WEBVTT 00:00:00.001 --> 00:00:06.160 Our story starts in the early 1800s in Bristol, at the corner of Wilson Street and Lemon Lane. 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:12.720 This is where Samuel Blackwell and Hannah Lane Blackwell live with their eight, soon to be nine, 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:20.320 children. If we jump ahead about 200 years, we can see a plaque on this very same house stating, 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:26.480 "The first woman doctor, Elizabeth Blackwell, lived here." There are stories and plaques and 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:32.240 institutions dedicated to Elizabeth Blackwell across the globe, honouring her lifetime and work 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:39.040 as a champion for the future of women doctors. However, the fact is, Elizabeth was not the 00:00:39.040 --> 00:00:47.040 only pioneer born in that house. Her sister Emily, born here in 1826, would go on to be a trailblazer 00:00:47.040 --> 00:00:53.280 in the field of medicine as well. In fact, though she's rarely talked about, Emily was not only 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:59.440 a crucial part of many of her sister's accomplishments, but also led an extraordinary life of her own. 00:00:59.440 --> 00:01:05.840 This is the untold story of Dr. Emily Blackwell. 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:18.000 In 1832, the Blackwell family left their home in Bristol for the United States. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:23.200 When they reached New York, they were greeted by the very danger they had hoped to leave behind. 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:26.720 The city was in the midst of its first cholera epidemic. 00:01:26.720 --> 00:01:31.920 Death tolls had already soared into the thousands and were rising every single day. 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:40.240 They went from New York to Jersey City and from there to Cincinnati, 00:01:40.240 --> 00:01:42.960 where the family finally made their way in 1838. 00:01:42.960 --> 00:01:48.400 It was here that Samuel Blackwell died on August 7th of that same year, 00:01:50.240 --> 00:01:53.600 leaving his widow and nine children with $20. 00:01:53.600 --> 00:02:03.280 Only three weeks after Samuel Blackwell's death, the oldest Blackwell daughters had 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:08.480 transformed their house in Cincinnati into the English and French Academy for Young Women, 00:02:08.480 --> 00:02:15.440 where Emily began teaching at the age of 13. The school was open until 1842, 00:02:15.440 --> 00:02:19.520 when the Blackwell sons were old enough to find jobs that brought them more money than the girls 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:28.000 could make teaching. In 1844, at age 23, Elizabeth Blackwell left their home in Cincinnati. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:33.600 Emily, however, remained there, struggling to find time to continue her education, 00:02:33.600 --> 00:02:39.040 until her sister Anna invited her to St Anne's School in New York, where she was working. 00:02:39.040 --> 00:02:45.280 Emily wrote to her sister, asking if she should take this opportunity to further her studies, 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:51.440 to which Elizabeth replied, "Go, by all means." When you have finished your studies, 00:02:51.440 --> 00:02:55.600 we may perhaps join together in some undertaking and make the cash come in, 00:02:55.600 --> 00:03:02.080 like a perfect crock and river. What fountains and baths will establish in our domestic city? 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:07.680 How will wash away all trouble and annoyance and make all fresh and clean? 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:14.560 Though that undertaking was still unclear, Emily went. 00:03:14.800 --> 00:03:20.400 In 1844 she left for New York, where people finally begun to recognize her remarkable intellect. 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:27.680 When she returned to Cincinnati in 1846, even her sister had heard that she'd become quite a genius. 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:35.600 She found herself at home again, and Emily, who shared her sister's drive and intelligence 00:03:35.600 --> 00:03:39.760 but lacked some of her certainty and self-confidence struggled to find purpose. 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:48.160 During this time she remained her sister's closest confidant. Elizabeth constantly wrote to her, 00:03:48.160 --> 00:03:53.280 telling her of her hopes for the future in which she and Emily were partners, working together. 