Lilian Welsh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lilian Welsh
Born	March 6, 1858 Columbia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	February 23, 1938(1938-02-23) (aged 79)
Education	State Normal School (BA) Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania (MD)
Occupation	Physician, educator, suffragist
Employer	Evening Dispensary For Working Women and Girls
Partner(s)	Mary Sherwood
Honours	Maryland Women's Hall of Fame
Lilian Welsh Scientific career Institutions Goucher College

Lilian Welsh (born March 6, 1858 – died February 23, 1938) was an important American doctor and teacher. She also worked hard to help women get the right to vote. Lilian Welsh was a strong supporter of women's health.

She taught at the Woman's College of Baltimore. She was also a very active member of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. This group worked to get women the right to vote. Years after she passed away, Lilian Welsh was honored. She was added to the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame in 2017.

Early Life and Education

Lilian Welsh was born in Columbia, Pennsylvania, on March 6, 1858. She was the fourth daughter in her family. Her mother was Annie Eunice Young. Her father was Thomas Welsh.

Her father served in the Mexican–American War. Later, he became a merchant and owned canalboats. When the American Civil War began, he joined the United States Army again. He became a brigadier general in 1863. Sadly, he died that same year from an illness during the Siege of Vicksburg.

Lilian Welsh finished Columbia High School in 1873. She then graduated from State Normal School in 1875. After college, she went back to Columbia High School. She worked there as the principal for five years.

In 1886, Lilian Welsh decided to study medicine. She enrolled at the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. She earned her medical degree (MD) in 1889. Welsh first wanted to teach about body chemistry. To prepare, she studied at the University of Zurich from 1889 to 1890. There, she took the first course on bacteriology with her friend Mary Sherwood.

Career in Medicine and Health

Lilian Welsh did not find a teaching job right away. In 1890, she became a doctor at Norristown State Hospital. Two years later, she and Mary Sherwood opened their own medical office. This was in Baltimore, Maryland.

Welsh and Sherwood were very interested in keeping people healthy. They focused on "preventive medicine." This means stopping illness before it starts. They also cared for expectant mothers and babies. However, they faced unfair treatment because they were women doctors. They eventually had to close their private practice.

In 1927, Welsh shared her thoughts about this. She said that most people preferred men doctors. She noted that women doctors often worked in areas where people had less money. She also said that women themselves were sometimes the harshest critics of women doctors. Many people believed women were not suited for jobs needing education and skill.

In 1894, Welsh joined the faculty at Woman's College of Baltimore. This college is now known as Goucher College. She worked as the doctor for students. She also taught classes on how the body works and staying healthy. She taught women about personal health and physical exercise.

Lilian Welsh was known at the college for speaking up. She strongly supported women's health and hygiene. For many years, she was the only female Full Professor there. She worked at Goucher College for thirty years.

Welsh and Sherwood later managed the Evening Dispensary For Working Women and Girls. This clinic helped working women and girls. They led the dispensary until it closed in 1910. In 1897, Welsh became secretary of a group in Baltimore. This group worked to help women get into graduate school at Johns Hopkins University. Women were finally accepted in 1908.

Around the year 1900, Welsh was part of a group fighting tuberculosis. She was also a leader in the Children's Welfare Movement. This movement worked to improve the lives of children.

Women's Rights and Community Work

Lilian Welsh was a very active member of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. This group worked for women's right to vote. She took part in many street parades. She also helped plan their 1906 convention.

She worked with Mary Garrett, Mary Sherwood, and Susan B. Anthony on a special event called "College Evening." Welsh also helped over 100 Goucher students and suffragists attend the big Woman suffrage parade of 1913.

Welsh was also a member of the Arundell Club. She belonged to the Arundell Good Government Club too. These groups worked to improve the community.

Later Life and Legacy

Lilian Welsh never married. In 1935, she moved back to her family home in Columbia, Pennsylvania. This was after her close friend and colleague, Mary Sherwood, passed away. Lilian Welsh died on February 23, 1938, from a serious illness.

Honors

In 2017, Lilian Welsh was honored for her important work. She was added to the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame.