Publication Date

1992

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Townsend, Lucy, 1944-

Degree Name

M.S. Ed. (Master of Education)

Legacy Department

Department of Leadership and Educational Policy Studies

LCSH

Blackwell; Elizabeth; 1821-1910; Medical colleges--United States--Admission--History; Women physicians--United States--Biography

Abstract

In January 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to graduate from an American medical school. This was the first of her many accomplishments, and it was the stepping stone to her future success. In addition to being a practicing physician, Blackwell opened a hospital for women and children in New York, opened the first medical college for women in the United States, became the first woman listed in the British Medical Resister, helped found the British National Health Society, taught gynecology at the London School of Medicine for Women, and wrote and lectured widely on social and medical issues. This thesis is an investigation of Elizabeth Blackwell's early life to determine what factors contributed to her success in earning a degree in medicine. It argues that her character traits, the dynamics of her family and the times in which she lived were all essential ingredients to her becoming a medical doctor. Of these, perhaps the most important were several powerful character traits formed in her childhood. She was extremely determined. She had the ability to control her emotions, and her deeply held religious and moral convictions gave her strength to overcome huge obstacles.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages [62]-63)

Extent

4, 63 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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