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Female Medical College of Pennsylvania 1861 Commencement Records

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 12/4/2025, 4:29:58 PM

Added description

Description

Female Medical College of Pennsylvania 1861 Commencement Records

Overview

This collection comprises high‑resolution images and accompanying metadata that document the ninth annual commencement of the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania. It includes faculty meeting minutes, a vote table for graduating candidates, and a record of the commencement ceremony held on March 13, 1861, at the Medical Fund Hall in Philadelphia.

Background

The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, founded in 1850, was the world’s first institution regularly organized to educate women in medicine. The records were produced by the college’s faculty and Dean Ann Preston and are part of the broader minute book of the faculty. They illustrate the administrative processes and celebratory practices of an early women’s medical school in the mid‑19th century.

Contents

  • Faculty Meeting Minutes (March 5, 1861) – A photograph of the meeting resolution to hold the commencement, appointments of Dr. Temple and Mr. Russell for arrangements, and a detailed vote table showing the results for six graduates: Frances V. Davis, Sarah Kleckner, Sallie Paul, Jane Payne, Rachel T. Speakman, and Mary J. Reynolds.
  • Commencement Record (March 13, 1861) – A photograph of the ceremony notes, including the conferral of degrees by Prof. C.D. Cleveland, the valedictory delivered by Dr. Fussell, and committee arrangements for entertainment.
  • TIFF Versions – High‑resolution TIFF scans of the same images.
  • Metadata – JSON files detailing creators, dates, subjects, and rights information.

Scope

The collection covers the period from the faculty meeting on March 5, 1861, through the commencement on March 13, 1861, and documents the planning, voting, and execution of the event. It is in English, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is held by the Drexel Legacy Collections. Reproduction beyond fair use requires written permission from the copyright holders.

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, renamed: "Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania"}

@ann_preston:person {role: "Dean", affiliation: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}

@commencement_1861:event {date: @date_1861_03_13, location: @medical_fund_hall, type: "ninth annual commencement"}

@medical_fund_hall:place {city: @philadelphia, state: "Pennsylvania"}

@faculty_meeting_1861:meeting {date: @date_1861_03_05, location: @female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania}

@frances_v_davis:person {gender: "female"}

@sarah_kleckner:person {gender: "female"}

@sallie_paul:person {gender: "female"}

@jane_payne:person {gender: "female"}

@rachel_t_speakman:person {gender: "female"}

@mary_j_reynolds:person {gender: "female"}

@temple:person {title: "Dr."}

@russell:person {title: "Mr."}

@dr_fussell:person {title: "Dr.", role: "valedictory speaker"}

@c_d_cleveland:person {title: "Prof."}

@mr_dixon:person {title: "Mr."}

@commencement_committee:organization {purpose: "organize commencement entertainment"}

@valedictory:document {type: "speech", delivered_by: @dr_fussell, event: @commencement_1861:event}

@vote_table:document {type: "table", description: "Voting results for candidates"}

@file_pinax:metadata {title: "Female Medical College of Pennsylvania 1861 Commencement Records", creator: [@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania, @ann_preston], institution: "Drexel Legacy Collections", created: @date_1861_03_13, language: "en"}

@file_a092_001_142_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "Faculty meeting minutes (March 5 1861) with vote table", related_event: @faculty_meeting_1861:meeting}

@file_a092_001_143_jpg:file {type: "image", description: "Commencement record (March 13 1861) with valedictory and committee notes", related_event: @commencement_1861:event}


@female_medical_college_of_pennsylvania -> held -> @commencement_1861:event

@ann_preston -> chaired -> @faculty_meeting_1861:meeting

@faculty_meeting_1861:meeting -> resolved -> @commencement_1861:event {when: @date_1861_03_13}

@faculty_meeting_1861:meeting -> appointed -> @temple {role: "arrangements"}

@faculty_meeting_1861:meeting -> appointed -> @russell {role: "arrangements"}

@faculty_meeting_1861:meeting -> created -> @vote_table:document

@frances_v_davis -> received votes -> @vote_table:document {white: 64, black: 6}

@sarah_kleckner -> received votes -> @vote_table:document {white: 59, black: 11}

@sallie_paul -> received votes -> @vote_table:document {white: 64, black: 6}

@jane_payne -> received votes -> @vote_table:document {white: 67, black: 3}

@rachel_t_speakman -> received votes -> @vote_table:document {white: 66, black: 4}

@mary_j_reynolds -> received votes -> @vote_table:document {white: 58, black: 12}

@dr_fussell -> delivered -> @valedictory:document {event: @commencement_1861:event}

@c_d_cleveland -> conferred degree on -> [@frances_v_davis, @sarah_kleckner, @sallie_paul, @jane_payne, @rachel_t_speakman, @mary_j_reynolds]

@dr_fussell -> member of -> @commencement_committee:organization {role: "committee"}

@ann_preston -> signed -> @faculty_meeting_1861:meeting {role: "Secretary"}

Metadata

Files (4)

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OCR Text

On motion resolved that our Commencement be held on Wednesday the 13th of March at 4 P.M. Messrs Temple & Russell were appointed to make in conjunction with the Corporators all necessary arrangements for holding the Commencement. Resolved that when we adjourn we adjourn to meet on Monday at 12 O'clock M. A. Preston Sec. March 5th Present Brooksell, Coates, Russell, Kerr, Preston, Temple The voting on the candidates was proceeded with & resulted as follows: <table> <tr> <th></th> <th>White Votes</th> <th>Black votes</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Miss Frances V. Davis</td> <td>64</td> <td>6</td> </tr> <tr> <td>" Sarah Kleckner</td> <td>59</td> <td>11</td> </tr> <tr> <td>" Sallie Paul</td> <td>64</td> <td>6</td> </tr> <tr> <td>" Jane Payne</td> <td>67</td> <td>3</td> </tr> <tr> <td>" Rachel T. Speakman</td> <td>66</td> <td>4</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Mrs Mary J. Reynolds</td> <td>58</td> <td>12</td> </tr> </table> On motion Resolved that the rule requiring the Dean to inform each candidate of the vote by which she was passed be suspended. Resolved that the Ladies for whom we

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OCR Text

have just voted be recommended to the Corporators for graduation. An Motion of Dr Temple resolved that ten dollars be appropriated if needed to give an entertainment to the students of the evening of the Commencement & that Dr Fussell & A. Preston be a committee to attend to the matter. Adjourned A. Preston Note. The Ninth Annual Commencement was held at the Medical Fund Hall on Wednesday, March 13th, 1861, at 4 P.M. Prof. C.D. Cleveland conferred the degree on the six ladies & Dr Fussell delivered the valedictory. By invitation of a few of the students boarding at Mr Dixon's in Sargent St., the Professors & other students spent the evening after Commencement with them.

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 12/4/2025, 4:29:58 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 12/4/2025, 4:20:40 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 12/4/2025, 4:09:03 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 12/4/2025, 4:04:45 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Commencement_1861"

Parent

01KBN1NKZ5R8PHFKPCQ1N6S27H

No children (leaf entity)