The First Woman Doctor

Scholastic Biography

by Rachel Baker, Evelyn Copelman (Illustrations)

She proved that women could be doctors too.

"I'm going to be a doctor," young Elizabeth Blackwell tells her family. She knows it won't be easy. In 1840, there were no women doctors in America. But Elizabeth was raised to think for herself.

The medical schools she applies to won't accept her. Doctors angrily tell her to give up. Finally, when she is accepted at the Geneva Medical College in upstate New York, Elizabeth finds out that it was the result of a joke.

Despite the odds, Elizabeth Blackwell did become a doctor. And by pursuing her own dream, she gave other women the chance to become doctors.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Childrens, American History, School, Classics

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1944

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this middle school-aged book several years ago. I realize an adult version is being published in mid-January 2021. I learned a lot about this fierce woman and all that she endured to become America's first female doctor. I recommend it to young and old alike!

[Cindy aka "The Book Fairy" · Rating 4 out of 5]

What another incredible book! It's mind boggling to read about the foolish opposition society had towards women who were merely want to become doctors....They were indignant of her wanting acceptance into med school as only men could be surgeons....unreal :( The attitudes were atrocious, even from fellow women. I'm certainly not a feminist but there wasn't any reason why she couldn't have been a part, which she did eventually of course. It should be based on qualifications/merit...never merely for an allotted number of certain gender or a ethnic group etc. The school that accepted her did so by a mistake and joke, thinking she wouldn't actually show up. She did earn much respect with her knowledge and determination to succeed and improve health for everyone possible, particularly with prevention of disease. She faced so many struggles over the years that I couldn't help but in admiration of her. She was connected to and /or made friends with Harriet Beecher Stowe and Florence Nightingale. Elizabeth's family was a devout one indeed and there were a number of mentions of God and Christianity elements throughout, as was the case at time with the older Scholastic chapter books, when they more "sensible" as I called them ;) Overall, a book worth well recommending to anyone interested in such a eye opening story!

[Karen Witzler · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Scholastic book that I owned and read as a child.

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was in 4th grade back in 1970, though it had a different cover then. It was one among a bunch of biographies I read that year from my elementary school library. It launched my desire to become a doctor (which lasted until my intro to chemistry for pre-med majors class in college; I eventually went to law school instead).

While my choice of profession changed over time, my love of reading has remained steadfast. I'm grateful for these early biographies, from which I learned so much about my world and in particular the role of women in it.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: Three little girls in long, gray Quaker-like gowns, and white dimity bonnets, were walking with their governess and talking quite seriously.

Premise/plot: The First Woman Doctor is a biography of Elizabeth Blackwell, M.D. Over half of the book focuses on her struggle to get higher education. At the time no college or university were accepting women into their programs. A woman doctor?! a woman surgeon?! The idea was laughable, right?! Sure women can be nurses--but nursing isn't a skilled profession! Blackwell is confident, bold, determined, stubborn, diligent. She will be a doctor. She will get an education. Some way, some how she will prove herself. The other half of the book focuses on her life as a doctor. She was determined to help other women become doctors and nurses. She was also determined to help those in the poorest community, the ones who needed medical care the most and were unable to get it.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one for the most part. The last few chapters were VERY rushed. Most of the biography focuses on four or five years of her life. But the last few chapters speeds through DECADES at a pace that is dizzying and slightly confusing. One gets a good idea of who she was as a person. I do wish that some of the relationships were better explored. This one does a LOT of name-dropping but no 'characterization.'

This biography was originally written in 1944. I wonder if any young girls read this and were inspired to become doctors? It would be nice to think so.

[August Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could still remember my younger self at the age of 15, reading this story of Elizabeth Blackwell for several times before. I am very grateful to have discovered and read this for it became one of my inspirations to pursue my dream-to-be someday.

[Ellie Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth is pressing on in hard times. Even when her eyes get damaged she finds that she won't be able to be a surgeon 👩🏼‍⚕️she takes on hygiene. I think this book is written well ,but some words are hard to know what they mean. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more about Elizabeth and her life. This book is perfect for most ages but littler kids won't get all of it.

[Tosin Esan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Blackwell was born in England, near Bristol on February 3, 1821, she was the first woman to graduate from medical school in the United States and is often thought of as America’s first woman doctor. Blackwell changed the course of modern medicine, finding hospitals and medical colleges for women in the United States and England and breaking barriers against women in medicine on two continents.she was born at a time when women were rfused basic human rights.Elizabeth had a full family with brothers and siaters of nine. her parents supported anti-slavery causes.Life in Bristol was hard there was an outbreak of Cholera. there were dangerous Riots. Elizabeth’s father owned a sugarcane businessthat was successfull, they decided to move to to America. They settled in New York City in 1832. Elizabeth continued her studies, reading everything and enjoying studies such as music and art.

