New England Female Medical College

New England Female Medical College in 1860

New England Female Medical College, originally Boston Female Medical College, was founded in 1848 by Samuel Gregory and was the first school to train women in the field of medicine.[1][2] It merged with Boston University School of Medicine in 1873.[2]

History

Women such as Harriot Kezia Hunt had served as family physicians, but women were denied attendance at medical lectures and examinations. In 1847, Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to enroll in a United States medical school when she entered the Geneva Medical College. She graduated in 1850 and went on to found the Women’s Medical College of the New York Infirmary.[1]

Founder Samuel Gregory believed it was unseemly for male physicians to assist women during childbirth, and (although that view was controversial) was able to gain support for the establishment of the first female medical college with help from Lemuel Shattuck and Harriet Beecher Stowe.[1] Israel Tilsdale Talbot also helped start the school.[3] Maria Zakrzewska taught at the school, which was "essentially a midwifery school" and funds were raised for the Hospital for Women and Children of the New England Female Medical College (now Dimock Community Health Center), which was split off by Zalrzewska after a dispute. The first twelve women enrolled at Boston Female Medical College in graduated in 1850. In 1856, the college changed its name to the New England Female Medical College.[1]

Rebecca Lee Crumpler graduated from the New England Female Medical College in 1864 and was the first African-American to earn a medical degree. Mary Harris Thompson also graduated and went on to establish the Chicago Hospital for Women and Children.[1] Dr. Esther Hawks was also a graduate.[2] In 1870 the New England Female Medical College building was dedicated on a lot between East Concord and Stoughton Streets, giving the school its own home after 22 years of existence.[4] The school trained over 280 students and granted 98 medical degrees.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5
  2. 1 2 3 4
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ Timeline

Further reading

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