HISTORICAL VIGNETTES

Anna Hopkins Angle- “First Lady” of orthodontics Lewis G. t&berg, IX%, MSD, MS Lincoln, Neb.

A perfect woman, nobly planned, To warm, to comfort, and command; And yet a spirit still, and bright With something of angelic light.

Wordsworth

Anna Hopkins’-6 earned her DDS degree from the University of Iowa in 1902, and completed her studies at the Angle School of Orthodontia in St. Louis sometime between 1902 and 1907.‘.4.7.8 She was a woman of intelligence, education, patience, under- standing, tenderness, and love. It has been said that she had a broader knowledge and understanding of ortho- dontics and orthodontists in the United States and the world than anyone else had ever possessed.8’9 She knew the basic principles of the appliances of the day as well as Dr. Angle and better than most orthodontists.’

Mother Arigle, as she was referred to by those dental practitioners who furthered their education via the ioute of advanced studies at the Edward H. Angle College of Orthodontia in Pasadena,‘,8.9 was born Anna Hopkins on a farm in Bloomington, Minn., Jan. 22, 1872. Anna was the eldest of eight children and, needless to say, grew up rapidly with the numerous tasks and respon- sibilities thrust on her.‘.4.X

Material things were scarce on the Hopkins farm; however, books were always considered a necessity. At 14 years of age, Anna had completed all of the grades at the local school and had performed well enough in her course work to be immediately offered a position to teach at the same school. At age 16, she was not only self-supporting, but also contributed financially to the family. 1,4

Possessed with a strong desire to improve herself scholastically and obtain employment that was more financially rewarding, Anna left the family farm. She was a mature, reliable, and independent young woman; just past 16 years, she moved to Minneapolis where she enrolled in bookkeeping and secretarial courses. Completing this phase of her education, she obtained a position with a large business concern in Minneapolis and continued to broaden her education by taking courses at night.‘s8

In 1893, Anna obtained a position as personal sec- retary to Edward Hartley Angle. This was the same

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year that Dr. Angle published the third edition of The Angle System of Regulation ana’ Retention of the Teeth.*-’ Original ideas came easily and often to ~Dr. Angle, but he strained painfully to express himself in writing. Anna assisted him enormously with completing the volume and contributed immeasurably to all of his future writings. ‘.4.9

Dr. Angle left Minneapolis in 1896, and moved to St. Louis, where he opened an office in the Olivia Building. He lived just west of the office in a boarding house on Windsor Place. Among the other lodgers were his faithful amanuensis, Anna Hopkins; a close profes- sional associate from Minneapolis, William Brady; Frederick S. McKay; Richard Summa and his wife, also a dentist; and William Wallace Cherry and wjfe.l.2.4.10

Like many who came into close professional contact with Dr. Angle, Anna found herself spellbound by the science of orthodontics and Angle’s all-encompassing enthusiasm for it. In 1900, guided by the suggestions and recommendations of Drs. Brady, Summa, and Mar- tin Dewey, Anna entered the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. I4 She graduated in 1902 with a DDS degree.

On June 11, 1901, a 3-day session began in St. Louis; during this session the American Society of Orthodontists (which has been recognized as the Amer- ican Association of Orthodontists since 193.5) was for- mally organized. Anna was actively present at this meeting along with Gertrude C. Locke, William J. Brady, William E. Walker, Frank A. Grough, Henry E. Lindas, Charles B. Blackmar, F. W. Rafter, Fred- erick C. Kemple, Lloyd S. Laurie, Crofton Munroe, Richard Summa, Herbert A. Pullen, Edward H. Angle. Milton T. Watson, and Thomas K. Mercer.”

At the second annual meeting of the American So- ciety of Orthodontists, which was held in St. Louis in October 1902; Anna Hopkins presented a paper enti- tled, “Orthodontia From the Standpoint of the Student.” Milton T. Watson, secretary of the society, read the paper, which reviewed in depth the dental educational system of the period (as Dr. Hopkins had recently ex- perienced it). Anna strongly critiqued dental education for its overemphasis on teaching the student the “how to” of appliance construction before teaching the “why”

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Fig. 1. Anna Hopkins Angle and Edward Hartley Angle in a room in their home in Pasadena, Calif. A small sample of their extensive American Indian artifact collection decorates the walls. (Photograph courtesy Walter H. Ellis.)

of treatment philosophy. Occlusion was a major subject among orthodontists of that era and Dr. Hopkins aptly stated:

If he [the student] is taught this principle [occlusion] to begin with, he cannot but realize that dentistry has a more scientific meaning than he can appreciate without this knowl- edge. The first principles of occlusion must be thor- oughly taught from the start.”

