A few days ago, I naively set off to research missionary activity during the Klondike Gold Rush without appreciation for how sprawling the topic was. I had expected to unearth a few quaint tales of starry-eyed young ladies stepping down from atop wagon benches, their hearts aflame and a bible tucked beneath their arms. Instead, I read about reverends, mission schools, reindeer importing, hospitals and nurses. The presence of faiths like Russian Orthodox and Quaker took me by surprise. Continue reading “Missionaries and the Klondike Gold Rush”→
I first became interested in Walt Whitman’s poetry after seeing him featured as a character in a Dr. Quinn Medicine Womanepisode called The Body Electric. He was portrayed as a gentle nature loving man who extended great patience when people were judgmental. This was only a story, I know, but his personality was appealing. So, off I went to the library, in search of a copy of his collection of poetry, Leaves of Grass. Continue reading “Walt Whitman: Part 1”→
These three women are graduates of The Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania (WMCP). Their accomplishment is made more extraordinary because it was achieved during an era where discrimination based on gender and ethnicity was commonplace. This photograph was taken as a memento of the Dean’s reception on October 10, 1885.
The Quakers of Pennsylvania can be credited with the creation of WMCP, the first women’s medical college in the world! In addition to their active role in the abolitionist movement, the Quakers were also strong advocates of women’s rights. The WMCP is also well known by followers of the popular Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman series, as the college attended by the fictional character, Michaela Quinn.
Dr. Anandibai Joshee
The story of Dr. Anandibai Joshee is one of inspiration and tragedy. Born to a wealthy Brahmin family in India, she was married at the age of nine to a man twenty years her senior. Her husband, a progressive thinker, encouraged her to learn how to read, write and study, not only in Sanskrit, but in English — an extraordinary pursuit in a time when the education of women was uncommon. Anandibai gave birth to a son when she was only fourteen years old, but the child died ten days later. The absence of lifesaving medical access, motivated her to pursue an education in medicine.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons
When Anandibai’s health took a downturn, an American supporter forwarded medications but to no avail. Her husband urged her to forge ahead and pave the way for other Indian women with similar interests. She received pressure from all sides. The Americans who offered to help with lodging and college applications, insisted that she convert to Christianity. Persecution by her Hindu community ceased when she gave a public speech promising not to convert. Anandibai also commented on her country’s need for medical practitioners and her intent to return home and open a women’s medical college. The Viceroy and many others from across India gave rupees to help cover her expenses. Although she contracted tuberculosis in America, she somehow managed her studies.
Anandibai graduated from the Women’s Medical Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1886 and returned to Calcutta where she was highly celebrated. Even Queen Victoria sent her a message of congratulations. Not only was she the first Indian woman to earn a degree in Western medicine, she is possibly the first Hindu woman to arrive in America. Anandibai succumbed to tuberculosis at age 22, less than a year after her return to India.
Dr. Kei Okami
Dr. Kei Okami was the first Japanese woman to complete a degree in Western medicine. She began her first career as a teacher Sakurai Girl’s School at the age of twenty. Five years later, she married and emigrated to the United States with her husband.
With the financial support of The Women’s Foreign Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church, Kei was able to attend WMCP. She graduated four years later in 1885. After returning to Japan, Kei was appointed head of gynecology at the Jikei Hospital in Tokyo. She resigned from her post a few years later when the Emperor refused to receive her during hospital visit because she was a woman. Her life experiences continued to be eclectic. She returned to the field of education as a vice principal and again to medicine. Kei opened a small hospital in 1897 that ran successfully for nine years and around the same time, she opened a nursing school. She also served in the mission field of Japan, sharing her strong devotion to the Christian faith.
Dr. Sabat Islambooly
Less is known about Dr. Sabat Islambooly. She returned to Damascus and it’s believed that she went on to Cairo, Egypt.
Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania: image from the History of Medicine (NLM)
Quakers are a part of my heritage. I’ve learned this through family tree research conducted in recent months. The connection delights me. I already had a general understanding of Quakers as peaceful folk who lived simply. I am pondering Quaker involvement in the underground railroad and their anti slavery sentiments.
I’d always assumed that individual Quaker families across the new world chose to assist runaway slaves to freedom, based solely by their observances and personal convictions. I soon discovered this was not entirely the case. They were part of a large and well organized movement.
Quaker symbol for abolition
At the Heart of Quakerism
All people are equal. This is the core belief that accounts for Quaker involvement the anti slavery movement. At worship meetings, even today, there is no evidence of any hierarchal structure; people speak when they feel compelled to do so. A priest is not a necessary conduit as Quakers believe that each person has a direct relationship with God. The collective faith is known as the Religious Society of Friends and members generally congregate at Quaker meeting houses.
The First Religion to Denounce Slavery
George Fox
Quaker disapproval of the slave trade can be traced back to the late 1600’s. The idea of one man owning another could not be reconciled against their belief that all men are equal. As the Friends travelled between Britain and the colonies, they witnessed atrocities that their disdain for the practice of slavery.
“… if you were in the same condition as the Blacks are … now I say, if this should be the condition of you and yours, you would think it hard measure, yea, and very great Bondage and Cruelty. And therefore, consider seriously of this, and do you for and to them, as you would willingly have them or any do unto you … were you in the like slavish condition.” George Fox, 1676 (Founder of Quakerism)
Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade
The Quakers were the first religious organization, in Britain or the colonies, to publicly stand against slavery. In 1783, a Quaker group initiated the abolition movement but their voice wasn’t heard until they combined their efforts with a group of like minded Anglicans. Together they started the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. Nine of the group’s twelve members were Quaker; this was problematic as Quaker’s were barred from speaking in parliament. William Wilberforce became their parliamentary spokesman and it is he who popular history identifies as the force behind the movement. However, if not for years of financial support by Quaker merchants and businessmen, history would have looked quite different.
A People of Action
In the Americas, as in Britain, Quaker involved themselves in debatesabout the slave trade and parliaments were lobbied to end the slave trade. Friends worked to convince their communities to end the practice of slavery through postersand slogans. Protests were held and pamphlets distributed, and anti slavery articles were sent to newspapers. Logoswere stamped on items for purchase and women wore pendants bearing the phrase, “Am I not a sister and a woman.”. Quaker groups boycottedgoods like sugar, produced by slave labour. In short, their strategies are the same as those of modern day movements.
Quaker Catalysts for Change
Thomas Clarkson was a leading force in the abolitionist campaign throughout Britain. After slavery was abolished in his own country, he went on to campaign elsewhere.
Elizabeth Heyrick believed in the immediate emancipation of all slaves. The distribution of her pamphlet played a role in changing public opinion about the use of slave labour.
John Sturge (businessman and philanthropist) and his sister, Sophia Sturge (left figure in fourth photo) visited 3,000 homes to promote a boycott of sugar produced through slave labour. They were appalled by conditions witnessed in the West Indies.
John Woolman worked in Britain and the Americas to end slavery. In 1754, he distributed the first pamphlet denouncing the practice.
Anthony Benezetworked ferverently to demonstrate the equality between the races. He taught poor black children to read. Notably, he also started the first American public school for girls. His work was influential on Thomas Clarkson.
“To live in ease and plenty by the toil of those whom violence and cruelty have put in our power, is neither consistent with Christianity nor common justice…” Anthony Benezet(click to tweet)
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