a092_001_086.jpg

Fourth Annual Commencement of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 11/14/2025, 5:24:27 AM

Added description

Description

Fourth Annual Commencement of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania

Overview

The archived item is a primary‑source record of the Fourth Annual Commencement of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, held on Saturday, March 10, 1855, in the lower lecture room of the college building. It is presented as a printed page reproduced in both JPEG and TIFF formats (files a092001086.jpg/a092001086.tif). A related February 28, 1855 degree‑conferral ceremony is also documented in a second printed page (a092001097.jpg/a092001097.tif). The record lists the graduates, the conferring President, the Baledictory Address, and the Dean’s signature.

Background

The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania was one of the first institutions to grant medical degrees to women. The 1855 commencement was overseen by President Prof. Charles D. Cleveland, with the Baledictory Address delivered by Prof. Mark G. Kerr. Dean Ellwood Harvey signed the document, attesting to its authenticity. The event reflects the college’s commitment to women’s medical education during the mid‑19th century.

Contents

  • Graduates (March 10, 1855): Emeline Horton Cleveland (N.Y.); Samantha Sabina Nivison (N.Y.); Mary Elizabeth Smith (N.Y.); Eliza Lucinda Smith Thomas (Ohio); Emily Ann Barney (Connecticut); Phila Osgood Welmarth (Massachusetts).
  • Baledictory Address: Delivered by Prof. Mark G. Kerr.
  • February 28, 1855 Degree Conferral: Elizabeth Collins (Bucks Co., Pa.); Debbie A. Hughes (Philadelphia, Pa.); Laura J. Ross (Acton, Me.); Jane L. Starr (Utica, N.Y.).
  • Faculty Meeting Resolutions: Acknowledgement of Dr. Thomas as Treasurer; appointment of Prof. Gillingham as Treasurer pro tempore.
  • Formats: JPEG and TIFF images, both containing OCR‑extracted text.

Scope

The item covers the Fourth Annual Commencement and the preceding February degree conferral, documenting the conferment of medical degrees to women from 1855. It includes geographic references to Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, and serves as a key source for scholars of women’s medical education and 19th‑century academic ceremonies.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

@file_pinax -> documents -> @fourth_annual_commencement:event {description: "Fourth Annual Commencement of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, held March 10 1855"}  
@file_a092_001_086_jpg -> documents -> @fourth_annual_commencement:event {source: "OCR of image a092_001_086"}  
@file_a092_001_097_jpg -> documents -> @february_degree_conferral:event {description: "Degree‑of‑M.D. conferral ceremony held February 28 1855", source: "OCR of image a092_001_097"}  

@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania:organization {full_name: "Female Medical College of Pennsylvania", type: "Educational institution"}  

@lower_lecture_room:place {within: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania, description: "Lower lecture room of the college building"}  
@faculty_room:place {within: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania, description: "Faculty‑Room where the February ceremony took place"}  

@fourth_annual_commencement:event {when: @date_1855_03_10, where: @lower_lecture_room, description: "Fourth Annual Commencement held in the lower lecture room"}  
@february_degree_conferral:event {when: @date_1855_02_28, where: @faculty_room, description: "Degree of M.D. conferred upon ladies in the Faculty‑Room"}  

@charles_d_cleveland:person {full_name: "Charles D. Cleveland", role: "President of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania"}  
@mark_g_kerr:person {full_name: "Mark G. Kerr", role: "Professor"}  
@ellwood_harvey:person {full_name: "Ellwood Harvey", role: "Dean"}  
@gillingham:person {full_name: "Gillingham", role: "Treasurer pro tempore"}  
@dr_thomas:person {full_name: "Thomas", role: "Treasurer"}  

@baledictory_address:document {title: "Baledictory Address"}  

@emeline_horton_cleveland:person {full_name: "Emeline Horton Cleveland", residence: @new_york}  
@samantha_sabina_nivison:person {full_name: "Samantha Sabina Nivison", residence: @new_york}  
@mary_elizabeth_smith:person {full_name: "Mary Elizabeth Smith", residence: @new_york}  
@eliza_lucinda_smith_thomas:person {full_name: "Eliza Lucinda Smith Thomas", residence: @ohio}  
@emily_ann_barney:person {full_name: "Emily Ann Barney", residence: @connecticut}  
@phila_osgood_welmarth:person {full_name: "Phila Osgood Welmarth", residence: @massachusetts}  

