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Elizabeth Blackwell's father died.
Her father's death led her family to become poverty stricken. To make money, Elizabeth Blackwell and her sisters became teachers. She used her teaching abilities later to save money for her college admission fee to get into medical school. -
Dying Family Friend Inspires Elizabeth Blackwell.
As Elizabeth Blackwell met with her close friend dying of cancer, this friend said that if she had a female doctor, she would have lived. This inspired Elizabeth Blackwell to study medicine and end up as the first woman doctor in America. Also, this paved the way for future female doctors in America for years to come. -
Elizabeth Blackwell Moved to the Carolinas.
She moved to North Carolin and South Carolina to continue to teach and also raise money for medical school fees. As she was there, she studied under many local doctors who helped her graduate medical school. In the Carolinas, she taught african american children to read and write at the Sunday School in churches. -
Graduated Medical School from Geneva Medical College.
For two years, Elizabeth Blackwell was excluded from labs by professors and the shunned by her town for ignoring her gender role. After these ups and downs Elizabeth Blackwell graduated from Geneva Medical College. Today this college is known as Hobart and William Smith College and now gives the Elizabeth Blackwell award to honorable female doctors. -
Losing an Eye.
After no one would hire Elizabeth Blackwell in America, she went to Europe and found a job in Paris. As she was treating a patient she caught purulent ophthalmia and lost sight in one eye. She had to have that eye removed. If she had not had that eye removed, she would have become the first female surgeon as well. -
Started the New York Infirmary.
In 1857, Elizabeth Blackwell came back to America after catching the infection in her eye and created the New York Infirmary for Women and Children. She created this Infirmary with her sister and colleague and it's mission was to provide work for female doctors. This Infirmary still exists today as the New York Downtown Hospital and she has saved many lives throughout the last tow hundred years because of this Infirmary. -
First Woman in the British Medical Registry.
In 1858, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in the British Medical Registry. This means that she could work in both the United States of America and the United Kingdom. Elizabeth Blackwell set a path for women wanting to be able to work in both Britain and the Untied States. -
Helped Train Nurses for the Civil War.
Elizabeth Blackwell helped train many women who volunteered to become nurses for the Civil War. These nurses saved the lives of hundreds of soldiers in the Union. Elizabeth Blackwell saved thousands of slaves and soldiers after the Union won the Civil War in 1865. -
Started Women's College.
After she got a fantastic reputation from training nurses in the war, she created a college. This college was created at the Infirmary that she founded as well. This college helped hundreds of women find their way and become doctors and nurses in the medical field. -
Became Professor of Genealogy.
After Elizabeth Blackwell founded the Women's College at the Infirmary, she went back to Britain. As she was in Britain, she became the Professor of Genealogy at the London School of medicine. She taught hundreds of students about medical findings and stayed in Britain until she passed away in 1910.
