The History of Woman Suffrage Volume III Part 75

We are indebted to Annie Laurie Quinby for the following account of the founding of a hospital for women and children, and of some of the difficulties women encountered in gaining admittance into the medical colleges:

Mrs. Quinby says: In 1867, some Cincinnati ladies met at the residence of Mrs. J. L. Roberts and organized a health a.s.sociation, the object of which was to obtain and disseminate knowledge in regard to the science of life and health. Mrs.

Leavett addressed the ladies on the importance of inst.i.tuting a medical school for women, stating a recent conversation she had with Prof. Curtis, and suggesting that he be invited to lay his views before them. A vote to that effect was pa.s.sed, and in his address Professor Curtis touched the following points:

Women have greater need than men of the knowledge of the science of life, and can make more profitable use of it.

_First_: They need this knowledge. In a practice of thirty-six years, full seven-tenths of my services have been devoted to women who, had they been properly instructed in the science of life, and careful to obey those instructions, would not have needed one-seventh of those services, while they would have prevented six-sevenths of their sickness, suffering and loss of time, and a like proportion of the expenses of doctoring, nursing, medicines, etc., etc.

_Second_: They can make a far better and more profitable use of this knowledge than men can, because they can better appreciate the liabilities, sufferings and wants of their s.e.x, which are far more numerous and imperative than ours; and they are always with us, from infancy to boyhood and womanhood, to watch us and protect us from injury, and to relieve us promptly from the sufferings that may afflict us, as well as to teach us how to avoid them. _Third_: Their intellectual power to learn principles is as great as ours, their perceptions are quicker than ours, their sympathies are more tender and persistent, and their watchfulness and patient perseverance with the sick are untiring. I regard the teaching and practice of the science of life as woman's peculiarly appropriate sphere. Its value to the family of the wife and the mother, is beyond estimation in dollars and cents, by the husband and father. No money that he can properly spend to secure it to his daughters, should be otherwise appropriated; for, should they never enter the family relation, it will be a means of escape from sickness mortification and expense to themselves, and of useful and honorable subsistence, not only priceless in its possession, but totally inalienable by any reverses of fortune. The possession of this knowledge from their infancy up, would do more to prevent their becoming poor and "friendless," than do all the alms houses for the former, and "homes" for the latter that society can build, while it would cost less to each individual than does an elegant modern piano. Forty years ago your speaker obtained from the legislature of Ohio a liberal university charter under the t.i.tle of "The Literary and Botanical Medical College of Ohio," which was afterwards changed to "The Cincinnati Literary and Scientific Inst.i.tute and Physio-Medical College." By the aid of able a.s.sistants he conducted this inst.i.tution for the benefit of men only, till, in 1851, the students of the cla.s.s were between eighty and ninety. From that time to the present, he has received women into the cla.s.ses and demonstrated that they are not only as competent as men to learn all parts of the science of life, but, in very many particulars, far better qualified for the practice of the art of curing disease. The last session of the college was suspended that he might travel in the country and learn the disposition of the friends of progress to establish the inst.i.tution on a permanent foundation, and is happy to say that all that seems necessary to that glorious consummation is the prompt and concentrated effort of a few judicious and influential ladies and their friends to secure pecuniary aid.

June 11, 1879, a dispensary for women and children was opened in Cincinnati, by Drs. Ellen M. Kirk, and M. May Howells, graduates of the New York College and Hospital for Women. Their undertaking proving successful, with other ladies of wealth and ability they soon after established a hospital. November 1, 1881, the certificate of incorporation[304] was filed in the office of the secretary of state. The ladies labored unweariedly for the support of these inst.i.tutions. At two public entertainments they realized nearly a thousand dollars. For the establishment of a homeopathic college they manifested equal earnestness and enthusiasm. Many of them interested in this mode of practice, seeing the trials of Dr. Pulte in introducing this new theory of medicine, determined to help him in building up a college and hospital for that practice. By one fair they raised $13,500, net profits, and the Pulte Medical College was established. But the remarkable fact about these inst.i.tutions is that after being started through the labors of women, women appealed in vain for admission for scholarships for a long time. For a clear understanding of the matter, and a knowledge of the defense made in behalf of the right of women to enter the college, I send you the following from Dr. J. D. Buck:

Pulte Medical College, of Cincinnati, was organized under the common law, and opened in 1872, for the admission of students, with no provision, either for or against the admission of women. From time to time, during the first seven years, the subject of the admission of women was broached, but generally bullied out of court amid sneers and ridicule. The faculty stood five against and four for. The opposition was the most p.r.o.nounced and bitter imaginable, the staple argument being that the mingling of the s.e.xes in medical colleges led always and necessarily to licentiousness.

