Female Pharmacist in Kansas; Baldwin Pharmacist 1912
- Individual photos and full text of article is available below.
- First printed in Baldwin City Community News, March 9, 2022. Reprinted with permission.
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Photos:
Text of Article:
Treasures From The Kansas Room By Marta Jardon, Santa Fe Trail Historical Society – Baldwin City Community News, March 9, 2022.
Florence Mann Hitchcock; Baldwin pharmacist, 1912
Someone recently asked me about a female pharmacist in the early days of Baldwin. After checking with a few local historians who were not confident about that information, I headed to The Kansas Room. The Kansas Room at the Baldwin City Public Library contains a wonderful collection of Baldwin and local history. There, in the hanging files and scrapbooks, was the information about Florence Mann Hitchcock, Baldwin’s first female pharmacist. She was also the first female registered pharmacist in the state of Kansas.
Florence Mann of Westphalia, Kansas, and Thomas A. Hitchcock, an 1894 graduate of Baker Academy (the preparatory department of Baker), married in Westphalia. They were both registered pharmacists, and they opened a drug store there. In 1912, they came to Baldwin. Along with Lynn Carnahan, they bought the local drug store from Jim Schnebly. In 1914, the Hitchcocks became the sole owners of Hitchcock’s Drug Store. At that time, the store was in the current Farm Bureau building at 721 Eighth Street. They moved to the corner building (current Edward Jones building) in 1951.
Their son, Merle Leslie Hitchcock, more commonly known as “Ty”, worked in the store with his parents. In 1928, he also became a pharmacist and officially joined the family business. In 1951, his son Tom graduated from the KU School of Pharmacy and became the third generation to join the store. Finally, in 1976, Ric Hitchcock, great-grandson of Florence and Thomas, took over the pharmacy duties of the store. His mother Marjorie continued to care for the customers up front. His father Tom went to work for KU in the administration of the School of Pharmacy. In 1979, the store was sold to Gary Roberts since Ric Hitchcock had decided to go to medical school.
The Hitchcocks and Hitchock’s Drugs provided much care, friendship, and fond memories to the people of Baldwin for many generations. The family and store are still remembered and talked about today – and bring smiles and warm feelings to the faces and hearts of many.
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Looking for Baldwin or local history? Or want to contribute to it? Come to The Kansas Room!
The Santa Fe Trail Historical Society of Douglas County has been preserving and promoting the history of the Baldwin, Vinland, and Southern Douglas County area in addition to the Trail since 1967. Visit the website at www.santafetraildouglas.org.
–Updated 1/2025
