A Piece of History: Dr. George Tann’s Medical Bag

Dr. George Tann holds a special place in the Ingalls family story. While our family was living near Independence, Kansas, in 1870, Dr. Tann came to their aid when they became seriously ill. Laura later wrote about the experience in Little House on the Prairie, preserving his role in the family’s story for generations of readers.

Today, visitors to the Little House on the Prairie Museum can see a remarkable connection to Dr. Tann: a historic medical bag bearing the words “G. A. Tann, M.D. — Physician and Surgeon.”

Seeing an object connected to someone we have known through family history and Laura’s writing brings the past a little closer. It is a reminder that the people in these stories were real people whose lives crossed paths with our family in meaningful ways.

Preserving pieces of history like this helps ensure their stories are not forgotten. We are grateful for the work of the Little House on the Prairie Museum and other historic sites that continue to preserve and share the people, places, and stories connected to the Ingalls family.