Despite his best efforts, Samuels buisness began to be unproductive. The family had to cut down their cost. soon samuel died unexpectedly from fever caused by a tick bite, leaving his family alone to support the family Elizabeth, her mother Hannah, and two older sisters opened a private school for Young Ladies. It became their only source of income until the boys were old enough to go into business later in 1842. When she received an invitation to teach in Henderson, Kentucky, she left home for the first time. Though she enjoyed her students, Elizabeth did not like the point at which Racism was taken impotance of.. She resigned her position and returned to Cincinnati within the year. a friend of elizabeth suggested that since Elizabeth loved to study, she should study medicine, although she disliked the idea of studying anything connected with the human body, Elizabeth found herself constantly returning to the idea.

Since she had no idea how to become a physician, Elizabeth visitedted several doctors known to her family, as well as close family friend Harriet Beecher Stowe. They said it was a good idea, but impossible suggesting there were strong laws against women in that are of work. It was commonly assumed women were morally unfit to practice medicine, that they were ignorant, inexact, she then started to accept the idea of winning a doctor’s degree. In 1845, at age 24, Elizabeth decided she was going to get a medical education. To accomplish her goal, she took another teaching position to save the money for tuition . Elizabeth studied the medical books in Dickson’s library. Within two years, Elizabeth achieved her financial goal. The summer of 1847, Elizabeth sailed to Philadelphia because it was considered to have the best schooling. She applied to the four best medical colleges in Philadelphia and was rejected.
Elizabeth began to study anatomy privately with a doctor who wanted to help her. She was allowed to visit his patients, attend his lectures, and make use of his library. He spoke to various friends on her behalf. she applied for admission to every medical college in Philadelphia and New York City all twenty nine schools rejected her. Refusing to give up, she then wrote to some colleges, including Geneva Medical College in western New York state. She then got acceptance at Geneva Medical College, she found out the college administrators let the students decide whether to allow a woman admission or not. The young men thought it was a good joke and said yes. She started classes in November facing loneliness. A woman studying medicine was not, good enough for the townspeople so they would usually stop and stare at her. They thought that she was insane. She stayed strong in herself and had a goal, she caught up and became the head of her class.
In January, 1849, at the age of 28, Elizabeth Blackwell received her medical degree, at the top of her class. Though she had received the necessary training and credential, she was banned from practicing medicine by the medical community. Blackwell decided to continue her studies in Europe, only to find the hospitals of England closed to her as well. After a few months, she traveled to the Paris hospital, where she was admitted under the condition she be treated as a student nurse, not as a physician. She found support in a young resident physician who provided mentoring throughout her training in obstetrics. Her study was cut short when she contracted a disease resulting in one eye being removed, preventing her from fulfilling a dream of becoming a surgeon.
Elizabeth returned to England in 1850 and was accepted as an intern at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, through the help of a cousin. During this time, she made friends with Anne Isabella Byron, the widow of Lord Byron. She also met young Florence Nightingale, just before she defied her family to study nursing.

A year later Elizabeth returned to New York City determined to open her own practice. She found no male doctor would accept her as an associate. No landlord in the city would rent space. Eventually she rented a room in Jersey City. She hung out her shingle and waited, but very few patients came. To increase business, Elizabeth began giving lectures on women’s health. She wrote articles on the importance of good hygiene as well as the importance of exercise and physical education for girls in school, after her sister Emily received her medical degree in 1853, she joined Elizabeth. Together they opened a clinic in the slums of New York City for women and children. Elizabeth wrote, “my working powers were more than doubled by the arrival of my sister…who became my partner and able co-worker.” They were later joined by Dr. Marie E. Zakrzewska, a trained midwife from Berlin who had done her pre-med studies with Elizabeth before graduating from Cleveland.

In 1857, the clinic was closed and the three women opened The New York Infirmary for Women and Children.
During this time, Elizabeth adopted an orphan Katherine Barry, who became aan adopted daughter. Although Elizabeth provided for Barry, she never allowed the girl to develop her own interests, or make her own friends. Rather shy and self conscious about her slight deafness, Barry loved Elizabeth, staying with her all her life. Seven years later she founded the Woman’s Medical College adjacent to the New York Infirmary. It was the first American medical school for women. Dr. Rebecca Cole, the first American black woman to become a doctor, was one of the first graduates of the Women’s Medical College. It was one of the first medical schools in America to require four years of study. Dr. emily blackwell took over management of the college which freed Elizabeth to return to England and establish a medical college for women there.