@elizabeth_collins:person {full_name: "Elizabeth Collins", residence: @pennsylvania}  
@debbie_a_hughes:person {full_name: "Debbie A. Hughes", residence: @philadelphia}  
@laura_j_ross:person {full_name: "Laura J. Ross", residence: @pennsylvania}  
@jane_l_starr:person {full_name: "Jane L. Starr", residence: @new_york}  

@fourth_annual_commencement:event -> conferred degrees upon -> [@emeline_horton_cleveland, @samantha_sabina_nivison, @mary_elizabeth_smith, @eliza_lucinda_smith_thomas, @emily_ann_barney, @phila_osgood_welmarth] {by: @charles_d_cleveland}  
@february_degree_conferral:event -> conferred degree upon -> [@elizabeth_collins, @debbie_a_hughes, @laura_j_ross, @jane_l_starr] {by: @charles_d_cleveland}  

@fourth_annual_commencement:event -> featured address -> @baledictory_address:document {delivered_by: @mark_g_kerr}  
@ellwood_harvey -> signed -> @fourth_annual_commencement:event {role: "Dean"}  

@february_degree_conferral:event -> followed by -> @faculty_meeting:event {description: "Faculty meeting with all members present"}  
@faculty_meeting:event {when: @date_1855_02_28, where: @faculty_room}  

@faculty_meeting:event -> produced -> @faculty_resolutions:document {content: ["Acknowledgement of Dr. Thomas as Treasurer", "Presentation of resolutions to Dr. Thomas"]}  
@dr_thomas -> resigned -> @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania:organization {effective: @date_1855_03_10, note: "Resignation to take effect at close of the session"}  
@gillingham -> appointed -> @treasurer_pro_tempore:concept {by: @faculty_meeting:event}  

Metadata

Files (4)

a092_001_086.jpgJPEG
375.6 KB
OCR Text

The Fourth Annual Commencement was held in the lower lecture room of the college building on Saturday, March the 10th, 1855. As many were present as the room would contain comfortably. The degree was conferred upon the following named ladies, by the President, Prof. Charles D. Cleveland. Mrs. Emeline Horton Cleveland, J. N.Y. Miss Samantha Sabina Nivison ... N.Y. Miss Mary Elizabeth Smith ... N.Y. Mrs. Eliza Lucinda Smith Thomas ... Ohio Miss Emily Ann Barney ... Ct. Mrs. Phila Osgood Welmarth ... Mass. The Baledictory Address was delivered by Prof. Mark G. Kerr. Every part of the performance came off well, and much satisfaction and enjoyment were expressed by all present. Ellwood Harvey Dean.

a092_001_097.jpgJPEG
428.77 KB
OCR Text

The Degree of M.D. was conferred on the following named Ladies on Thursday Feb. 28th in the Faculty-Room by Prof. C. D. Cleveland, President of the Corporation. Miss Elizabeth Collins, Bucks Co. Pa. Miss Debbie A. Hughes, Philadelphia Pa. Miss Laura J. Ross, Acton Me. Miss Jane L. Starr, Utica N.Y. After the ceremonies attending the conferring the degrees, a Faculty Meeting was held, all the members being present. Dr. Thomas paid to the Dean the balance in his hands as Treasurer, and took his leave of the Faculty, having previously resigned his Professorship, the resignation to take effect at the close of the session. The following resolutions were passed. Resolved, that the Faculty of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania express their acknowledgement of the faithful and efficient manner in which Dr. Thomas has performed his duties as Treasurer of the faculty. Resolved, that a copy of these resolutions be presented to Dr. Thomas by the Dean. Prof. Gillingham was appointed Treasurer pro tempore. Adjourned sine die. Ellwood Harvey, Dean.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 11/14/2025, 5:24:27 AM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 11/14/2025, 5:18:29 AM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 11/14/2025, 5:15:37 AM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 11/14/2025, 5:13:20 AM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Commencement_Ceremonies"

Parent

01KA0CEZSHQ9AQ2C2MYDDVQ3JP

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