Born: October 4, 1890, Halls Summit, Kansas, U.S.
Died: July 1, 1962 (aged 71), Connecticut, U.S.
Occupation: Physician, Radiologist, Tuberculosis Researcher, Writer, Novelist
Notable Works: Doctor Mallory, The Undaunted, In the Lives of Men, Doctor Finlay Sees It Through
Education: Albany College (now Lewis & Clark College), Stanford University, University of Oregon, Stanford University School of Medicine, Yale School of Public Health

Biography

Alan L. Hart was an American physician, radiologist, tuberculosis researcher, and novelist. He was a pioneer in using X-ray technology for early tuberculosis detection, a breakthrough that saved countless lives. Hart was also one of the first documented transgender men in the United States to undergo gender-affirming surgery, living as a man for the rest of his life.

Early Life

Hart was born in Kansas and raised in Oregon after his father died when he was two. From a young age, he identified as male, frequently dressing in boys’ clothing and insisting he was the “man of the house.” His grandparents supported his gender identity, referring to him as their grandson and allowing him to work alongside men on their farm. However, when the family moved to Albany, Oregon, Hart was forced to present as female to attend school.

In high school and college, Hart wrote under male pseudonyms and explored themes of masculinity in his work. He developed close relationships with women, most notably Eva Cushman, whom he dated while at Albany College. His time at school gave him the opportunity to live more authentically, but societal pressures and financial struggles made life difficult.

Medical Career and Tuberculosis Research

Hart earned his medical degree from the University of Oregon Medical Department in 1917. At a time when tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in the U.S., he was among the first to advocate for X-ray screenings to detect the disease in its early stages. This innovation allowed for earlier treatment and significantly reduced tuberculosis mortality rates.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Hart worked in tuberculosis screening and public health programs, leading efforts in Idaho, Washington, and Connecticut. His work was instrumental in controlling the spread of the disease before antibiotics became widely available.

In 1943, he published These Mysterious Rays, a widely respected medical text discussing the use of X-rays in tuberculosis detection. He spent the remainder of his career working as Director of Hospitalization and Rehabilitation for the Connecticut State Tuberculosis Commission, continuing his fight against tuberculosis.

Transition and Personal Life

Hart underwent gender-affirming surgery in 1917, performed by Dr. Joshua Allen Gilbert, who recognized that Hart was best suited to live as a man. This made Hart one of the first documented transgender men in the U.S. to medically transition. He legally changed his name and started living full-time as a man.

However, Hart’s transition was met with harassment and frequent outings by former classmates. He moved multiple times to avoid discrimination, working in hospitals across several states. His first marriage to Inez Stark ended due to the stress of constant relocation. He later married Edna Ruddick, who supported him throughout his career and life.

Hart’s transition also allowed him to pursue legal marriage to a woman, something he would not have been able to do otherwise at the time. However, his journey was not without difficulty. Hart had initially sought psychiatric treatment to “cure” himself of his same-gender attraction, but after failed attempts at conversion therapy, he requested gender-affirming surgery instead. Gilbert, though hesitant, eventually approved the procedure, recognizing Hart’s deep conviction about his identity.

Writing Career

In addition to his medical work, Hart was a novelist, often weaving medical and social themes into his stories. His books include:

• Doctor Mallory (1935) – A novel exposing corruption in the medical industry.
• The Undaunted (1936) – Features a gay radiologist facing discrimination.
• In the Lives of Men (1937) – A semi-autobiographical novel exploring identity and disability.
• Doctor Finlay Sees It Through (1942) – A medical drama set during the Great Depression.

Hart’s novels were groundbreaking for their time, often featuring queer-coded characters and discussions of discrimination. His writing served as both a creative outlet and a reflection of his own struggles, with one of his personal letters noting:

“I am sure I would have done something rather desperate if I had not turned to writing.”

Legacy and Impact

Hart’s contributions to medicine revolutionized tuberculosis detection and saved thousands of lives. Despite societal challenges, he became a leader in public health and a respected medical expert.

