kathleen Jordan project began in earnest in January 2023, the group has directed their attention to synthesizing and effectively telling the story as they continue to learn of her many accomplishments.”
Dr. Jordan’s contributions continued after her active work with students. “Kathleen Jordan was a widow for 30 years, and after retirement she said she needed new goals. She chose to go south and teach at Piney Woods an all black prep school, in 1968 in Mississippi” Carol said.
“Kathleen received awards from the National United Church of Christ, for her many humanitarian efforts and was recognized by Ohio Wesleyan for teaching, religious education, and humanitarian causes,” Linda Heen said.
Even in her later years she maintained the personal qualities that endeared her to many. “I got to know her personally,” Dr. Carter said. “She was the epitome of the proper lady. She really impressed me; she was very cordial . . . prim and proper to the end.
According to Linda Heen, the project will span five days from Sept. 12 through Sept. 16 in three separate venues, on Granite Falls’ Main Street, each offering a different focus on Kathleen Jordan. Sept. 12 will be senior day with special accommodations.
“The First exhibit at the KK Berge Building will be Kathleen Jordan’s first 30 years before she got to Granite Falls, and in some respects, will be an art exhibit. The second exhibit will be in the United Church of Christ, describing her next 60 years including the Riverside Sanatorium, her work with schools, as well as her personal life. The third exhibit will be at The Yes House, and will be more science based, honoring women, and address the scientific aspects of tuberculosis, medicine, and its impact on the world,” Linda said.
Cynthia Lavin has organized an art project for the event. “I worked with high school students, giving them background on Christmas seals. They have designed Christmas seals that will be displayed at the KK Berge Building.” She is facilitating field trips for students to visit the project. “Most schools are on board with sending children on the field trips.” Cynthia said.
Speakers are being scheduled. Author Mary Krugerud who has written about tuberculosis, will be speaking on Saturday.
In the weeks before the tribute, the pressure was focused as the group fine-tuned planning. When asked about the greatest challenges in planning the tribute, Linda Heen enthusiastically responded. “It is the incredible volume of information. As we learned more, there was the response, ‘Oh My Gosh, she did that?’ We have so many wonderful primary sources including photographs. An historian must pull out the nuggets and show those elements. The challenge is to get the story right.”
Cynthia Lavin emphasized the importance of Dr. Jordan’s work. “I grew up in Colorado and we didn’t have tests – she really influenced the health of Minnesota,” Cynthia said.
“Dr. Kathleen Jordan and Dr. Lewis Jordan were sought after speakers, Dr. Carter said. They were published internationally. “Records show requests for information written in German,” he said.
Peggy Kvam told of her research of the records of United Church of Christ where Kathleen Jordan was a member. “Kathleen’s name appeared quite often starting in the 1950s. She was very active in educational programs and church supported missions,” she said.
TB has been drastically reduced in America, to the point that most Americans believe it no longer exists anywhere, but is widespread in Africa and Asia.
The Riverside Sanatorium was authorized in 1913 by the legislature. With the development of streptomycin, the option of treatment at the San was no longer necessary, and it was closed in 1962. Utilized briefly by Project Turnabout, it was razed in the late 1990s.
“You cannot even distinguish where the Sanatorium once stood,” Mary Kelly said. “It is so overgrown.”
It is unfortunate that Riverview Sanatorium, the site of humanitarian effort, no longer exists.
However, greater than any building, is the legacy of Dr. Kathleen Jordan. Her story is told in the records of her contribution to the health of so many and the memories of thousands, who as children, went on a safari with her as they received their Mantoux test.
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