In 1879, Elizabeth moved to the village of Hastings, on the English Channel. She gave up private practice and started writing on issues she felt needed reform. These included medical education, family planning, and women’s rights. She wrote her autobiography, when she was 74. she also wrote on many other books

In 1907, at age 86, Elizabeth took a serious fall from which she never recovered. She died on May 31, 1910 at her home, after suffering a stroke. She was buried in St. Mun’s churchyard at Kilmun on Holy Loch in the west of Scotland.

Though Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell was not the first woman to practice medicine in America, she was the first to receive the same training as every other medically educated physician. Through her lifelong devotion to medicine and medical practice, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell changed and improved the course of the American and British medical professions forever.

[Gale · Rating 3 out of 5]

MAKING A RELIGION OF HEALTH

This biography of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, despite being intended
for a Young Adult audience, proves interesting reading for adults in general. Thanks to a liberal education by her enlightened father in Victorian England all nine children were encouraged to follow their reams and develop their full potential, without regard to traditional social restrictions placed on girls. When the exceptional family emigrated to America Mr. Blackwell embraced the controversial Abolitionist movement--providing inspiration for his older sons who
later allied themselves with the vocal women's movement.

Elizabeth proved amply suited for her self-imposed role of medical pioneer, by insisting on entering a medical college--despite the scorn and hostility of teachers, fellow students and even the townspeople of Geneva, NY. No medical school in the States or Europe would consider training a mere woman to compete with male doctors (a medical Citadel). Enduring both physical and psychological hardships she persevered with quiet determination, dignified earnestness, and intelligent observation. She spent a grim summer in Philadelphia's charity hospital and a year in Paris at La Maternite Hospital for Women.

Her humantiarian objective to improve the standard of living for many immigrants in New York City tenements remained unflagging for decades. She wrote books, collaborated with other brave women in Europe, lectured extensively and raised funds to exhaustion--all with the goal of blazing new trails for women and community health. In her lifetime she realized many of her dreams: a Women's Hospital, a School to train Nurses, and an out-patient clinic. Most imporatantly she won the right for women to study alongside men and ultimately be recognized as fully competent physicians. Her sisters, Anna and Emily, and her adopted daughter, Kitty, provided encouragement and practical assistance as they adopted her cherished goals. She died in a beloved corner of Scotland, honored by grateful nations. This book is a Must for any course on Women's Rights and 19th century social reform.

(Feb. 21, 2010. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)

[Stephanie D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell is pretty much just a documentary of Ms. Blackwell's life. It was interesting but I cannot say that I thoroughly enjoyed it overall. It is encouraging for a person, mostly a girl, to read in the sense of how determined Elizabeth was to become a doctor, but other than that, unless you are a fan of Elizabeth Blackwell, read this when you have time to spare because it might take a couple days to get through.

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I read it as a kid, and it actually inspired me to become a physician. I recommend it!

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was obviously aiming for middle grade readers, but was higher level and more thorough than I was expecting, based on that. (Which isn't a bad thing.) Turns out, it was written in 1944, and because of that, the author was actually able to interview Blackwell's niece as a result.
Overall, I enjoyed this book on a historical figure I knew nothing about. She was a pioneer, not just in medical education for women, but also in the medical field itself. She believed that it was a doctor's responsibility to teach healthy habits, for prevention was more important than cure.
I found it very interesting that just years after her struggle to be admitted to and to graduate from a medical program, (and despite the fact that her sister was denied entry at the same school), there were schools being created for the purpose of training women in the medical field. It was also fascinating that the first lady minister graduated from theological school around the same time. In fact, Blackwell's brother married her.
The book had a few typos, and I suspect that poetic license was taken in some of the conversations. It glazed over any personality clashes she may have had. It also indicated that she died in Scotland, but the internet seems to agree that she died in Sussex, England.
3.5 stars.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Blackwell was, as the title explains, the first woman to be a doctor. She did not want to simply be a nurse like so many people suggested. She wanted to specifically be a doctor, or even a surgeon, although an accident later on in her doctor career disallowed this. When she was rejected by nearly every single school and refused in hospitals, (which happened constantly) she just kept going at it. Her persistence certainly paid off because eventually she got the education she wanted, started her own women's hospital, and paved the way to let other women become doctors as well. I found this interesting as I enjoy reading about doctors and medical stories.
Thanks to openlibrary.org, I was able to read this old book.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew the vague outlines of Blackwell's story but none of the specifics. She was a truly extraordinary and determined woman; kiddo was amazed at all the opportunities women were denied not so very long ago and at Blackwell's courage in defying conventions. I am grateful to the trailblazers like her who have made our 21st century lives so much more equal than they might have been.