In LGBTQ+ history, Hart is recognized as a trailblazing transgender man. However, for decades after his death, some historians misrepresented him as a lesbian, leading to conflicts over his identity. By the late 20th century, transgender activists successfully reclaimed his legacy. Today, he is widely honored for both his medical achievements and his role in trans history.

His work in tuberculosis detection helped lay the foundation for modern screening techniques, and many of his methods are still in use today.

Death and Recognition

Hart passed away in 1962 from heart failure. His wife, Edna, honored his wishes by destroying his personal letters and photographs, ensuring privacy in his legacy. She also established a fund for leukemia research in his name, as his mother had died of the disease.

It was only after Hart’s death that historian Jonathan Ned Katz uncovered his past, identifying him as the subject of Dr. Gilbert’s early case study on transgender patients. Initially, Katz incorrectly categorized Hart as a lesbian, but later revised his stance, acknowledging the complexity of Hart’s gender identity.

“In my earlier research on Hart, I made the mistake of trying to claim Hart as a lesbian. Now I think it’s more important to try to understand how Hart identified at different times in life.” – Jonathan Ned Katz

Today, Alan L. Hart is remembered as both a pioneer in medicine and an important figure in transgender history. His innovations in tuberculosis research remain essential, and his life continues to inspire discussions about gender, identity, and medical ethics.

Hart’s name is now included in LGBTQ+ and medical history records, and modern historians recognize his groundbreaking work and his unwavering commitment to living authentically.

References

Booth, Brian. The Life and Career of Alberta Lucille/Dr. Alan L. Hart with Collected Early Writings. Portland, OR: Lewis & Clark College, 1999.

DeLuca, Leo. “Trailblazing Transgender Doctor Saved Countless Lives.” Scientific American, October 2021. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trailblazing-transgender-doctor-saved-countless-lives.

Gilbert, Joshua Allen. “Homo-Sexuality and Its Treatment.” Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 52, no. 4 (October 1920): 297–332. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005053-192010000-00002.

Hansen, Bert. “Public Careers and Private Sexuality: Some Gay and Lesbian Lives in the History of Medicine and Public Health.” American Journal of Public Health 92, no. 1 (January 2002): 36–44. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1447383.

Katz, Jonathan Ned. Gay American History: Lesbians and Gay Men in the U.S.A. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1976.

Katz, Jonathan Ned. Gay/Lesbian Almanac: A New Documentary. New York: Harper & Row, 1983.

Koskovich, Gerard. “Private Lives, Public Struggles.” Stanford 21, no. 2 (June 1993).

Manion, Jen. Female Husbands: A Trans History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020.

Mejia, Alexandra. “Alan L. Hart.” OutHistory. Accessed February 9, 2025. http://outhistory.org/exhibits/show/tgi-bios/alan-l-hart.

O’Hartigan, Margaret Deidre. “Alan Hart.” In Kotula, Dean, ed. The Phallus Palace: Female to Male Transsexuals. Los Angeles: Alyson Publications, 2002.

Oregon Encyclopedia. “Alan Hart (1890–1962).” Accessed February 9, 2025. https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hart_alan_1890_1962_/.

Parks, Casey. “In Transition: OHSU Evolves to Aid Transgender Patients.” OregonLive, May 14, 2016. https://www.oregonlive.com.

Roberts, Barbara. “Lucille Hart Dinner.” Barbara Roberts Video Gallery, October 12, 1991.

Stryker, Susan. “Transgender History.” Transsexual News Telegraph, Summer 1995.

Weiss, Jillian Todd. “GL vs. BT: The Archaeology of Biphobia and Transphobia Within the U.S. Gay and Lesbian Community.” Journal of Bisexuality 3, no. 3–4 (2003): 25–55. https://doi.org/10.1300/J159v03n03_02.

Young, Mia. “Alan Hart (1890–1962).” Oregon Encyclopedia. Accessed February 9, 2025. https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/hart_alan_1890_1962_/.