Myer, Alma M., 1890-1981

St. Louis author.

Alma Myer was born Alma Mosenfelder in Rock Island, Ill. on May 23, 1890. She was educated at Wellesley College in the class of 1911. In 1916, she married Leo A. Drey, a St. Louis manufacturer. The couple had two children. Mr. Drey died in 1920. In 1926, Alma Drey married Dr. Max W. Myer, a surgeon. Dr Myer was a professor of surgery at St. Louis University School of Medicine and also the chief surgeon at Jewish Hospital of St. Louis. Mrs. Myer did not work outside the home but was interested in public affairs. She worked for the League of Women Voters and she also did extensive work in placement of children in foster homes.

In 1939, she began the researching and writing of "The Golden page," a book-length medical biography about William Beaumont, a 19th century physician and physiologist. Mrs. Myer completed the work thirty years earlier than its publication date of 1977. Excerpts appeared in the Bulletin of the Missouri Historical Society as early as 1960. Her choice of topic was at least partly influenced by the example set by Jesse S. Myer, M.D. who wrote the now classic scholarly biography, "Life and Letters of William Beaumont" (1912). Jesse Myer, Max Myer's brother had died in 1913. --Source: 1) Collection file: letters between Paul G. Anderson and Kay Drey, 2004; 2) Series 3, Research files... Wellesley Alumnae magazine, Summer 1977, p. 43; News from Exposition Press, ca. 1977, The Golden Page by Alma M. Myer 3) Ronald Numbers, "Review of the Golden Page: a biological novel" in the Bulletin of the History of Medicine, vol 52, p. 471 (1978).

From the description of Alma M. Myer papers 1939-1977 (Washington University in St. Louis). WorldCat record id: 191918031