The paper was well received by those in attendance and strongly supported in the discussion that followed. Among the more prominent orthodontists of the era who added verbal agreement with Dr. Hopkins were W. J. Brady of Iowa City, Richard Summa of St. Louis, L. S. Laurie of Chicago, and F. M. Castro of Columbus, Ohio. I2

At the close of the meeting, Anna was elected sec- retary of the American Society of Orthodontists. She served the position with thoroughness and dignity until 1905, when Dr. Angle withdrew his membership over personality clashes based on professional opinion dif- ferences.*.”

Dr. Hopkin’s formal orthodontic education was completed sometime between 1902 and 1907 at the Edward H. Angle School of Orthodontia.‘.4,7,8

Anna Hopkins and Edward Hartley Angle were mar- ried in 1906.l.’ Her strong protective instincts and end- less patience guided Dr. Angle through the painful and trying years of professional infighting that had opened during that era.‘,” Hartley, as Anna fondly referred to her husband,13 came to depend on her increasingly more to assist with his writings. They would argue intensely

and at long length over each paragraph, each sentence, and each word. ‘.* Years later Mrs. Angle stated in hu- mor that she and Dr. Angle came closer to divorce when writing papers than at any other time.’ Anna Hopkins Angle encouraged and protected Dr. Angle all the years they were together. She maintained a subtle control while keeping herself in the background. From the time of their marriage until her last days, she preferred to be known as Mrs. Angle.‘,3,8.9

In 1907, Dr. Angle moved his school to Larchmont, N.Y., and in 1908 to New London, Conn. Health con- cerns made it necessary for him to escape the rigors of the northeastern winters; in 1916, the Angles moved to Pasadena, Calif. It was there that the Angle School eventually acquired its own building and was chartered by the State of California as the Edward H. Angle College of Orthodontia.14 Cecil Steiner on numerous occasions has related stories of how Dr. Angle would verbally “spank” visitors, applicants, and students.9,‘5 On one occasion when Dr. Steiner was applying to the Angle School for admission, Dr. Angle, after ques- tioning the applicant extensively on philosophy, botany, biology, and like subjects, told the applicant loud enough for all to hear, “You are too ignorant for me to talk to, go home.” Discouraged and embarrassed, Dr. Steiner was stopped at the door by Anna, handed a long list of books that included the philosophers, Darwin, and other noted scientists, and told him, “Why don’t you read these and come back and see him? Don’t be afraid of him.“9.‘5 A. G. Brodie related similar tales of Mrs. Angle’s endless patience and her encouragement to many of the young men who presented themselves

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Flg. 2. Anna Hopkins (Mrs. Angle) when she received her dental degree from the University of Iowa in 1902. (From Kre- menak NW, Bishara SE. The history of the Department of Orthodontics at the University of Iowa. Iowa City, Iowa: Lind’s Printing Service, 1987:31. Photograph courtesy B.F. Dewel.)

at the Angle School. He also indicated that she was always careful never to allow her sympathy to over- shadow the lesson intended by Dr. Angle since she also believed in discipline.‘,‘5

By the year 1922, there were sufficient graduates of the Angle College in California to form a working organization, the Edward H. Angle Society of Grtho- dontia. The membership was supplemented by gradu- ates of the former schools in St. Louis, New York, and New London, who already had their own organization, the Eastern Association of Graduates of the Angle School of Orthodontia. Like the college, the society was controlled by Dr. Angle. The New London meeting of 1928 was the last meeting Dr. Angle attended. With his death in August 1930, the society ceased to exist.

In November 1930, Mrs. Angle journeyed to Chi- cago to assist 22 other members of the briefly defunct Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists to reorga-

Fig. 3. Anna Hopkins (Mrs. Angle) is shown in the fifth row from the top, fourth photo from left. (Photograph courtesy BF. Dewel.)

nize. Anna was elected honorary chairman of the Ex- ecutive Committee for life and an editor of the society’s planned publication, the Angle Orthodontist.‘~2.‘4

During the 1932 meeting of the Angle Society, which was held at the home of Mrs. Angle, Robert H. W. Strang presented a paper entitled, “Mesial and Distal Movement with the Edgewise Arch Mechanism.” Dr. Strang stirred up considerable controversy among those present, some of whom denounced him strongly for not using force control as taught by Dr. Angle. In the midst of the furor, Anna arose and wisely, with sound diplomacy, brought the differing parties to order by thanking the members who spoke strongly in defense of the principles taught by Dr. Angle. She stated that progress should not be impeded by past teachings and that truths would speak for themselves and be lasting. If the auxiliary that Dr. Strang proposed was based on sound principles, it would continue in use; if not, it would naturally disappear. She exclaimed that prejudice could only be harmful and should be kept in the back- ground. I6

“It was an essay that none of the audience will ever forget,” exclaimed Dr. &rang about an essay by Anna Hopkins Angle entitled, “Some Phases of Dr. Angle’s Life and Work.“” The paper, which was published sev- eral months later with a new title, “A Short Rambling

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Chapter From the Life of Dr. Edward H. Angle,“” displayed Anna’s tender feelings and her understanding of a man’s development through his boyhood years. Her sensitivity and her love and admiration of Dr. Angle are evident throughout her account of the boyhood suc- cesses, the failures, the creating, and the building or “tinkering.”

