Student Examinations and Degrees, Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1853-1854

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 11/14/2025, 4:14:40 PM

Added description

Description

Student Examinations and Degrees, Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1853‑1854

Overview

This archival collection comprises the official minutes, candidate lists, ballot results, and commencement proceedings of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania for the 1853‑1854 academic year. The documents are printed in 1853–1854, in English, and are held by the final‑drexel‑university repository. They record the administration of examinations, the conferral of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degrees, and related faculty and student activities.

Background

The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, founded in 1850, was one of the first institutions to grant medical degrees to women. David I. Johnson served as Dean and Professor of Chemistry & Toxicology during this period. The faculty included Joseph S. Longshore (Obstetrics), Abraham Livergy (Practice), William M. Cornell (Physiology), Enoch C. Rolfe (Surgery), Ellwood Harvey (Therapeutics & Materia Medica), and Seth Rumcoast (Anatomy). The minutes reflect the college’s governance, committee appointments, and the procedural rules for examinations and degree conferral.

Contents

  • Candidate Lists and Ballot Results: Names, residences, and voting outcomes for each candidate (e.g., Henrietta W. Johnson, Almira L. Fowler, Maria McKinnis, Charlotte G. Adams, Hannah W. Ellis, etc.).
  • Thesis Subjects: Titles of the theses presented by graduates (e.g., “Parturition,” “Functions of the Skin,” “Medical Jurisprudence,” “Relations of Body and Mind,” “General Physiology,” “Ferrum,” “Medical Education of Women,” “Phthisis Pulmonalis,” “De effectis lactationis mimiae”).
  • Commencement Details: Dates, venues (Musical Fund Hall, Musical Nona Hall), speeches, and honorary degrees (e.g., Harriet H. Hunt).
  • Committee Reports: Audits, advertising, beneficence, dissecting room, dispensary, and apparatus procurement.
  • Administrative Notes: Faculty appointments, fee structures, and procedural changes.

Scope

The collection covers the period from September 13 1852 to February 26 1855, focusing on the 1853‑1854 academic year. It is geographically centered on Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with references to students and faculty from New York, Boston, Providence, Bristol, Galveston, and other U.S. locales. Topics include medical education, examinations, degree conferral, faculty governance, and student thesis work. The materials exclude personal correspondence, student records beyond the listed candidates, and broader institutional histories.

Entities

(loading...)

Entity Relationships

(loading...)