This book is old and contains outdated gendered language and terms for people of color. I just changed it as I was reading it aloud (authoress? no thanks LOL).

[Stephanie Pieck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a gripping story of a fiercely determined and independent woman who revolutionized medicine and began to truly advocate for the education of patients about how they could care for themselves and prevent illness through nutrition, hygiene, and other methods.
The text was littered with exclamation points which I found annoying and distracting. Elizabeth Blackwell is compelling enough without the author using punctuation to add hype. Still, I encourage anyone interested in the history of American women and public medicine to read this book.

[Dylan Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rate this 4 stars because this book was very interesting and the person named Elizabeth was the first women to be doctor. It was interesting because in 1840, there was actually no women doctor in America. She wanted to be a doctor because it was her own dream to become one and she did. She even convince that other women can be a doctor one day. This is the reason why I will rate this book 4 stars of how interesting it is in my opinion.

[Rosie Gearhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fabulous living biography! No wonder it had so many printings. This would make a great family read aloud book or assigned school book for preteen or teenage readers. Another wonderful addition to the long list of Julian Messner biographies.

I’d never even heard of Elizabeth Blackwell before reading this book. I am happy to have spent a day learning about her life, her brave struggle to become a doctor when the whole world seemed to be against her. Such courage and motivation!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notable Content: Negro, but the book is old and the use isn't intended to be offensive.

Elizabeth Blackwell was such an incredible woman. This book gives me such gratitude for things I may have taken for granted. Really, she was such an incredible woman, so inspiring. What difficulties she faced! This is an easy read, but a deep, inspirational story that I would highly recommend.

[Andrea Renfrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter and I read this side by side (we have two copies, the 1965 edition as well as the newer cover shown) for her history of science studies. We'll keep both copies and probably read it again in the future.

[Kadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving these scholastic biographies! Read this aloud for part of our sci/history lessons but it was a little more involved that the other in the series, and I think I got a lot more out of it than the kids. I'm still so glad we read it, but target grades might be middle school-ish age.

[McKenna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think it is cool how Elizabeth can overcome her fears and stick up for women's rights

[MyImpossibleList · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting, appropriate book for advanced ELLs.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a fascinating life!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this a great elementary biography read! It is amazing how much has changed in the field of medicine.

[Jaime K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fairly comprehensive biography about Elizabeth Blackwell and the steps she took to become the first [known] woman doctor (NOT nurse) in the Western world. She faced a lot of adversity and sexism, yet she never let go of her dreams--and, indeed, embellished on those dreams and goals as time went on.

I knew almost nothing about her, so my review is also going to be my thoughts as I read.

I love that Mr. Blackwell allowed all of his children to have the same education, to let them pursue their own interests. It developed a healthy and strong family relationship, to where Elizabeth’s brother Henry not only supported her with thoughts, but was also her benefactor. Their father fault for the rights of all people so that anyone--black or female or what have you--could be educated enough to forge their own paths and opportunities.
On top of this. Elizabeth was very strong willed at even the age of six.

The passing of time was very rushed in the first two chapters; the third chapter opens with Elizabeth heading to Philadelphia, PA to apply to medical school and things finally slowed down. Yet even later on, the time that passed seemed to bounce, sometimes without anything other than, “and at some point, …”

I find it really awesome that Elizabeth became friends with Harriet Beecher Stowe. However, it’s frustrating that although Stowe was a female author (I didn’t realize how many females were accepted as authors in the 1830s & 40s), she dissuaded Elizabeth from being a physician.
Because nursing is good enough for a female.
And she was friends with Florence Nightinggale!

I am very glad there were male friends who supported her and encouraged her tenacity to get through financial and sexist road blocks. When the school in Philly denied her, she applied to so many schools in the northeast of the U.S. that the number of rejections was such that she was ready to seek out opportunities in France.

Alas, she was accepted to Geneva College where there was more sexist backlash. Still, her one teacher Dr. Webster was fantastic. Baker wrote extremely well just how much strength the faith of a teacher can provide a student.
She also showed both the positive and negative issues Elizabeth faced without mincing words, yet keeping it appropriate for children.