References to Anna Hopkins Angle the person are scarce. In 1942, when Marie N. Bercea, a close friend and professional colleague, died, Anna wrote the obit- uary notice for the Angle Orthodontist.” By use of keenly learned literary skills, Mrs. Angle demonstrated the warmth of her friendship and her personal under- standing of those who were close friends and associates.

Along with her husband, Anna loved and had be- come possessed with the science and profession of orthodontics. In 1936, obviously concerned with what appeared to be a change occurring in the overt ethical behavior of the orthodontists of the time, she and her co-editor, Dr. Strang, published an editorial in the Angle Orthodontist entitled, “Orthodontia of the Future, Shall It Be a Profession or a Racket?“” Alarmed at the chang- ing state of affairs, they stated:

With concrete example constantly appearing before our eyes, demonstrating so clearly the downward trend of profes- sional ideals, aims, and ethics, notably to be taken from the allied field of law, is it not time that all orthodontists who hold within their hearts some feeling of concern for the wel- fare of the profession that they practice, take stock, unite and immediately set in activity ways and means whereby the future may be made safe for children who need our special services and our field guarded from the inroads of the financial pro- pagandist and the ethical pirate? Has the time not come when such a plea will no longer be considered as the sentiments of a fanatic or an alarmist?

Anna Hopkins Angle was a rare and special woman blessed with diverse skills and knowledge. She was recognized by her professional peers as a learned ortho- dontist; she was a woman of letters and a stimulating conversationalist; her cuisine was the admiration of all who were fortunate enough to dine with her. Anna shared an interest and knowledge of American Indian art and crafts with Dr. Angle, and at one period they had an extremely valuable collection of beadwork, Na- vajo rugs, buckskin clothing, and the likes, which they donated to a college in Clairmont, hoping in this en- deavor to add to the education of others. A strong

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woman who managed to maintain a subtle control of the environment surrounding her, “Mother Angle” never pushed her opinions on others, rarely used her title of doctor, and seemed pleased to be in the back- ground. ‘,3*419

Anna Hopkins Angle played her role with grace, modesty, and an exquisite sense of the fitness of things.’

God made the woman for the man. (Tennyson)

And so He made Anna Hopkins for Edward Angle.

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Brodie AG. Anna Hopkins Angle. Angle Orthod 1958;28:57-9. Kremenak NW, Bishara SE. The history of the Department of Orthodontics at the University of Iowa. Iowa City, Iowa: Lind’s Printing Service, 1987. Dewel BF. Personal communication (letter 8/ 17 / 87). Shankland WM. Personal notes [AA0 archives]. Andreasen G. Letter to W. M. Shankland, July 13, 1966 [AA0 archives]. Michener E. Letter to W. M. Shankland, June 23, 1966. [AA0 archives]. Photograph of 1907 class of the Angle School of Orthodontia. AM J ORTHOD ORAL SURG 1941;27. Shankland WM. The American Association of Orthodontists. The biography of a specialty organization. St. Louis: The Amer- ican Association of Orthodontists, 1971. Steiner C. Recording of reminiscences to W. M. Shankland, 1966. Shankland WM. Dr. Angle in St. Louis ( 1896- 1908). A personal anthology. Angle Orthod 1978;48:240-52. Waugh LM. A review of the first half century. AM J ORTHOD 1952;38:75-129. Watson MT. American Society of Orthodontists’ Second Annual Meeting [minutes]. Dent Cosmos 1903;45:131-42. Angle EH. A short rambling chapter from the life of Dr. Edward H. Angle. Angle Orthod 1934;4:131-41. Hahn GW. Edward Hartley Angle (1855-1930). Angle Orthod 1965;51:529-35. Proceedings of the Foundation for Orthodontic Research. Sherman Oaks, California: Goodway Printing, 1977: 160-91. Strang RHW. The Eighth Annual Meeting of the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontia. Angle Orthod 1932;3:187-95. Strang RHW. The Ninth Annual Meeting of the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists. Angle Orthod 1934;4:112-6. Angle AH. Marie N. Bercea. Angle Orthod 1943;13:39. Angle AH, Strang RHW. Orthodontia of the future, shall it be a profession or a racket? Angle Orthod 1936;6: 128-9.

Reprint requests to: Dr. Lewis Nieberg University of Nebraska College of Dentistry Department of Orthodontics 40th and Holdrege Lincoln, NE 68583-0740