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:58.720 And so, guided by her sister, Emily began to imagine a future in medicine. 00:03:58.720 --> 00:04:07.600 In 1850, at 23, Emily took her first steps toward that goal. She took a teaching job in 00:04:07.600 --> 00:04:11.920 Henderson, Kentucky, where she hoped to earn money to pay for her future medical school. 00:04:11.920 --> 00:04:18.960 In Henderson, Emily kept to herself and focused on her work until she returned home the following year. 00:04:18.960 --> 00:04:24.320 Emily found some comfort in her passion for natural history and astronomy, 00:04:24.320 --> 00:04:30.560 but still she felt alone, afraid she would never be able to achieve everything her sister had 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:34.960 and yearning for friendship. I believe I shall never have a friend. 00:04:35.840 --> 00:04:43.040 Elizabeth's return to New York after becoming the first woman to earn a medical degree gave 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:49.360 Emily the push she needed to take the next step forward. However, following in her sister's footsteps 00:04:49.360 --> 00:04:54.080 had become all the more difficult because of those who were made uncomfortable and felt threatened 00:04:54.080 --> 00:05:00.800 by Elizabeth's success. For nearly a year, Emily was unable to escape a continuous cycle of 00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:07.680 disappointments. From Cincinnati to Columbus to Buffalo, Emily could not find a single school 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:12.800 that was willing to enroll her. Even at Geneva Medical College, where Elizabeth had earned her 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:19.840 degree, Emily was met with rejection. Each rejection made her question her ability to succeed even more. 00:05:19.840 --> 00:05:28.240 I often think my intense desire for greatness of nature and life is but a refined selfishness. 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:35.840 In her doubt, she continued to seek comfort in the outdoors. Nature was the only place where she felt 00:05:35.840 --> 00:05:49.840 truly accepted. Emily had spent too much time and energy to give up now. By this time, she had moved 00:05:49.840 --> 00:05:54.000 in with Elizabeth in New York where she had gained privileges and permission to attend lectures at 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:59.760 Bellevue Hospital. Her talent and intelligence left a lasting impression on her instructors and peers. 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:06.160 Finally, with the endorsements of those at Bellevue, Emily was admitted to Chicago's 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:14.720 Rush School of Medicine in 1852. Her time had finally come. When she arrived in Chicago, 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:21.200 the president of Rush, Dr. Daniel Brainard, became a mentor to her. Though none of it came easily, 00:06:21.200 --> 00:06:27.680 under Dr. Brainard, Emily found her passion for surgery, specifically obstetrics and gynecology. 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:38.960 Physicians have hitherto been men who felt no special interest in the matter, the female side. 00:06:38.960 --> 00:06:44.880 Emily became determined to use her skills to fight for women and their safety during childbirth. 00:06:44.880 --> 00:06:52.480 Unfortunately, her time at Rush came to a premature end. 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:59.360 Before her final term, Dr. Brainard left for Europe, and just like that, 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:05.520 the Board of Trustees had decided Emily would not be allowed to finish her studies at Rush. 00:07:05.520 --> 00:07:11.920 This decision was met with much backlash, even from the majority of Emily's male peers. 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:18.560 In response to her dismissal from Rush, even the Chicago Tribune was asking, "Who's guilty?" 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:24.480 But Emily did not wait for them to change their minds. Instead, she packed up and made 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:28.560 her way to Cleveland Medical College, where she finished the remainder of her term. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:36.400 On February 22, 1854, she officially became Dr. Emily Blackwell. 00:07:36.400 --> 00:07:48.320 This was only the beginning of her journey. Emily was headed to Edinburgh to continue her studies. 00:07:48.320 --> 00:07:53.520 On her way, however, she stopped in New York where she was finally able to work, 00:07:53.520 --> 00:07:59.680 side by side, with her sister at her newly opened New York Dispensary for Poor Women and Children. 