a092_001_118.jpg

Female Medical College of Pennsylvania Faculty Meeting Minutes, 1859

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/4/2025, 4:28:58 PM

Added description

Description

Female Medical College of Pennsylvania Faculty Meeting Minutes, 1859

Overview

This collection comprises the faculty meeting minutes of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania for the year 1859. It contains scanned images of pages 118–121 of the original minute book, supplemented by OCR‑derived transcriptions. The pages record several meetings held in February 1859, as well as a December 1858 meeting that set the agenda for the following year. The material is presented in English and is held by the Drexel College of Medicine Legacy Center Archives.

Background

The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, founded in 1850, was the first institution worldwide organized to train women for the medical profession. The minute book (covering 1850‑1864) documents deliberations of the faculty, including decisions on curriculum, examinations, graduations, and appointments. The 1859 collection reflects the college’s early administrative practices and the active participation of faculty and students in shaping medical education for women.

Contents

The pages detail the attendance of faculty members—Ann Preston, Emeline Cleveland, G. Birdsell, Sample, Dr. Furrell, Dr. Gormings, Mary M. Bailey, Prof. Rockey, Prof. Temple, Dr. Roche, and others. Key actions recorded include:
  • Appointment of Dr. Birdsell to deliver the next valedictory address.
  • Election of Dr. Gormings as lecturer on surgery.
  • Admission of Mary M. Bailey to examination for the M.P. degree.
  • Extension of the application period for graduation.
  • Preliminary examinations of candidates and older students.
  • Voting results for candidates for the M.P. degree, with white and black vote tallies.
  • Recommendation that graduates receive training at the N.York Woman’s Infirmary.

The OCR text provides a clear, word‑by‑word account of the minutes, while the TIFF images preserve the original handwritten format.

Scope

The collection covers faculty meetings held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during 1859 (and a preparatory meeting in December 1858). It focuses on medical education, examinations, curriculum decisions, and the governance of the college’s first cohort of female medical students. The material is available for research under the standard copyright and privacy restrictions of the Drexel Legacy Collections.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania:organization {founded: @date_1850_06_25, location: @philadelphia}

@preston:person {full_name: "Ann Preston", role: "Faculty"}

@cleveland:person {full_name: "Emeline H. Cleveland", role: "Faculty"}

@sample:person {full_name: "Sample", role: "Faculty"}

@furrell:person {full_name: "Edwin Furrell", role: "Dean"}

@birdsell:person {full_name: "G. Birdsell", role: "Faculty"}

@gormings:person {full_name: "Dr. Gormings", role: "Lecturer"}

@bailey:person {full_name: "Mary M. Bailey", role: "Student"}

@rockey:person {full_name: "Prof. Rockey", role: "Faculty"}

@temple:person {full_name: "Prof. Temple", role: "Faculty"}

@roche:person {full_name: "Dr. Roche", role: "Faculty"}

@furness:person {full_name: "E. Furness", role: "Dean"}

@gominger:person {full_name: "Dr. Gominger", role: "Faculty"}

@semple:person {full_name: "Dr. Semple", role: "Faculty"}

@botry:person {full_name: "Mrs. Botry", role: "Student"}

@stratton:person {full_name: "Miss Stratton", role: "Student"}

@underwood:person {full_name: "Miss Underwood", role: "Student"}

@shelley:person {full_name: "Miss Shelley", role: "Student"}

@adams:person {full_name: "Miss Adams", role: "Student"}

@porter:person {full_name: "Miss Porter", role: "Student"}

@mcclean:person {full_name: "Mrs. McClean", role: "Student"}

@barkey:person {full_name: "Mrs. Barkey", role: "Student"}

@parker:person {full_name: "Mrs. Parker", role: "Student"}

@mellen:person {full_name: "Lizzie S. Mellen", role: "Student"}

@mp_degree:concept {full_name: "Medical Practitioner degree"}

@nyork_womans_infirmary:organization {location: @new_york}

@meeting_dec_27_1858:document {date: @date_1858_12_27, location: @philadelphia, title: "Faculty Meeting"}

@meeting_feb_3_1859:document {date: @date_1859_02_03, location: @philadelphia, title: "Faculty Meeting"}

@meeting_feb_10_1859:document {date: @date_1859_02_10, location: @philadelphia, title: "Faculty Meeting"}

