Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania facts for kids
An 1850 illustration of the first building at Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia
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Other name
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WMCP |
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Former name
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Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, Medical College of Pennsylvania |
| Active | 1850–1970 (became co-ed Medical College of Pennsylvania) |
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229 Arch Street (until 1858) and then 627 Arch Street (after Philadelphia's street renumbering)
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U.S.
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The Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMCP) was a special school. It opened in 1850 as the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania. This was the first medical college in America just for women. It allowed women to earn a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree.
In 1867, the school changed its name to the Woman's Medical College. It taught thousands of women from all over the world. Many of these women became doctors in their home countries.
Contents
History of the College
The Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania has an important history. It was one of the first colleges to teach women how to become doctors.
Founding and Early Beliefs
The college was started by Quakers. These forward-thinking people believed women should have the right to an education. They also felt women should be able to become doctors.
The WMCP offered medical training to women from many different backgrounds. Some of these women were the first from their race or country to get a medical degree. This included the first Native American women and African-American women. Women from India, Syria, Japan, and Canada also studied here.
Hospital and New Campus
The college offered a rare chance for women to teach and do research. They could also learn to manage a medical school. This was partly thanks to the Women's Hospital, which opened in 1861. It allowed women to learn and practice medicine in a hospital.
In 1930, the college opened a new campus in East Falls, Philadelphia. This new building was special. It was the first hospital in the nation built specifically for both teaching and patient care.
Becoming Co-ed and Mergers
The WMCP was the longest-running women's medical college in America. In 1970, it started accepting men as students. It also changed its name to The Medical College of Pennsylvania.
Later, in 1993, the college joined with Hahnemann Medical School. Then, in 2003, both colleges became part of Drexel University College of Medicine.
Founders and Early Leaders
Many important people helped start and run the Woman's Medical College.
Key Founders
- William J. Mullen (1805-1882) was the first president of the college's board. He was a rich factory owner who became a philanthropist. He worked to improve prisons and helped immigrants and people without homes.
- Joseph S. Longshore (1809-1879) was a Quaker doctor and an activist. He worked to end slavery.
- Dr. Bartholomew Fussell (1794-1871) was also an abolitionist. He was the uncle of Dr. Edwin Fussell, who was one of the first teachers at the college.
The Idea for the College
A book called History of the Underground Railroad says that Bartholomew Fussell first thought of the idea for a college for women doctors in 1846. He wanted to honor his sister, who he believed could have been a doctor if women had been allowed to be doctors back then.
Fussell invited five doctors to a meeting at his house in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. These doctors were Edwin Fussell, Franklin Taylor, Ellwood Harvey, Sylvester Birdsall, and Dr. Ezra Michener. Dr. Fussell supported the college but was not very involved after it started in 1850. Ellwood Harvey, who was at the meeting, began teaching at the college in 1852.
Support for Women's Education
The Feminist Movement in the 1800s helped the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania. The Society of Friends (Quakers) in Philadelphia strongly supported women's rights. They also supported the new medical college.
The college was first located at 229 Arch Street in Philadelphia. In 1858, the address changed to 627 Arch Street when the city renumbered its streets. In 1861, the college moved to rented rooms at the Woman's Hospital of Philadelphia.
College Administration
The leaders of the college were called deans. They helped guide the school and its students.
Early Deans
The first dean of the Female Medical College was Nathaniel R. Mosely. He served from 1850 to 1856. The second dean was Edwin B. Fussell, from 1856 to 1866. Both of these early deans were men.
Female Deans
After 1866, the Woman's Medical College had many female deans. Ann Preston was the first woman to be a dean of a medical college in the United States. Dr. Preston worked hard to give her students the best training. She arranged for them to attend medical demonstrations at the Blockley Almshouse.
Here are some of the women who served as deans:
- 1866–1872, Ann Preston
- 1872–1874, Emeline Horton Cleveland
- 1874–1886, Rachel Bodley
- 1886/1888–1917, Clara Marshall
- 1917–1940, Martha Tracy
- 1940/1943–1943/1946, Margaret Craighill
- 1946–1963, Marion Spencer Fay
After Marion Fay, Glen R. Leymaster became dean from 1964 to 1970. Then, the school became the Medical College of Pennsylvania.
Challenges in Training
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The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania faced challenges in training its students. Women doctors were not easily accepted in the medical world, which was mostly run by men.
Expanding Clinical Training
Ann Preston fought to expand clinical training for her female students. When the women attended lectures in the surgical amphitheater, they sometimes faced rude behavior from male medical students.
Most medical schools needed more hands-on practice. This was because surgery and other medical fields were growing. In the 1880s, the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania mainly used demonstration clinics for teaching.
In 1887, Anna Broomall started a special service for students. She was a professor of obstetrics (the study of childbirth). This service helped students learn about maternity care in a poor area of South Philadelphia. By 1895, many students helped three or four women give birth.
East Falls Campus and Drexel University
The East Falls Campus was the first hospital in the country built for a specific purpose. Its design allowed both teaching and hospital care to happen in one place. This helped provide more clinical care for students.
After World War II, there was a housing shortage in Philadelphia. This led to new buildings being added to the East Falls Campus. One of these was the Ann Preston Building. It provided housing and classrooms for student nurses.
Today, this building is called the Falls Center. It is used for student housing, businesses, and medical offices.
In 1993, the Medical College of Pennsylvania joined with Hahnemann Medical College. In 2003, both medical colleges became part of Drexel University College of Medicine. This created new chances for students to get hands-on experience in many different medical settings.
Notable Alumni
Many inspiring women graduated from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania.
- Ann Preston (1813-1872) was a Quaker woman. She was in the first graduating class of the WMCP. Later, she became the first female dean of a medical school in the United States.
- Mary Putnam Jacobi was a leading American woman medical scientist in the 1800s.
- Rebecca Cole was the first Black woman to graduate from the college. She earned her M.D. in 1867. Other notable Black graduates include Caroline Still Anderson, Eliza Grier, Matilda Evans, and Giorgianna E. Patterson Young.
- Anadibai Joshee graduated in 1886. She was the first Indian woman doctor.
- Susan LaFlesche Picotte was the first Native American doctor.
- Kei Okami graduated in 1889. She was the first Japanese woman to get a degree in Western medicine.
- Sabat Islambouli graduated in 1890. She was the first female doctor from Syria.
The college also accepted many Jewish students in the 1800s.
See also
In Spanish: Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania para niños
- List of defunct medical schools in the United States
- List of female scientists before the 20th century
- Women in medicine
Further research
- Archives at Drexel University College of Medicine
- Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania materials in the South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA)
