Pioneers of the London School of Medicine for Women (1874-1947): Their Contributions and Interwoven Lives (Perspectives on the History of Chemistry)

This book presents the pioneering role of the women chemists at the London School of Medicine for Women (LSMW). The account is placed within the framework of the long-forgotten background to the founding of this unique Institution, and the individuals whose lives came together to make it happen: Sophia Jex-Blake; Elizabeth Garrett Anderson; Edith Pechey; and Isabel Thorne. The London School of Medicine for Women (LSMW) was the first School in Britain to enable women to gain medical qualifications. Though its pioneering medical role is beginning to be recognized, the Chemistry Department at the School has been totally overlooked. All first-year students at the LSMW had to spend a significant portion of their time taking theoretical and practical chemistry, taught by dedicated women chemistry instructors. In this book, particular attention is given to each of these exceptionally-talented women chemists who found a haven at, and devoted their lives to, the LSMW. This book also covers the enthusiasm of the women medical students which becomes evident through the chemistry prose and poetry which they wrote. This book will appeal to a wide readership interested in the early role of women in science, and it is particularly relevant to those interested in the lives and contributions of pioneering women chemists. Preface 6 References 6 About This Book 8 Chapter 1: Women as Apothecaries 8 Chapter 2: Women as Pharmacists 8 Chapter 3: Sophia Jex-Blake and Elizabeth Garrett (Anderson) 8 Chapter 4: The Crucial Role of the ‘Edinburgh Seven’ 8 Chapter 5: Edith Pechey 8 Chapter 6: Others of the ‘Edinburgh Seven’ 8 Chapter 7: Women as Lady Doctors 8 Chapter 8: The Founding and Early Years of the LSMW 8 Chapter 9: Pioneer Women of the LSMW 8 Chapter 10: Chemistry at the LSMW 8 Chapter 11: Lucy Everest Boole 8 Chapter 12: Clare de Brereton Evans 8 Chapter 13: Sibyl Taite Widdows 8 Chapter 14: Phyllis Sanderson and Anne Ratcliffe 8 Chapter 15: Other Chemistry Staff 8 Chapter 16: The End of the LSMW 8 Contents 12 About the Authors 16 Abbreviations 17 1 Women as Apothecaries 18 Society of Apothecaries 18 Apothecaries’ Assistants 18 Commentary 18 References 18 2 Women as Pharmacists 21 Careers in Pharmacy 21 Pharmacy Examinations 21 The School of Pharmacy 21 Women’s Admission to the Pharmaceutical Society 21 Commentary 21 References 21 3 Sophia Jex-Blake and Elizabeth Garrett (Anderson) 26 Sophia Jex-Blake 26 Elizabeth Garrett 26 Commentary 26 References 26 4 The Crucial Role of the ‘Edinburgh Seven’ 33 Edinburgh Ladies Educational Association 33 The Beginning 33 Admission to the University of Edinburgh 33 Professor Crum Brown 33 The Surgeon’s Hall Riot 33 The Final Insult 33 A Plea to the University of St. Andrews 33 A Plea to the House of Commons 33 Commentary 33 References 33 5 Edith Pechey 39 Early Life 39 The Hope Scholarship 39 Professor Crum Brown 39 The Pechey Outcry 39 Pechey Obtains Formal Qualifications 39 Return to England 39 Commentary 39 References 39 6 Others of the ‘Edinburgh Seven’ 47 Changes in the Edinburgh Seven 47 Marriage 47 Isabel Pryer (Mrs. Thorne) 47 Matilda Chaplin (Mrs. Chaplin-Ayrton) 47 Helen Carter (Mrs. De Lacy Evans, Later Mrs. Russel) 47 Mary Adamson Anderson (Mrs. Marshall) 47 Emily Bovell (Mrs. Sturge) 47 Commentary 47 References 47 7 Women as Lady Doctors 56 The Role of Girls’ Magazines 56 Medicine as a Career Option 56 What to Do with Our Girls 56 Effect of the First World War 56 Commentary 56 References 56 8 The Founding and Early Years of the LSMW 61 The Female Medical Society 61 The Beginnings of the LSMW 61 Access to Hospitals 61 The Programme of Study 61 Who Would Grant Degrees? 61 A Lookback in Time 61 The Final Challenge 61 Building Expansions: 1885–1892 61 Building Expansions: 1896 to 1900 61 Departure of Jex-Blake 61 Building Expansions: 1914 to 1916 61 Commentary 61 References 61 9 Pioneer Women of the LSMW 71 The First Cohort 71 King and Queen’s College of Physicians in Ireland 71 Alice Ker 71 Edith Shove 71 Ann Elizabeth Clark 71 LSMW Women Doctors and the Empire 71 Isabella (Isa) Johnstone (Mrs. Foggo) 71 Fanny Jane Butler 71 Agnes McLaren 71 Jane Waterston 71 The Pioneer Women of the LSMW as an ‘Invisible College’ 71 Mary Bird (Mrs. Scharlieb) 71 Commentary 71 References 71 10 Chemistry at the LSMW 83 LSMW Chemistry Facilities 83 LSMW Student Writings on Chemistry 83 LSMW Student Writings on Chemical Accidents 83 LSMW Student Inorganic Chemistry Analysis 83 LSMW Student Practical Organic Chemistry 83 Commentary 83 References 83 11 Lucy Everest Boole 90 Charles Heaton 90 Boole’s Family History 90 Boole’s Pharmaceutical Career 90 Boole at the LSMW 90 Professional Activities 90 Later Years 90 Commentary 90 References 90 12 Clare de Brereton Evans 97 Early Life of Clare De Brereton Evans 97 Teaching at CLC 97 Research with Henry Armstrong 97 Teaching at LMSW and Research with Ramsay 97 Professional Activities 97 Later Life 97 Commentary 97 References 97 13 Sibyl Taite Widdows 102 Early Life 102 Teaching at LSMW 102 Student Verse About Widdows 102 Research Activities 102 Professional Activities 102 Research Studies on Human Lactation 102 Later Years 102 Commentary 102 References 102 14 Phyllis Sanderson and Anne Ratcliffe 110 Phyllis Sanderson 110 Sanderson’s Later Academic Life 110 Anne Ratcliffe 110 Commentary 110 References 110 15 Other Chemistry Staff 116 John Addyman Gardner 116 Elsie Forrest 116 Norah Ellen Laycock 116 Yvonne M. D. Cooper 116 May Williams 116 Effie Isabel Cooke (Mrs. Stirling-Taylor) 116 Marjory Wilson-Smith (Mrs. Farmer) 116 Commentary 116 References 116 16 The End of the LSMW 123 The First World War 123 The Inter-War Years 123 The End of the LSMW 123 An Amnesia of History 123 Should Women Be Admitted to Medical School? 123 And a Final Disappearance 123 References 123 Index 130