@meeting_feb_14_1859:document {date: @date_1859_02_14, location: @philadelphia, title: "Faculty Meeting"}

@meeting_feb_17_1859:document {start: @date_1859_02_17, end: @date_1859_02_19, location: @philadelphia, title: "Faculty Meeting (Adjournment)"}

@meeting_feb_25_1859:document {date: @date_1859_02_25, location: @philadelphia, title: "Faculty Meeting"}

@file_a092_001_118_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_feb_3_1859

@file_a092_001_119_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_feb_10_1859

@file_a092_001_120_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_feb_17_1859

@file_a092_001_121_jpg -> documents -> @meeting_feb_25_1859

@meeting_dec_27_1858 -> present -> [@preston, @cleveland, @sample, @furrell]

@meeting_dec_27_1858 -> appointed -> @birdsell {role: "valedictory address"}

@meeting_dec_27_1858 -> appointed committee -> [@furrell, @preston, @cleveland] {task: "prepare essay for annual announcement"}

@meeting_dec_27_1858 -> appointed -> @gormings {role: "lecturer on surgery"}

@meeting_feb_3_1859 -> present -> [@preston, @birdsell, @cleveland, @sample, @furrell]

@meeting_feb_3_1859 -> resolved -> {session_close: @date_1859_03_15}

@meeting_feb_3_1859 -> admitted -> @bailey {to_examination: true, degree: @mp_degree}

@meeting_feb_3_1859 -> extended -> {application_deadline_extension: 10, unit: "days"}

@meeting_feb_3_1859 -> approved -> @birdsell {address: "valedictory"}

@meeting_feb_10_1859 -> present -> [@preston, @birdsell, @cleveland, @temple, @furrell]

@meeting_feb_10_1859 -> resolved -> {preliminary_examinations: true, attendees: "all faculty"}

@meeting_feb_14_1859 -> reported -> {applications: [
  {student: @botry, topic: "Circulation of the Blood", advisor: @birdsell},
  {student: @stratton, topic: "Hydrogen", advisor: @semple},
  {student: @underwood, topic: "Water", advisor: @cleveland},
  {student: @shelley, topic: "Enteroplies", advisor: @roche},
  {student: @adams, topic: "Digestion", advisor: @preston},
  {student: @porter, topic: "Uterine Displacements", advisor: @furrell}
]}

@meeting_feb_17_1859 -> present -> [@preston, @cleveland, @sample, @furrell, @birdsell, @rockey, @temple, @roche, @furness]

@rockey -> reported_on -> @mcclean {evaluation: "passable"}

@temple -> reported_on -> @stratton {evaluation: "very well written & very good but not original"}

@birdsell -> reported_on -> @barkey {evaluation: "complex and obscure"}

@cleveland -> reported_on -> @underwood {evaluation: "well written & clearly expressed"}

@preston -> reported_on -> @adams {evaluation: "few errors but very good treatise"}

@furness -> reported_on -> @parker {evaluation: "well written but not very descriptive or accurate"}

@meeting_feb_17_1859 -> admitted -> [@botry, @stratton, @underwood, @shelley, @adams, @porter, @mcclean, @barkey, @parker]

@meeting_feb_25_1859 -> present -> [@preston, @cleveland, @sample, @furrell, @birdsell, @rockey, @temple, @roche, @furness]

@meeting_feb_25_1859 -> vote_result -> @underwood {white_votes: 66, black_votes: 4}

@meeting_feb_25_1859 -> vote_result -> @bailey {white_votes: 60, black_votes: 10}

@meeting_feb_25_1859 -> vote_result -> @stratton {white_votes: 58, black_votes: 12}

@meeting_feb_25_1859 -> vote_result -> @adams {white_votes: 56, black_votes: 14}

@meeting_feb_25_1859 -> vote_result -> @porter {white_votes: 55, black_votes: 15}

@meeting_feb_25_1859 -> vote_result -> @mellen {white_votes: 53, black_votes: 17}

@meeting_feb_25_1859 -> resolved -> {degree_conferred: @mp_degree, recipients: [@underwood, @bailey, @stratton, @adams, @porter, @mellen]}

@meeting_feb_25_1859 -> recommended -> @nyork_womans_infirmary {for: "graduates"}

