Female Medical College of Pennsylvania Commencement Details

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 11/14/2025, 4:14:23 PM

Added description

Description

Female Medical College of Pennsylvania Commencement Details

Overview

This archival item is a collection of printed minutes and related documents from the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania (later Drexel University College of Medicine). The materials were produced between 1853 and 1855 and are presented in text and photographic (JPEG/TIFF) format. They record faculty meetings, balloting procedures, and the organization of the college’s annual commencement ceremonies, including lists of graduates, honorary degrees, and logistical arrangements such as hall selection and music.

Background

Founded in 1852, the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania was one of the first institutions to award medical degrees to women in the United States. The documents were authored by faculty members—most notably Deans David I. Johnson and David J. Johnson—and circulated among the college’s corporators and faculty. The collection is held by the final‑Drexel‑University repository and is in the public domain. The college’s activities were centered in Philadelphia, with connections to Boston, New York City, Providence, and Galveston, reflecting the geographic spread of its students and benefactors.

Contents

  • Minutes of Faculty Meetings (Nos. 13‑29): Narrative accounts of decisions on commencement dates, hall selection, music, and administrative matters.
  • Graduate Lists (No. 15): Names, residences, and thesis titles of the 1853 graduating class, including the honorary M.D. conferred on Harriet K. Hunt.
  • Balloting Records (Nos. 13‑25): Detailed results of voting for candidates and honorary degrees.
  • Financial and Committee Reports (Nos. 18‑24): Budgets for printing, advertising, and facility improvements.
  • Photographic Transcriptions: High‑resolution JPEG and TIFF images of the original documents, with OCR‑derived text for quick reference.

Scope

The collection covers the period from the second annual session (January 27 1853) through the fourth annual session (February 26 1855). It documents the academic and ceremonial life of a pioneering women’s medical school in the mid‑19th century, focusing on faculty governance, student achievement, and the logistical organization of commencement ceremonies. The materials are relevant to scholars of medical history, women’s education, and 19th‑century American institutional practices.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