Raw Cheimarros Data

**Entities (defined once, in the order of first appearance)**  

```cheimarros
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania:organization {full_name: "Female Medical College of Pennsylvania"}

@david_johnson:person {full_name: "David I. Johnson", role: "Dean; Professor of Chemistry & Toxicology"}

@joseph_longshore:person {full_name: "Joseph S. Longshore", role: "Professor of Obstetrics"}

@abraham_livergy:person {full_name: "Abraham Livergy", role: "Professor of Practice"}

@william_cornell:person {full_name: "William M. Cornell", role: "Professor of Physiology"}

@enoch_rolfe:person {full_name: "Enoch C. Rolfe", role: "Professor of Surgery"}

@ellwood_harvey:person {full_name: "Ellwood Harvey", role: "Professor of Therapeutics & Materia Medica"}

@seth_rumcoast:person {full_name: "Seth Rumcoast", role: "Professor of Anatomy"}

@dr_pancoast:person {full_name: "Dr. Pancoast"}

@dr_kerr:person {full_name: "Dr. Kerr"}

@dr_fussell:person {full_name: "Dr. Fussell"}

@dr_preston:person {full_name: "Dr. Preston"}

@dr_russell:person {full_name: "Dr. Russell"}

@dr_morrow:person {full_name: "Dr. Morrow"}

@faculty:organization {part_of: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}

@md_degree:document {full_name: "Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree"}

@henrietta_w_johnson:person {full_name: "Henrietta W. Johnson", residence: @new_york_city}
@almira_l_fowler:person {full_name: "Almira L. Fowler", residence: @new_york_city}
@maria_mckinnis:person {full_name: "Maria McKinnis", residence: @pennsylvania}
@charlotte_g_adams:person {full_name: "Charlotte G. Adams", residence: @boston}
@hannah_w_ellis:person {full_name: "Hannah W. Ellis", residence: @philadelphia}
@augusta_r_montgomery:person {full_name: "Augusta R. Montgomery", residence: @new_york_city}
@margaret_richardson:person {full_name: "Margaret Richardson", residence: @philadelphia}
@julia_a_beverly:person {full_name: "Julia A. Beverly", residence: @providence}
@annah_n_s_anderson:person {full_name: "Annah N. S. Anderson", residence: @bristol}
@harriet_h_hunt:person {full_name: "Harriet H. Hunt", residence: @boston, role: "Honorary degree recipient"}
@lucinda_r_brown:person {full_name: "Lucinda R. Brown", residence: @galveston_texas}
@minna_elliger:person {full_name: "Minna Elliger", residence: @allentown_lehigh_pa}
@elizabeth_g_shattuck:person {full_name: "Elizabeth G. Shattuck", residence: @philadelphia}
@elizabeth_h_bates:person {full_name: "Elizabeth H. Bates", residence: @morris_otsego_ny}

@musical_fund_hall:place {city: @philadelphia, type: "lecture hall"}
@musical_nona_hall:place {city: @philadelphia, type: "lecture hall"}
@galveston_texas:place {city: "Galveston", state: "Texas", country: @united_states}
@allentown_lehigh_pa:place {city: "Allentown", county: "Lehigh", state: "Pennsylvania"}
@morris_otsego_ny:place {city: "Morris", county: "Otsego", state: "New York"}

@third_annual_session:event {start: @date_1852_09_13, end: @date_1853_01_27, description: "Third annual session of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania"}
@second_annual_commencement:event {when: @date_1853_01_27, where: @musical_fund_hall, description: "Second annual commencement"}
@third_annual_commencement:event {when: @date_1854_03_02, where: @musical_fund_hall, description: "Third annual commencement"}
@fourth_annual_session:event {start: @date_1853_10_01, end: @date_1854_02_25, description: "Fourth annual session"}
@fourth_annual_commencement:event {when: @date_1854_02_25, where: @musical_fund_hall, description: "Fourth annual commencement"}
@fifth_annual_session:event {start: @date_1854_10_05, end: @date_1855_02_25, description: "Fifth annual session"}
@fifth_annual_commencement:event {when: @date_1855_02_26, where: @musical_fund_hall, description: "Fifth annual commencement"}

@minutes_jan_12_1853:document {when: @date_1853_01_12, where: @philadelphia, description: "List of candidates for M.D. degree"}
@minutes_jan_19_1853:document {when: @date_1853_01_19, description: "Ballot results for candidates"}
@minutes_jan_26_1853:document {when: @date_1853_01_26, description: "Committee audit report and motion for Harriet H. Hunt"}
@minutes_feb_13_1852:document {when: @date_1852_09_13, description: "Memoranda of 3rd annual session commencement"}
@minutes_feb_21_1854:document {when: @date_1854_02_21, description: "Final ballot and degree conferral for 1854 candidates"}
@minutes_feb_25_1854:document {when: @date_1854_02_25, description: "Fourth annual commencement proceedings"}
@minutes_feb_26_1855:document {when: @date_1855_02_26, description: "Fifth annual commencement proceedings"}

@committee_audit_dean_accounts:organization {members: [@ellwood_harvey, @dr_pancoast, @dr_longshore]}
@committee_announcement:organization {chair: @david_johnson, members: []}
@committee_advertising:organization {chair: @ellwood_harvey, members: []}
@committee_beneficiaries:organization {chair: @dr_darlington, members: []}
@committee_dissecting_room:organization {chair: @dr_fussell, members: []}
@committee_dispensary:organization {chair: @ellwood_harvey, members: []}
@committee_apparatus:organization {chair: @david_johnson, members: []}
@committee_hall_selection:organization {members: [@ellwood_harvey, @dr_johnson]}

@thesis_parturition:document {title: "Parturition"}
@thesis_functions_of_the_skin:document {title: "Functions of the Skin"}
@thesis_medical_jurisprudence:document {title: "Medical Jurisprudence"}
@thesis_relations_body_mind:document {title: "Relations of Body and Mind"}
@thesis_general_physiology:document {title: "General Physiology"}
@thesis_ferrum:document {title: "Ferrum"}
@thesis_medical_education_of_women:document {title: "Medical Education of Women"}
@thesis_phthisis_pulmonalis:document {title: "Phthisis Pulmonalis"}
@thesis_de_effectis_lactationis_mimiae:document {title: "De effectis lactationis mimiae"}
```