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:04.400 From New York, she made her way to the University of Edinburgh, 00:08:04.400 --> 00:08:08.320 which was widely considered the best place in the world to study medicine at the time. 00:08:08.320 --> 00:08:14.480 Here, she trained under Dr. James Young Simpson as she continued to explore her passion for obstetrics. 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:20.400 Still, she faced many challenges. Despite her clear talent and intellect, 00:08:20.400 --> 00:08:25.920 as well as support from Dr. Simpson, Emily's request to practice at Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary 00:08:25.920 --> 00:08:32.160 was denied. However, even in the wake of disappointment, Emily continued to work in Edinburgh. 00:08:32.160 --> 00:08:40.000 There were still those who criticised her success, but she ignored her critics and continued to forge 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:46.560 ahead in Edinburgh and then in both London and Paris. When it was finally time to return to 00:08:46.560 --> 00:08:50.160 the United States, she knew that she had made a tremendous impact. 00:08:50.160 --> 00:09:04.400 When Emily returned to New York, it was time to begin the process of expanding Elizabeth's dispensary. 00:09:04.400 --> 00:09:12.480 Emily began fundraising, reaching out to her contacts across Europe. Finally, Emily, Elizabeth, 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:18.080 and their third partner, Dr. Marie Zakshevska, had enough money to secure the lease to a brick 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:26.480 house on the corner of Bleaker and Crosby. On May 12th, 1857, Florence Nightingale's 37th birthday, 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:29.120 the New York Infirmary for Women and Children opened. 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:36.640 Emily delivered a series of lectures for women which attracted significant attention. 00:09:36.640 --> 00:09:41.840 She had also successfully lobbied New York State for a grant that was instrumental to the financial 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:45.920 stability of the infirmary and continued to display her talents as a surgeon. 00:09:45.920 --> 00:09:52.000 Emily's success at managing the infirmary reassured Elizabeth as she set off for Europe, 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:57.360 leaving Emily in charge. Under Emily's watch, the infirmary continued to grow. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:02.480 In 1861, the Civil War began. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:09.520 Emily and Elizabeth called for an informal meeting at the infirmary on April 25th. 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:14.160 The results of this meeting grew into the Women's Central Association for Relief. 00:10:14.160 --> 00:10:20.080 Emily, Elizabeth, and the thousands of people who came to support the association 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:24.160 were tasked with collecting aid for the soldiers, managing supplies, 00:10:24.160 --> 00:10:26.240 and selecting women to serve as nurses. 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:32.160 As the war continued, Elizabeth and her sister were reminded of their purpose, 00:10:32.160 --> 00:10:37.760 ensuring women access to the same high-quality medical education as men. 00:10:38.560 --> 00:10:43.920 The sisters worked tirelessly for years, and on November 2nd, 1868, 00:10:43.920 --> 00:10:47.840 the Women's Medical College of the New York Infirmary opened. 00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:55.760 Just as their lifelong dream became a reality, the two sisters' paths began to diverge. 00:10:55.760 --> 00:11:01.520 Elizabeth was ready to leave the infirmary for good, and Emily was ready to be in charge. 00:11:01.520 --> 00:11:08.320 Her sister moved to Europe in 1868, and Emily became the chair of obstetrics at the college. 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:13.680 Elizabeth left before the first class of women had even graduated from their college. 00:11:13.680 --> 00:11:20.640 It was now Emily's school. She would continue to be the steady and dedicated leader as a chair, 00:11:20.640 --> 00:11:26.560 trustee, and later dean of the growing infirmary and college for over 30 years. 00:11:26.560 --> 00:11:31.600 In the early years after Elizabeth's departure, 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:34.720 it was not an easy task for Emily to manage all of this on her own. 00:11:35.280 --> 00:11:39.120 I am utterly unwilling to be so overworked and harassed with detail, 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:43.920 to live in the midst of students and patients, the interests of my practice 00:11:43.920 --> 00:11:49.760 and the school interfering and clashing, and my personal life entirely suppressed. 