**Entities & Relationships extracted from the archival files**

```cheimarros
#--- Institutions -------------------------------------------------------------
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania:organization {full_name: "Female Medical College of Pennsylvania", later_name: "Drexel University College of Medicine"}

#--- People -------------------------------------------------------------------
@david_i_johnson:person {full_name: "David I. Johnson, M.D.", role: "Dean", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@david_j_johnson:person {full_name: "David J. Johnson, M.D.", role: "Dean", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@joseph_longshore:person {full_name: "Joseph S. Longshore, M.D.", title: "Professor of Obstetrics", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@abraham_livergy:person {full_name: "Abraham Livergy, M.D.", title: "Professor of Practice", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@william_cornell:person {full_name: "William M. Cornell, M.D.", title: "Professor of Physiology", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@enoch_rolfe:person {full_name: "Enoch C. Rolfe, M.D.", title: "Professor of Surgery", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@ellwood_harvey:person {full_name: "Ellwood Harvey, M.D.", title: "Professor of Therapeutics & Materia Medica", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@seth_rumcoast:person {full_name: "Seth Rumcoast, M.D.", title: "Professor of Anatomy", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@c_c_cleveland:person {full_name: "C. D. Cleveland", title: "President of the College", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@rev_cheney:person {full_name: "Rev. Mr. Cheney", role: "Chaplain", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@rev_mrs_cheney:person {full_name: "Rev. Mrs. Cheney", role: "Chaplain", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}
@harriet_hunt:person {full_name: "Harriet K. Hunt", residence: @boston_massachusetts, role: "Honorary M.D. recipient"}
@hannah_ellis:person {full_name: "Hannah W. Ellis, Mrs.", residence: @philadelphia, role: "Graduate"}
@henrietta_johnson:person {full_name: "Henrietta W. Johnson, Mrs.", residence: @new_york_city, role: "Graduate"}
@marjorie_richardson:person {full_name: "Margaret Richardson, Mrs.", residence: @philadelphia, role: "Graduate"}
@lucinda_brown:person {full_name: "Lucinda R. Brown, Mrs.", residence: @galveston_texas, role: "Graduate"}
@minna_elliger:person {full_name: "Minna Elliger, Miss", residence: @allentown_pa, role: "Graduate"}
@elizabeth_shattuck:person {full_name: "Elizabeth G. Shattuck, Miss", residence: @philadelphia, role: "Graduate"}
@elizabeth_bates:person {full_name: "Elizabeth H. Bates, Miss", residence: @morris_otsego_ny, role: "Graduate"}
@louise_starr:person {full_name: "Louise Starr, Miss", residence: @utica_ny, role: "Beneficiary"}
@lydia_jacobs:person {full_name: "Lydia P. Jacobs, Mrs.", residence: @philadelphia, role: "Beneficiary"}
@minerva_hoes:person {full_name: "Minerva T. Hoes, Mrs.", residence: @oswego_ny, role: "Beneficiary"}
@jane_heald:person {full_name: "Jane S. Heald, Mrs.", residence: @lincoln_maine, role: "Beneficiary"}
@jane_beala:person {full_name: "Jane S. Beala, Mrs.", residence: @lincoln_maine, role: "Applicant"}

#--- Places -------------------------------------------------------------------
@musical_fund_hall:place {location: @philadelphia}
@musical_nona_hall:place {location: @philadelphia}
@breiters_band:organization {type: "musical ensemble"}
@cincinnati_eclectic_medical_institute:organization {type: "medical school"}

#--- Sessions (Events) --------------------------------------------------------
@third_annual_session:event {description: "3rd Annual Session of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania", start: @date_1852_09_13, end: @date_1853_01_27}
@fourth_annual_session:event {description: "4th Annual Session", start: @date_1853_10_01, end: @date_1854_02_25}
@fifth_annual_session:event {description: "5th Annual Session", start: @date_1854_09_30, end: @date_1855_02_25}

#--- Commencements ------------------------------------------------------------
@second_annual_commencement:event {description: "2nd Annual Commencement", date: @date_1853_01_27, location: @musical_fund_hall, time: "11:00 AM"}
@third_annual_commencement:event {description: "3rd Annual Commencement (originally scheduled)", date: @date_1854_03_02, location: @musical_fund_hall, time: "11:00 AM"}
@third_annual_commencement_rescheduled:event {description: "3rd Annual Commencement (rescheduled)", date: @date_1854_02_25, location: @musical_fund_hall, time: "11:00 AM"}
@fourth_annual_commencement:event {description: "4th Annual Commencement", date: @date_1855_02_26, location: @musical_nona_hall, time: "11:00 AM"}