Elizabeth was determined to become a surgeon and sought out education in France. Unfortunately, she could only be admitted to the best nursing school (despite having a physician’s certification), in which she had an accident which caused one eye’s vision to be destroyed and the other to be quite damaged. Her work though allowed her younger sister to rise up and be the surgeon in the family.
Her drive didn’t stop and she created talks on the physical education of girls. She stirred enough hearts to form her own dispensary. To develop a hospital in which females could be both nurses and doctors. To found a school where females can receive proper medical education, whether they are studying nursing or physician work.

I find it fascinating that a “vegetable diet” was written of in the 1840s, where vegetarians felt that eating meat was poison.

She started the first nursing school in America.
She started out-patient services.

Later on, she was asked to go to England to help a campaign to start a women’s hospital overseas.

The work Elizabeth and her women did during the Civil War was phenomenal. That participated greatly to how respected women phsyicians became.

One of the things I love is her passion to help with prevention and education, not treating people as cases, and to not push drugs and remedies. All doctors today can learn from that mindset.

[Unitaga · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't very action packed or exciting, but it was a phenomenal story. It was the biography of the first women to become a doctor, Elizabeth Blackwell. Elizabeth was different from her siblings and friends from a very young age. She was stubborn, disciplined, and all grown up by the age of fifteen. She had an incredible drive and work ethic which enabled her to lower her head and plow through whatever the world sent her way. When Elizabeth decided to become a doctor, her neighbor, a retired physician mentored her to the best of his abilities. Sending her off in search of a college that would accept her, he prepared her for the fact that not everyone thought that women should be allowed to be doctors. Despite his warning, she left home with her medical books as her only company. She got turned down several times, until she was accepted by a medical school. She faced teasing and prejudice, but eventually graduated. She asked every hospital in the area if they would hire her, but all of them thought that women could only be nurses, not doctors. After a year of searching, she decided to start her own hospital. It struggled for years, but eventually grew into a medical school for women as well as a thriving hospital. Elizabeth felt that the only thing missing in her life was a companion. At the age of 33, she was still alone. Instead of marrying, though, she adopted one of her patients. This young girl was named Kitty, and grew to become Elizabeth's best friend and daughter. The two were always there for each other, and had the strongest mother-daughter bond possible. I really enjoyed this book and related to Elizabeth's frustration at being treated unfairly as well as her stubbornness.

[Kenya Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

The First Woman Doctor: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell is a biography for 4th grade and above. The book starts out with Elizabeth as a young girl. She expresses to her family that she wants to be a doctor. This was during a time when there were no woman doctors. Elizabeth was considered as a strange child who did things that others did not understand. Despite of the doubt that some had for her pursuing her career as a doctor, her father stood by her. After facing many obstacles, Elizabeth was able to be a successful doctor. I really enjoyed reading the book it was very inspirational to me. She was also able to open centers for woman which was a very great accomplishment for her. The language was a little different considering that it was written to take place in the 1800’s. However it was still easy to understand. The pictures in the book were in black and white. This book could be used to teach the students about overcoming adversity or how to be successful even others do not support you. It could be used as a teaching tool to recognize that at that time in history there were no woman doctors. It’s a great way to teach the students about working hard and believing in themselves

[Monchel Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book "The First Woman Doctor" was a very moving story. This book was about A very strong and dedicated woman who fought to become the first woman doctor. She had different struggles far as getting accepted into colleges because they wouldn't accept her. This book is for ages 9 and up. The artistic element that caught my eye was the color which were black and white. Usually when I see black and white pictures that shows me what time frame that the authors want you to think of. I recommend this book because it shows children determination that you should never give up if someone tells you no about something but you believe in your heart that you can do it you should continue to try and reach your goals.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took place around 1840, and its about the first woman, Elizabeth blackwell to become a doctor. There wasn't any women doctors in America in that time, and Elizabeth had to go throught private training and had to keep trying to apply for medical school when the school always rejected her. This book really inspired me to actually keep trying despites the odds. Cause in the book Elizabeth kept pursuing her dreams and she eventuall got it. She changed the history of the medical world because if it wans't for her, there probably won't be women doctors today. I would recommend this book to anyone to enjoys reading books about pursuing their dreams.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great history of an amazing woman! I loved the sub heading, "It took courage to be the first."
I was given this book by a teacher on the last day of fourth grade. She was one of the greatest teachers I've ever had, and she was telling us how proud she was of our year, and how much potential she could see in us. She made direct eye contact with each student and said, "I see amazing scientists, wonderful teachers, incredible engineers... etc." and when she said doctor, she looked straight into my eyes and handed me this book. I think that was a pivotal point in my ambition to achieve such a career. Thank you Mrs. Jacques!