NOTE: This essay has become far too long for its previous title as a “Short” History of Midwifery. Since it covers more than 165 years of sociology, the politics of organized medicine, and legislative history of both non-nurse and nurse-midwifery, I still think its ‘short’ but many of my readers didn’t agree. I’m currently editing… Continue reading The Social and Political History of Midwifery in California: 1850 to 2014