#--- Documents ----------------------------------------------------------------
@commencement_details:document {title: "Female Medical College of Pennsylvania Commencement Details", source: @file_pinax}
@minutes_44:document {title: "Minutes – No. 13 (Jan. 26‑27 1853)", source: @file_a092_001_044_jpg}
@minutes_45:document {title: "Minutes – No. 14 (Sept 13 1852 – Jan 27 1853)", source: @file_a092_001_045_jpg}
@graduates_46:document {title: "Graduates List – No. 15 (Jan 27 1853)", source: @file_a092_001_046_jpg}
@session_plan_52:document {title: "Session Plan – No. 16 (Oct 1 1853 – Feb 25 1854)", source: @file_a092_001_052_jpg}
@committee_report_53:document {title: "Committee Report – No. 17 (May 27 1853)", source: @file_a092_001_053_jpg}
@financial_report_54:document {title: "Financial Report – No. 18 (Oct 1 1853)", source: @file_a092_001_054_jpg}
@beneficiary_report_55:document {title: "Beneficiary Report – No. 19 (Oct 17 1853)", source: @file_a092_001_055_jpg}
@hall_selection_56:document {title: "Hall Selection – No. 20 (Oct 28 1853)", source: @file_a092_001_056_jpg}
@demonstrator_resolution_57:document {title: "Demonstrator Resolution – No. 21 (Jan 2 1854)", source: @file_a092_001_057_jpg}
@commencement_preparation_58:document {title: "Commencement Preparation – No. 22 (Mar 2 1854)", source: @file_a092_001_058_jpg}
@honorary_degree_request_59:document {title: "Honorary Degree Request – No. 23 (Feb 25 1854)", source: @file_a092_001_059_jpg}
@candidates_ballot_60:document {title: "Candidates Ballot – No. 24 (Feb 13 1854)", source: @file_a092_001_060_jpg}
@candidates_ballot_61:document {title: "Candidates Ballot – No. 25 (Feb 21 1854)", source: @file_a092_001_061_jpg}

#--- Relationships ------------------------------------------------------------

# Files documenting the college and its events
@file_pinax -> documents -> @commencement_details
@file_a092_001_044_jpg -> documents -> @minutes_44
@file_a092_001_045_jpg -> documents -> @minutes_45
@file_a092_001_046_jpg -> documents -> @graduates_46
@file_a092_001_052_jpg -> documents -> @session_plan_52
@file_a092_001_053_jpg -> documents -> @committee_report_53
@file_a092_001_054_jpg -> documents -> @financial_report_54
@file_a092_001_055_jpg -> documents -> @beneficiary_report_55
@file_a092_001_056_jpg -> documents -> @hall_selection_56
@file_a092_001_057_jpg -> documents -> @demonstrator_resolution_57
@file_a092_001_058_jpg -> documents -> @commencement_preparation_58
@file_a092_001_059_jpg -> documents -> @honorary_degree_request_59
@file_a092_001_060_jpg -> documents -> @candidates_ballot_60
@file_a092_001_061_jpg -> documents -> @candidates_ballot_61

# Dean actions
@david_i_johnson -> authorized -> @second_annual_commencement {role: "Dean"}
@david_j_johnson -> authorized -> @third_annual_commencement {role: "Dean"}
@david_j_johnson -> authorized -> @third_annual_commencement_rescheduled {role: "Dean"}
@david_j_johnson -> authorized -> @fourth_annual_commencement {role: "Dean"}

# Session timelines
@third_annual_session -> includes -> @second_annual_commencement
@fourth_annual_session -> includes -> @third_annual_commencement_rescheduled
@fifth_annual_session -> includes -> @fourth_annual_commencement

# Faculty composition (3rd Annual Session)
@third_annual_session -> faculty -> [@joseph_longshore, @abraham_livergy, @david_j_johnson, @william_cornell, @enoch_rolfe, @ellwood_harvey, @seth_rumcoast]

# Commencement details
@second_annual_commencement -> held at -> @musical_fund_hall
@second_annual_commencement -> time -> "11:00 AM"
@second_annual_commencement -> opened with prayer by -> @rev_cheney
@second_annual_commencement -> degrees conferred by -> @c_c_cleveland
@second_annual_commencement -> music provided by -> @breiters_band

@third_annual_commencement -> held at -> @musical_fund_hall
@third_annual_commencement -> opened with prayer by -> @rev_mrs_cheney
@third_annual_commencement -> degrees conferred by -> @c_c_cleveland
@third_annual_commencement -> music provided by -> @breiters_band

@third_annual_commencement_rescheduled -> held at -> @musical_fund_hall
@third_annual_commencement_rescheduled -> music provided by -> @breiters_band

@fourth_annual_commencement -> held at -> @musical_nona_hall
@fourth_annual_commencement -> music provided by -> @breiters_band

# Graduates (from @graduates_46)
@graduates_46 -> lists graduate -> @hannah_ellis {thesis: "Parturition"}
@graduates_46 -> lists graduate -> @henrietta_johnson {thesis: "Functions of the Skin"}
@graduates_46 -> lists graduate -> @marjorie_richardson {thesis: "Phthisis Pulmonalis"}
@graduates_46 -> lists graduate -> @lucinda_brown {thesis: "Medical Jurisprudence"}
@graduates_46 -> lists graduate -> @minna_elliger {thesis: "Medical Education of Women"}
@graduates_46 -> lists graduate -> @elizabeth_shattuck {thesis: "Relations of Body and Mind"}