Finally, in the fall of 1877, seven of the nine members of the faculty voted to admit women. One professor voted no, and the leader of the opposition, Prof. S. R. Beckwith--a life-long opponent of the broader culture of women--left the meeting with the purpose of arresting all action. In this, however, he failed; the vote was confirmed.

On the following day another meeting was held, when the vote was re-considered and again confirmed, each of the seven members agreeing to stand by it. Still again, another meeting was called, at the instance of the leader of the opposition, and in the absence of two of the staunch friends, a bare majority of the whole faculty voted to exclude women, as heretofore, and notified the applicants for admission, who had been officially informed of the previous resolution to admit them, that they would not be admitted.

Forbearance on the part of the friends of justice was no more to be thought of, and notice was given that the wrong should be righted, at all hazards. For the next two years war raged persistent and unflinching on the part of the friends of the rights of women, bitter and slanderous on the part of the opposition. All the tricks of the politician were resorted to to defeat the cause of right, and more than once by misrepresentation they obtained the announcement in the public press that the case was decided, and women forever excluded. Still the cause moved on to complete triumph, and to the disgrace and final exclusion from the college of two of the most bitter leaders of the opposition.

In the fall of 1879 it was announced in the annual catalogue, "that students will be admitted to the lectures of Pulte college without distinction of s.e.x," a very simple result indeed, as the outcome of two years' warfare. At the opening of lectures the first of October, four female students presented themselves, and were admitted to matriculation. Every prophecy of disaster had failed. The cla.s.s was an increase in numbers over that of any preceding year, and showed a marked improvement in deportment and moral tone from the presence of ladies, who from their high character and bearing exerted a restraining influence, as they always do, on those disposed to be gentlemen. At the commencement exercises in March, 1881, three women, viz: Miss S. C. O'Keefe, Mrs. Mary N. Street, and Mrs. M. J.

Taylor, received the degree of the college, after having attended the same lectures and been submitted to the same examination as the male graduates. The prize for the best examination (in writing) in physiology, was awarded to Miss Stella Hunt, of Cincinnati. The right of women to admittance to this college cannot again be raised except by a two-thirds vote of both faculty and trustees--a majority which will be difficult to obtain after the record which the women have already made as students in the inst.i.tution.

Yours truly, J. D. BUCK.

After all this educational work and this seeming triumph for the recognition of an equal status in the colleges for women, we find this item going the rounds of the daily journals, under date of Cleveland, March 29, 1885:

Considerable excitement prevails among the homeopathists of Cleveland. Commencement exercises of the college are to be held next Tuesday evening, and Miss Madge d.i.c.kson, of Chambers, Pa., was to have delivered the salutatory address. Dr. H. H. Baxter, a prominent professor of the college, objected, saying a woman salutatorian would disgrace the college. Miss d.i.c.kson resigned the honor, and no address will be delivered.

In April, 1873, Miss Nettie Cronise of Tiffin, was admitted to the bar. In the following September, her sister Florence was admitted, and they practiced as N. & F. Cronise, until Miss Nettie's marriage with N. B. Lutes, with whom she has since been a.s.sociated under the firm name of Lutes & Lutes. Miss Florence Cronise has her office in Tiffin. Soon after commencing practice Mrs. Lutes was appointed to examine applicants for admission to the bar, the first instance of a woman serving in this capacity in the United States, although Florence Cronise and one or two other women have since done like duty. These ladies and Miss Hulett were the first women to open law offices and begin an active, energetic practice of the profession.

In 1885, Miss Mary P. Spargo of Cleveland, was admitted to the bar.

FOOTNOTES:

[285] Among those a.s.sociated with Mrs. Mendenhall were Mrs. Calvin W. Starbuck, Mrs. W. Woods, Miss Elizabeth Morris, Miss Ellen Thomas, Mrs. Kendrick, sister to General Anderson, Mrs. Caldwell, Mrs. Annie Ryder, Mrs. Mary Graham, Mrs. Louisa Hill, Mrs. Hoadly.

[286] The officers of Cincinnati Equal Rights Society were: _President_, Mrs. H. A. Leavitt; _Vice-President_, Mr. J.

B. Quinby; _Corresponding-Secretary_, Mrs. A. L. Ryder; _Recording-Secretary_, Mrs. L. H. Blangy; _Treasurer_, Mrs. Mary Moulton; _Executive Committee_, Mrs. J. B. Quinby, Mr. ---- Hill, Mrs. A. L. Ryder. Mrs. Dr. Mortell, Mrs. Mary Moulton, Mrs. Mary Graham, Mrs. Annie Laurie Quinby, Mrs. L. H. Blangy and Mrs. Dr.

Gibson.

[287] The delegates appointed were, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Quinby, Mrs.