---

**Relationships (including file‑to‑document links, motions, ballot results, theses, etc.)**

```cheimarros
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @third_annual_session
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @fourth_annual_session
@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @fifth_annual_session

@david_johnson -> dean_of -> @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania
@faculty -> organized -> @second_annual_commencement
@faculty -> organized -> @third_annual_commencement
@faculty -> organized -> @fourth_annual_commencement
@faculty -> organized -> @fifth_annual_commencement

@faculty -> appointed -> @committee_audit_dean_accounts
@faculty -> appointed -> @committee_announcement
@faculty -> appointed -> @committee_advertising
@faculty -> appointed -> @committee_beneficiaries
@faculty -> appointed -> @committee_dissecting_room
@faculty -> appointed -> @committee_dispensary
@faculty -> appointed -> @committee_apparatus
@faculty -> appointed -> @committee_hall_selection

@committee_audit_dean_accounts -> reported_balance -> {amount: 17.51, currency: "USD"}

@faculty -> resolved -> @second_annual_commencement {date: @date_1853_01_27, location: @musical_fund_hall}
@faculty -> resolved -> @third_annual_commencement {date: @date_1854_03_02, location: @musical_fund_hall}
@faculty -> resolved -> @fourth_annual_commencement {date: @date_1854_02_25, location: @musical_fund_hall}
@faculty -> resolved -> @fifth_annual_commencement {date: @date_1855_02_26, location: @musical_fund_hall}

@henrietta_w_johnson -> candidate_for -> @md_degree {result: "all white"}
@almira_l_fowler -> candidate_for -> @md_degree {result: "all white"}
@maria_mckinnis -> candidate_for -> @md_degree {result: "all white"}
@charlotte_g_adams -> candidate_for -> @md_degree {result: "6 white, 1 black"}
@hannah_w_ellis -> candidate_for -> @md_degree {result: "4 white, 3 black"}
@augusta_r_montgomery -> candidate_for -> @md_degree {result: "all white"}
@charlotte_g_adams -> ballot_result -> {white: 6, black: 1}
@hannah_w_ellis -> ballot_result -> {white: 4, black: 3}
@charlotte_g_adams -> ballot_result -> {white: 6, black: 1}
@hannah_w_ellis -> ballot_result -> {white: 5, black: 2}   # after reconsideration (2nd ballot)

@harriet_h_hunt -> honorary_degree -> @md_degree {type: "honorary"}

@lucinda_r_brown -> candidate_for -> @md_degree {result: "5 white, 2 black", status: "passed"}
@minna_elliger -> candidate_for -> @md_degree {result: "7 white", status: "passed"}
@elizabeth_h_bates -> candidate_for -> @md_degree {result: "6 white, 1 black", status: "passed"}
@elizabeth_g_shattuck -> candidate_for -> @md_degree {result: "6 white, 1 black", status: "passed"}

@hannah_w_ellis -> wrote_thesis -> @thesis_parturition
@henrietta_w_johnson -> wrote_thesis -> @thesis_functions_of_the_skin
@maria_mckinnis -> wrote_thesis -> @thesis_medical_jurisprudence
@almira_l_fowler -> wrote_thesis -> @thesis_relations_body_mind
@annah_n_s_anderson -> wrote_thesis -> @thesis_general_physiology
@julia_a_beverly -> wrote_thesis -> @thesis_ferrum
@augusta_r_montgomery -> wrote_thesis -> @thesis_medical_education_of_women
@margaret_richardson -> wrote_thesis -> @thesis_phthisis_pulmonalis
@charlotte_g_adams -> wrote_thesis -> @thesis_de_effectis_lactationis_mimiae

@file_a092_001_043_jpg -> contains -> @minutes_jan_12_1853
@file_a092_001_043_jpg -> contains -> @minutes_jan_19_1853
@file_a092_001_044_jpg -> contains -> @minutes_jan_26_1853
@file_a092_001_045_jpg -> contains -> @minutes_feb_13_1852
@file_a092_001_046_jpg -> contains -> @minutes_feb_21_1854
@file_a092_001_052_jpg -> contains -> @minutes_feb_25_1854
@file_a092_001_058_jpg -> contains -> @minutes_feb_26_1855
@file_pinax -> documents -> @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania {title: "Student Examinations and Degrees, Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1853‑1854"}
```

*All dates (`@date_YYYY_MM_DD`) are auto‑created; common‑knowledge places such as `@philadelphia`, `@new_york_city`, `@boston`, `@providence`, `@bristol`, `@pennsylvania`, `@united_states` are referenced without definition.*

Metadata

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 11/14/2025, 4:14:40 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 11/14/2025, 4:05:45 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 11/14/2025, 3:58:41 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 11/14/2025, 3:57:16 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Student_Examinations_and_Degrees"

Additional Components (27)

Click to expand and load individual components

a092_001_043.jpg.ref.json
a092_001_043.tif.ref.json
a092_001_044.jpg.ref.json
a092_001_044.tif.ref.json
a092_001_045.jpg.ref.json
a092_001_045.tif.ref.json
a092_001_046.jpg.ref.json
a092_001_046.tif.ref.json
a092_001_052.jpg.ref.json
a092_001_052.tif.ref.json
a092_001_053.jpg.ref.json
a092_001_053.tif.ref.json
a092_001_054.jpg.ref.json
a092_001_054.tif.ref.json
a092_001_055.jpg.ref.json
a092_001_055.tif.ref.json
a092_001_056.jpg.ref.json
a092_001_056.tif.ref.json
a092_001_057.jpg.ref.json
a092_001_057.tif.ref.json
a092_001_058.jpg.ref.json
a092_001_058.tif.ref.json
a092_001_059.jpg.ref.json
a092_001_059.tif.ref.json
a092_001_060.jpg.ref.json
a092_001_060.tif.ref.json
a092_001_061.jpg.ref.json

Parent

01KA1H97TBT9WXXJR9Y5QE64YY

No children (leaf entity)