@graduates_46 -> lists graduate -> @elizabeth_bates {thesis: "De effectis lactationis mimiae"}

# Honorary degree recipients
@second_annual_commencement -> honorary degree awarded to -> @harriet_hunt
@third_annual_commencement -> honorary degree awarded to -> @harriet_hunt

# Committees (selected from various minutes)
@committee_audit_accounts:organization {purpose: "Audit Dean's accounts"} 
@committee_audit_accounts -> members -> [@ellwood_harvey, @david_j_johnson, @joseph_longshore]

@committee_announcement:organization {purpose: "Prepare Fourth Annual Announcement"}
@committee_announcement -> members -> [@david_j_johnson, @ellwood_harvey, @fussell, @preston]

@committee_beneficiaries:organization {purpose: "Admit Beneficiaries"}
@committee_beneficiaries -> members -> [@ellwood_harvey, @david_j_johnson]

@committee_dissecting_room:organization {purpose: "Fit up Dissecting Room and Anatomical Museum"}
@committee_dissecting_room -> members -> [@fussell, @darlington]

@committee_dispensary:organization {purpose: "Fit up College Dispensary"}
@committee_dispensary -> members -> [@kerr, @harvey]

# Beneficiaries admitted (from @beneficiary_report_55)
@beneficiary_report_55 -> admits beneficiary -> @lydia_jacobs
@beneficiary_report_55 -> admits beneficiary -> @minerva_hoes
@beneficiary_report_55 -> admits beneficiary -> @jane_heald
@beneficiary_report_55 -> admits beneficiary -> @louise_starr

# Resolutions (Demonstrator of Anatomy – female only)
@demonstrator_resolution_57 -> resolves -> "Demonstrator of Anatomy shall be a female, elected by the Corporators, with sole control of the Dissecting Room and receipt of ticket proceeds"

# Hall selection (Feb 25 1854 change)
@hall_selection_56 -> resolves -> "Select alternative hall for Commencement; Musical Fund Hall deemed unsuitable"
@hall_selection_56 -> selected hall -> @musical_nona_hall

# Financial figures (from @financial_report_54)
@financial_report_54 -> records expense {item: "Printing Announcements", amount: 100, currency: "USD"}
@financial_report_54 -> records expense {item: "Advertising 4th Annual Session", amount: 500}
@financial_report_54 -> records expense {item: "Fitting Dissecting Room & Museum", amount: 60}
@financial_report_54 -> records expense {item: "Fitting Dispensary", amount: 100}
@financial_report_54 -> records expense {item: "Repayment to Dr. Harvey", amount: 79}
@financial_report_54 -> records expense {item: "Payment to Miss Montgomery", amount: 66}
@financial_report_54 -> records expense {item: "Purchase of apparatus & preparations", amount: 100}
@financial_report_54 -> total expense {amount: 1005}

# Candidate ballot results (from @candidates_ballot_60)
@candidates_ballot_60 -> ballot result {candidate: @lucinda_brown, white: 5, black: 2, passed: true}
@candidates_ballot_60 -> ballot result {candidate: @minna_elliger, white: 7, black: 0, passed: true}
@candidates_ballot_60 -> ballot result {candidate: @elizabeth_bates, white: 6, black: 1, passed: true}
@candidates_ballot_60 -> ballot result {candidate: @elizabeth_shattuck, white: 6, black: 1, passed: true}

# Fees (from @candidates_ballot_61)
@candidates_ballot_61 -> fee schedule {matriculation: 5, professor: 10, demonstrator: 5, graduation: 20, currency: "USD"}

# Session plans (from @session_plan_52)
@session_plan_52 -> schedule -> {
  start: @date_1853_10_01,
  end: @date_1854_02_25,
  lectures: [
    {day: "Monday", time: "10-11", subject: "Surgery"},
    {day: "Monday", time: "11-12", subject: "Practice"},
    {day: "Monday", time: "12-1", subject: "Physiology"},
    {day: "Monday", time: "1-2", subject: "Mat. Med."},
    {day: "Monday", time: "4-5", subject: "Anatomy"},
    {day: "Monday", time: "5-6", subject: "Chemistry"}
    /* (similar entries for other weekdays omitted for brevity) */
  ]
}
@session_plan_52 -> resolves -> "Front room on first floor to be used as College Dispensary" {by: @dr_kerr}
@session_plan_52 -> resolves -> "Committee to prepare Fourth Annual Announcement" {members: [@david_j_johnson, @ellwood_harvey, @fussell, @preston]}

# General notes ---------------------------------------------------------------
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> located in -> @philadelphia
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> offered -> "M.D. degree to women"
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held sessions annually from 1852 onward
```

Metadata

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 11/14/2025, 4:14:23 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 11/14/2025, 4:03:25 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 11/14/2025, 3:58:15 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 11/14/2025, 3:57:13 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Commencement_Details"

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01KA1H97TBT9WXXJR9Y5QE64YY

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