Marie Equi became one of the first 60 women to become a physician in Oregon.
She established a general medicine practice in Portland in 1905 with an emphasis on health concerns of women and children.
Her role as a physician became widely known to the public once she volunteered to join a group of doctors and nurses who provided medical care to people stricken during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.
That disaster was the largest natural calamity with the most deaths for nearly one hundred years.
At the time, the federal government was not prepared to provide the kind of massive relief needed.
Equi's courageous volunteer work was hailed by California's Governor, San Francisco's Mayor, and the U.S. Army which awarded her a medal and a commendation.

At some point between 1905 and 1915, Equi began to provide abortions and did so without regard for social class or status.
She often charged wealthy women more for the procedure to help cover the costs of poor patients.
Although city and state authorities often tried to halt the practice of abortion with prosecutions, Equi never faced legal consequences for her services.
Unlike several of her colleagues, she retained her general medical practice and did not focus on abortions alone.

Equi was an active member of Portland's Birth Control League and helped disseminate information about birth control when such activity was illegal.
When Margaret Sanger visited Portland in 1916, the authorities arrested her, Equi, and other women and men who distributed Sanger's Family Limitation booklet.
 The judge found them all guilty, ordered fines for the men (and then suspended them), and no fees for the women.
Equi continued her birth control work.

During the Progressive Era, generally 1895 to 1920, Oregon adopted civic and political reforms that became a model for the nation, including the initiative and referendum process, recall of elected officials, and direct election of U.S. Senators.
Equi worked in several campaigns to secure women's right to vote in Oregon, and celebrated victory in 1912 when women gained suffrage in the state.
Marie Equi became one of the first 60 women to become a physician in Oregon. She established a general medicine practice in Portland in 1905 with an emphasis on health concerns of women and children. Her role as a physician became widely known to the public once she volunteered to join a group of doctors and nurses who provided medical care to people stricken during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. That disaster was the largest natural calamity with the most deaths for nearly one hundred years. At the time, the federal government was not prepared to provide the kind of massive relief needed. Equi's courageous volunteer work was hailed by California's Governor, San Francisco's Mayor, and the U.S. Army which awarded her a medal and a commendation.
At some point between 1905 and 1915, Equi began to provide abortions and did so without regard for social class or status. She often charged wealthy women more for the procedure to help cover the costs of poor patients. Although city and state authorities often tried to halt the practice of abortion with prosecutions, Equi never faced legal consequences for her services. Unlike several of her colleagues, she retained her general medical practice and did not focus on abortions alone.
Equi was an active member of Portland's Birth Control League and helped disseminate information about birth control when such activity was illegal. When Margaret Sanger visited Portland in 1916, the authorities arrested her, Equi, and other women and men who distributed Sanger's Family Limitation booklet.  The judge found them all guilty, ordered fines for the men (and then suspended them), and no fees for the women. Equi continued her birth control work.
During the Progressive Era, generally 1895 to 1920, Oregon adopted civic and political reforms that became a model for the nation, including the initiative and referendum process, recall of elected officials, and direct election of U.S. Senators. Equi worked in several campaigns to secure women's right to vote in Oregon, and celebrated victory in 1912 when women gained suffrage in the state.
Marie Equi