Mary Graham, Mrs. Charles Graham, Mrs. Mary Moulton, Mrs. Dr.

Morrel, Mrs. Blangy, Mrs. M. V. Longley, Mr. and Mrs. A. G. W.

Carter, and Mrs. Soula and daughter.

[288] The officers of the State Society were: _President_, Mrs. H.

Tracy Cutler, M. D., Cleveland; _Vice-President_, Mrs. M. V.

Longley; _Recording Secretary_, Mrs. H. M. Downey, Xenia; _Corresponding Secretary_, Mrs. Miriam M. Cole, Sidney; _Treasurer_, Mrs. L. H. Crall, Cincinnati; _Warden_, Mr. J. B.

Quinby, Cincinnati; _Business Committee_, A. J. Boyer, esq., Dayton; Elias Longley, esq., Cincinnati; Mrs. R. L. Segur, Toledo; Mrs. Morgan K. Warwick, Cleveland; Dr. M. T. Organ, Urbana; Mrs. E.

D. Stewart, Springfield; Miss Rebecca S. Rice, Yellow Springs.

[289] The speakers at Pike's Hall were Susan B. Anthony, Mary A.

Livermore, Lucy Stone, Henry B. Blackwell, Mrs. Dr. Chase, Miriam M. Cole, Mr. A. J. Boyer, Dr. Mary Walker, J. J. Bellville, Mary B.

Hall, Mrs. Dr. Keckeler, Mrs. Longley, Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Griffin, and Elizabeth Boynton.

[290] At a meeting of the corporators of the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital for Women, the following board of trustees was appointed: Stillman Witt, T. S. Beckwith, Bolivar b.u.t.ts, N. Schneider, M. D., T. S. Lindsey, Mrs. D.R. Tilden, Mrs.

S. F. Lester, Mrs. Peter Thatcher, Mrs. C. A. Seaman, M. D., Mrs.

M. K. Merrick, M. D., Mrs. S. D. McMillan, Mrs. M. B. Ambler, Mrs.

Lemuel Crawford, Mrs. Henry Chisholm, Mrs. G. B. Bowers. At a subsequent meeting of the board of trustees, the following officers were chosen: _President_, Mrs. C. A. Seaman, M. D.; _Vice-president_, Mrs. S. F. Lester; _Secretary_, Mrs. M. B.

Ambler; _Treasurer_, Mrs. S. D. McMillan.

[291]

A = Individual.

B = Year of Graduation.

C = Married or Single.

D = Number of Children.

E = Health.

+--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ | A| B | C | D | E |Remarks | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ | 1|1857|Married| 3 |Not living|Died, 1874. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ | 2| " | " | 1 | Good |Taught eleven years; now in Indiana.| +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ | 3| " | " | 2 | " |Has taught ever since graduating; | | | | | | |now in Ohio. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ | 4|1858| " | 2 |Very good |Taught five years; now in Ohio. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ | 5| " | " | 6 | Good |Has taught school; slight bronchial | | | | | | |trouble. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ | 6|1859| " | 3 | " | | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ | 7| " | " | 3 |Uncertain |Has taught school. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ | 8| " | " | | Good |Taught thirteen years, till married,| | | | | | |in 1872. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ | 9| " | " |2 or 3 | |No recent intelligence; health good | | | | | | |so far as known. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |10|1860|Single | | " |Taught some years; now in England. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |11| " |Married| 2 | |Taught three years. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |12| " |Single | | " |Has taught school. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |13| " | " | |Very good |Physician in Missouri. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |14| " |Married| 1 | " " |Has taught school. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |15| " |Single | | " " |Constantly a teacher, except two | | | | | | |years in Europe. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |16| " |Married| | " " |Minister in Connecticut; lately | | | | | | |married. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |17|1861| " | | Good |Taught three years; journalist in | | | | | | |Ohio. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |18| " | " | 1 | |Has taught school. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |19|1862| " | 1 |Not living|Died of hereditary consumption. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |20| " | " | 1 | " " | | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |21| " | " | 1 | Good | | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |22| " | " | 2 |Very good |Resides in Ohio. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |23| " | " | 2 | " " |Resides in Vermont. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |24| " | " | 2 | " " |Resides in New York. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |25| " | " | | Good |Lately married. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |26| " | " | 3 | " |Has taught school. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |27|1863| " | 2 |Very good |Taught four years, till married. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |28|1864| " | 3 | " " |Taught one year. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |29|1866| " | | Not good |Troubled with scrofula, dating back | | | | | | |earlier than her school days; | | | | | | |practices medicine in Missouri. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |30|1868|Single | | Good |Very good & Has just returned from | | | | | | |three years in Europe, where she | | | | | | |took long pedestrian journeys. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |31| " |Married| 1 | " |Has taught school and is teaching | | | | | | |now. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |32| " | " | 2 | " |Taught three years. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |33|1869|Single | | |Taught constantly and is teaching | | | | | | |now. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |34|1870|Married| |Not living|Died, 1871. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |35| " | " | 1 | Good |Has taught school in Missouri. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |36| " | " | 1 | " |Taught one year. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |37|1871|Single | | Unknown |Came to college in delicate health, | | | | | | |which improved while there; the | | | | | | |youngest woman ever graduated at | | | | | | |Antioch. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |38|1872| " | |Not living|Died, 1873, of hereditary | | | | | | |consumption. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |39| " | " | | Fair |Teaching in Ma.s.sachusetts. | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |40|1873| " | | Good | | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+ |41| " | " | | " | | +--+----+-------+-------+----------+------------------------------------+

