Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
History
Committee Chair/Advisor
Amanda Regan
Committee Member
Archana Venkatesh
Committee Member
Ryan Hilliard
Abstract
This thesis seeks to explore the varying historical themes surrounding America and Great Britain’s first female physicians. Studying 1849-1894 allows for the exploration of not only the nineteenth century, but also the Gilded Age and Progressive Eras of American History. Professionalization played a crucial role in the lives of these women, as it drastically altered the makeup of the medical career, making it more difficult to enter and become qualified as a licensed physician. There were significant barriers to entering the medical profession for these women, including elements like race, class, and most importantly, gender. This thesis argues that while these barriers were significant, there were gaps in the system that allowed women to develop strategies that enabled them to become successful, licensed physicians. For Elizabeth Blackwell, the nation’s first female physician, the strategy was to use a small rural college’s student vote to gain admittance into their medical school. For her “heirs”, or the women that followed after her, their strategies were attending women-only medical schools established by people like Blackwell or enrolling in international schools that allowed women to study. The medical world was forever changed by their pioneering.
Recommended Citation
Sprawls, Charleigh E., "Elizabeth Blackwell and Her Heirs: America and Great Britain’s First Female Physicians" (2026). All Theses. 4770.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4770