![Photo of Emily "Milly" Blackwell](/women_pictures/Blackwell_Emily "Milly".png)
Emily "Milly" Blackwell
Personal Information
Born: 1826
Died: 1910
Country of Birth: England
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
Cleveland Medical College (now Case Western Reserve University) MD 1854
"“I have often thought that if I followed solely my inclinations I should assume a man’s dress and wander freely over the world,” (smithsonianmag.com); "I long with such an intense longing for freedom, action, for life and truth. I feel as though a mountain were on me, as though I were bound with invisible fetters. I am full of furious bitterness at the constraint and littleness of the life that I must lead.… " (encyclopedia.com); "
— Emily "Milly" Blackwell
Professional Life
Field of Study: Medicine
Institution/Corporation: The Blackwell Society
Degrees & Memberships: Member: NY County Medical Society (1871)
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 1993 National Women's Hall of Fame
Achievements: 1857 founded New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children with her sister Elizabeth & Marie Zakrzewska; with Elizabeth created the Women's Central Association of Relief to recruit & train nurses for the Union during the Civil War; with Elizabeth established the Women's Medical College in New York City in 1868; tackled issues such as prostitution, sex education, and alcohol abuse; with Elizabeth gave a lecture in 1859 titled "Medicine as a Profession for Women" that was published as a 24 page booklet in 1860; with Elizabeth & Mary Livermore played an important role int the development of the US Sanitary Commission in 1861
was the 6th of 9 surviving children
in her youth was an expert in flowers & birds studying the species found near her home
1832 family emigrated to the US, lived in NY & NJ before settling near Cincinnati OH in 1837
attended Rush Medical college in Chicago for 1 year but wasn't allowed to attend for her 2nd year due to complaints from male students about having to study with a woman caused the Illinois Medical society to bar her from further attendance
after obtaining her MD studied in Edinburgh, Paris, Berlin & Dresden to honeher skills
raised $50,000 to establish the medical school in 1859
managed the Infirmary & oversaw surgery, nursing, bookkeeping & fund raising after her sister moved to England & Marie Zakrzewska left to open her own practice
ran the Infirmary until retiring in 1900 but made sure her medical students were admitted to the new Cornell University co-ed medical school
taught obstetrics & gynecology at the Women's Medical College for over 30 years
at age 44 she & her partner Dr. Elizabeth Cushier adopted a baby named Nanny
her applications to medical school were turned down by 11 colleges beforee being admitted to Rush who ultimately also rejected her
was the 3rd female in the US to receive an MD
the Infirmary is now part of NY-Presbyterian Hospital Lower Manhattan Hospital
toured Europe for 18 months after retiring
lived in her sister Elizabeth's shadow for most of her life with several of her photographs & accomplishments credited to Elizabeth
was described as shy & retiring for most of her life