Amelia L. Gates

Amelia Levinson Gates (July 7, 1866 – June 2, 1947) was a distinguished and pioneering pediatrician. She is best known for her contributions to the field of pediatrics in San Francisco and the community of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Her life was defined by her dedication to the health and well-being of children, her pioneering medical practice, and her philanthropic endeavors. She helped to establish the Florence Ward Hospital in San Francisco, and during the formative years of Carmel, she participated in shaping its growth by personally designing both her cottage and a commercial building located in the downtown village.[1][2][3]

Amelia L. Gates
Born
Amelia Levinson

July 7, 1866
Gdańsk, Germany
Died2 June 1947(1947-06-02) (aged 80)
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, US
OccupationPediatrician
Spouse
Howard Baker Gates
​
​
(m. 1909, died)​
Children1

Early life
(left to right) Amelia L. Gates, Howard B. Gates, and other family members.

Gates was born on July 7, 1866, in Gdańsk, Germany. She was the daughter of Louis Levinson (1824-1877) and Rosalia Waldstein (1830-1904). Gates immigrated to the United States as a child. Her passion for medicine led her to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where she met her future husband, Howard Baker Gates (1867-1914) of San Jose, California. Howard Gates was appointed as the Superintendent of the County Hospital of Santa Clara County, where his efforts resulted in notable improvements that stand as a testament to his dedicated work.[1][4] They had one child, Harold Keith Gates (1909-1978).[5][6]

Professional background

After completing their studies, the couple established a joint medical practice in San Jose, California, where they provided medical care to the local community. In 1910, they moved to Los Angeles, California, where they had a large medical practice in Los Angeles and Pasadena. Amelia Gates was chairman of the public affairs committee of the Friday Morning Club. Due to peripheral neuropathy, Gates' husband made the difficult decision to abandon his medical and surgical practice in 1913, focusing instead on regaining his health. Seeking to resolve his condition, he embarked on a journey abroad, spending the winter in Southern Italy before eventually arriving in Rome. Tragically, her husband died in Rome on May 8, 1914. His brother, Egbert J. Gates (1869–1923), assemblyman from Pasadena, was also there with him in Rome at the time he died. Howard Gates's ashes were placed in the family plot in the San Jose cemetery.[7][5]

Despite this loss, Amelia Gates persevered, returning to San Francisco, where she continued her medical career with a renewed focus on preventative care for children. Gates played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Florence Ward Hospital in San Francisco, further demonstrating her commitment to improving healthcare access for children. Her pioneering work in preventative care set a new standard for pediatric medicine, highlighting the importance of early intervention and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.[1]

Dr. Amelia Gates Cottage
The Dr. Amelia Gates Cottage on Camino Real and 8th Avenue.

In 1922, after a long career, Gates retired in the coastal town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. She and her husband had owned a parcel of land on El Camino Real, where they built a cabin.[2] She replaced the original cabin on El Camino Real with a one-story Vernacular-style cottage of her own design, now known as the Dr. Amelia Gates Cottage. This home, located on Camino Real between 7th and 8th Avenue, became a symbol of her commitment to both her profession and the community she served. The house is a block north of the La Playa Hotel. As a notable example of early Vernacular architecture, the cottage holds great significance, having been designed by Gates during the formative years of Carmel's development. It was registered with the California Register of Historical Resources on October 14, 2001.[1][8]

Amelia Gates Building
Main article: Amelia Gates Building
The Amelia Gates Building in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.

In in 1924, Gates designed and supervised the construction of the Amelia Gates Building, is a historic two-story wood-framed Tudor Revival style commercial building in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. The building is at the southwest end of the court of the Golden Bough. Gates constructed the cottage as an investment for her retirement. The building featured a ground floor occupied by retail shops, and a studio apartment at the upper level. It had clinker brick veneer, faux half-timbering, and a distinctive pair of gable roofs. The building is significant as one of the two known designs by Gates. The design is based on buildings she had seen in Austria. The building qualified as an important commercial building in the city's downtown historic district property survey and was registered with the California Register of Historical Resources on February 13, 2002.[9][10][2][8]

Death

On June 2, 1947, at the age of 80, Gates died of cardiovascular disease, at her home on El Camino Real in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The loss of this extraordinary physician and humanitarian reverberated throughout the medical community and the community she had come to call home. Private services were held at the Paul Chapel in Pacific Grove, followed by interment at the Oak Hill Funeral Home in San Jose.[11][3][6]

Legacy

Gates's life and legacy serve as an inspiration to medical professionals and the broader community alike. Her contributions extended beyond her medical practice. Her philanthropic efforts included a generous bequest to the Stanford University School of Medicine. She established the Howard Gates Loan Fund, a $5,000 equivalent to $60,678 in 2021), endowment aimed at assisting medical students in pursuing their education. This act of generosity reflected her desire to support and uplift future generations of medical professionals.[12][3]

See also

References
  1. "Dr. Amelia Gates Cottage" (PDF). Department of Parks and recreation. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. 2001-10-14. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  2. Seavey, Kent (2007). Carmel, A History in Architecture. Arcadia Pub. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. p. 75. ISBN 9780738547053. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  3. "Dr. Gates Passes Away at Carmel". The Californian. Salinas, California. 3 Jun 1947. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  4. "The Pacific Coast Journal of Homeopathy". Journal Publishing Company. 25. 1914. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  5. "Historical Information for Amelia G. Levinson". FamilySearch. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  6. "The Journal of the American Medical Association". American Medical Association. 135 (4): 239. 27 Sep 1947. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  7. "Retruns With Ashes Of Dr. Howard Gates". South Pasadena Record. South Pasadena, California. June 5, 1914. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  8. "Carmel Inventory Of Historic Resources Database" (PDF). City Of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  9. Kent L. Seavey (February 13, 2002). "Department Of Parks And Recreation" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  10. Dramov, Alissandra (2019). Historic Buildings of Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. Arcadia Publishing. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. p. 74. ISBN 9781467103039. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  11. "Dr. Amelia Gates". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. June 6, 1947. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  12. "Dr. Amelia Gates Estate $147,420". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. 31 Dec 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
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