United States. Public Health Service

Bess Furman was an American journalist born in 1894 who became known for covering the White House across multiple presidential administrations. She worked for the Associated Press and later for The New York Times, building a reputation as an experienced Washington reporter.

She also wrote A Profile of the United States Public Health Service, 1798–1948, a substantial historical study published by the National Library of Medicine in 1973. That book follows the long development of the Public Health Service and reflects her skill at turning government history into a readable narrative.

Furman died in 1969, and her work remains useful for readers interested in the history of public health, federal medicine, and the growth of national health institutions in the United States.