00:11:49.760 --> 00:11:52.320 Still, she pressed on. 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:59.040 As the school continued to grow, Emily was joined at the college by Mary Putnam, 00:11:59.040 --> 00:12:01.680 a prominent physician who had just returned from Paris. 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:05.680 With Mary and a class of new promising students, 00:12:05.680 --> 00:12:08.720 Emily finally found time to focus on her personal life. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:16.080 In 1870, Emily adopted a baby and named her Hannah after her mother, who had passed that same year. 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:20.240 She wrote to Elizabeth's adopted daughter Kitty about Hannah, 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:22.240 who was called Nanny within the family. 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:27.440 She is a bright, sociable, affectionate little thing and a wonderful little pet. 00:12:30.560 --> 00:12:36.080 Also that same year, a new student arrived at the college. Her name was Elizabeth Cusher. 00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:41.920 Under Emily, Dr. Cusher earned her medical degree from the college in 1872, 00:12:41.920 --> 00:12:46.800 and after a brief stint in Europe to complete her further studies, 00:12:46.800 --> 00:12:49.520 she remained by Emily's side for the rest of her life. 00:12:49.520 --> 00:12:55.200 It was in Dr. Cusher that Emily found the companionship she had been so desperately 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:56.720 seeking for her entire life. 00:12:59.680 --> 00:13:02.800 And it seems as if she had been waiting for her for a lifetime. 00:13:02.800 --> 00:13:08.960 Emily carried a deep respect and admiration for Dr. Cusher 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:12.240 as a skillful surgeon and colleague and as her closest friend. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:24.800 Their relationship was undoubtedly full of love. 00:13:24.800 --> 00:13:28.240 The last days have been busy ones, dearest. 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:31.520 By this time next week, you will be quietly settled in just what will then be 00:13:31.520 --> 00:13:33.520 the nicest little house in the world. 00:13:33.520 --> 00:13:37.200 And my own dear doctor, what a happy winter we shall have. 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:43.760 Dr. Cusher and Emily Blackwell lived together until her death. 00:13:43.760 --> 00:13:52.480 They both continued working at the infirmary and college until 1899. 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:57.680 Emily was now 73 and it was decided that the women's medical college of the 00:13:57.680 --> 00:14:00.080 New York Infirmary had achieved its goal. 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:04.080 Medical schools across America were opening their doors to women. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:07.200 The college would close in 1899. 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:10.560 The infirmary however remained until 1981. 00:14:10.560 --> 00:14:14.800 The year the college closed, Emily and Elizabeth Cusher 00:14:14.800 --> 00:14:16.560 retired together and left for Europe. 00:14:16.560 --> 00:14:21.760 When they returned, they continued to live together in their new home in Montclair, 00:14:21.760 --> 00:14:25.360 New Jersey and would spend summers in their home in York Cliff's Main. 00:14:27.520 --> 00:14:32.880 Emily died in September of 1910, only a few months after her sister Elizabeth. 00:14:32.880 --> 00:14:37.680 Thus the years happily passed until in 1910. 00:14:37.680 --> 00:14:43.680 A sad blow came in the death of Dr. Blackwell, making an irreparable break in my life. 00:14:43.680 --> 00:14:55.040 In 1911, thousands gathered to celebrate the lives of both Elizabeth and Dr. Emily Blackwell. 00:14:55.760 --> 00:15:02.000 Today, over 100 years later, women make up more than 55% of all medical students in the United 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:05.200 States, undoubtedly thanks in part to the work of Emily. 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:14.400 For her perseverance, leadership and dedication to the medical profession and women's health, 00:15:14.400 --> 00:15:19.360 Dr. Emily Blackwell, the third woman to earn a medical degree in the United States, 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:20.720 will never be forgotten. 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:24.720 [Music] 00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:34.720 [Music] 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:56.720 [Music] 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:58.720 [MUSIC]