[292] But even old Yale has to succ.u.mb to the on-sweeping tide of equal chances to women, as will be seen by the following a.s.sociated Press item in the New York _Sun_ of October 2, 1885: "NEW HAVEN, Conn., Oct. 1.--Miss Alice B. Jordin, of Coldwater, Mich., a graduate of the academic and law departments of the University of Michigan, entered the Yale law school to-day. She is the first woman ever entered in any department of Yale outside of the art school.

[293] Mesdames Lima H. Ober, Lovina Greene, Hophni Smith, Ruth F.

Munn, Perleyette M. Burnett, Sophia L. O. Allen, Mary Hodges, Lydia Smith, Sarah A. Knox. The men who sustained and voted with these women were Deacon Amplias Greene, Darius M. Allen, Ransom Knox, Apollos D. Greene, Wesley Brown. Their tickets were different each year; their first read, "Our Motto--Equal Rights for all--Taxation without Representation is Tyranny. Our Foes--Tradition and Superst.i.tion." Among the speakers invited to address the people at the polls were Mrs. Organ, of Yellow Springs, and Mrs. Hope Whipple, of Clyde.

[294] _President_, Ruth F. Munn; _Vice-Presidents_, Joel Walker, D.

M. Allen; _Recording Secretary_, Ellen Munn; _Corresponding Secretary_, Julia P. Greene; _Treasurer_, Mary Hodges; _Executive Committee_, William Munn, Sophia L. O. Allen, Amanda M. Greene, Apollos D. Greene, Ransom Knox.

[295] At other picnics the speakers were, Mrs. S. B. Chase, M. D., Colonel S. D. Harris, J. W. Tyler Jane O. DeForrest, T. W. Porter.

[296] The Society of South Newbury, like that of Toledo, refrained from auxiliaryship with the State a.s.sociation from the time of its organization to June, 1885, when such relationship was made possible by the State Society voting itself an independent organization, free to cooperate with all national or local a.s.sociations that have for their object the enfranchis.e.m.e.nt of women; and to Mrs. Allen may be ascribed a large share of the credit for the good work and broad platform of the South Newbury club.

[297] The presidents of the Toledo Society have been, Emma J.

Ashley, Elizabeth R. Collins, Sarah R. L. Williams, Rosa L. Segur, Julia P. Cole, Sarah S. Bissell, Ellen S. Fray, Mary J. Cravens.

The vice-presidents, Martha Stebbins, Julia Harris, S. R. L.

Williams, Sarah S. Bissell, Ellen Sully Fray, Mary J. Barker. Miss Charlotte Langdon Williams rendered valuable service in the business department of _The Ballot-Box_, and served for three years as secretary and treasurer of the a.s.sociation.

[298] Miss Anna C. Mott, and her father, Richard Mott, were two strong pillars of the woman suffrage movement in Ohio; their beautiful home has for many years been a harbor of rest alike to the advocates of anti-slavery, temperance and woman's rights.

[299] Mrs. Williams further adds that _The Ballot-Box_ became also a foster child of the National a.s.sociation, Miss Anthony canva.s.sing for it after each of her lectures during the winters of 1877 and 1878, thus largely increasing the circulation. It, on the other hand, gave full and faithful account of the work of the National a.s.sociation, so that in reality it was the organ of the National as well as of the Toledo society.

[300] The officers of the Toledo Society are, 1885, _President_, Mrs. Mary J. Cravens; _Vice-president_, Sarah R. L. Williams; _Recording Secretary_ Mrs. E. R. Collins; _Corresponding Secretary_, Mrs. Sarah S. Bissell; _Treasurer_, Mrs. Mary J.

Barker; _Executive Committee_, Mrs. Rosa L. Segur, Mrs. Julia P.

Cole, Mrs. Caroline T. Morgan, Miss Anna C. Mott, Mrs. E. M.

Hawley.