@pinax_collection:document {title: "Female Medical College of Pennsylvania Faculty Meeting Minutes, 1859", creator: [@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania, @preston, @cleveland, @birdsell, @sample, @furrell, @gormings, @bailey, @rockey, @temple, @roche]}

@file_pinax -> documents -> @pinax_collection:document

Metadata

Files (8)

a092_001_118.jpgJPEG
359.19 KB
OCR Text

Dec. 27th, 1858 Present: Preston, Cleveland, Sample & Furrell On motion, Dr. Birdsell was appointed to deliver the next valedictory address to the graduating class. Dr. Furrell, Preston & Cleveland were appointed a committee to prepare an essay for the next annual announcement. P.S. Notice was given of the appointment of Dr. Gormings as lecturer on surgery for the present session. G. Birdsell Thursday Feb 3rd, 1859 Present: Preston, Birdsell, Cleveland, Sample & Furrell On motion it was agreed that the present session come to a close on Saturday the fifteenth of March. On motion it was resolved that Mary M. Bailey be admitted to an examination for the degree of M.P., on the ground of many years of study & practice. On motion the usual time for application from candidates for graduation was extended ten days for the present session. Birdsell's address was read & approved of. Adjourned G. Furrell, Pres.

a092_001_119.jpgJPEG
351.53 KB
OCR Text

Thursday Feb 10th 1859 Present - Preston, Birdsell, Cleveland Temple & Furrell It was on motion resolved to have preliminary examinations of all candidates & such older students as wish to be attended by all of the Faculty so that we may arrive at a better general understanding of their state of preparation for a final examination for the degree of M.D.P. Adjourned E. Furrell (Dean) Monday Feb 14th 1859 The dean reported having received applications for examination, & essays of many of them from the following Ladies, which were referred as follows - From Mrs. Botry on the cause of Circulation of the Blood referred to Dr. Birdsell, Miss Stratton on Hydrogen referred to Dr. Semple, Miss Underwood on Water referred to Dr. Cleveland, Miss Shelley on Enteroplies referred to Dr. Roche, Miss Adams on Digestion referred to Dr. Preston & from Miss Porter on Uterine Displacements referred to Dr. Furrell Adjourned E. Furrell (Dean)

a092_001_120.jpgJPEG
351.46 KB
OCR Text

Thursday by adjournment Saturday Feb 17th to 19th, 1859 Present all the Faculty. Prof. Rockey reported on Mrs. McClean's Thesis: Spelling not very good & matter & style not very clear, but passable. Prof. Temple reported that Mrs. Stratton's was very well written & very good but not original in its thoughts. Prof. Birdsell reported that Mrs. Barkey's was complex and obscure. Prof. Cleveland that Mrs. Underwood's was well written & clearly expressed. Prof. Preston that Mrs. Adams has a few errors in spelling & grammar, but is a very good treatise on the subject. Prof. Furness that Mrs. Parker's was well written but not very descriptive or accurate. After considerable discussion, all the ladies were admitted to an examination. Each of the members of the faculty were furnished by the dean with a notice of the time & place of the examinations. Adjourned E. Furness Dean

a092_001_121.jpgJPEG
374.16 KB
OCR Text

Feb 25th, 1859 Present—all the members of the Faculty On motion of Prof Birdsell Dr Gominger was invited to vote on the various candidates for degree as tho a member of the Faculty. The voting for candidates was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows: <table> <tr> <th></th> <th>White votes</th> <th>Black votes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Sutnamine S. Underwood</td> <td>66</td> <td>4</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Mary Malin Bailey</td> <td>60</td> <td>10</td> </tr> <tr> <td>St. Winona Stratton</td> <td>58</td> <td>12</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Harriet Adams</td> <td>56</td> <td>14</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Maria W. Porter</td> <td>55</td> <td>15</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Lizzie S. Mellen</td> <td>53</td> <td>17</td> </tr> </table> All having received over fifty white votes were therefore declared duly elected, and the Dean was authorized to recommend that the degree of M.P. be conferred upon them at a public commencement to be held at such time & place as may be agreed upon. Resolved that the respective candidates be informed of the vote in her own case and that the Faculty recommend to the graduates the propriety of spending some time in the N.York Woman's Infirmary.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/4/2025, 4:28:58 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/4/2025, 4:20:17 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/4/2025, 4:08:10 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/4/2025, 4:04:20 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: 1859_meetings"

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01KBN1NH08W47SD8BK24TNSDCJ

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