The Doctors Blackwell: How Two Pioneering Sisters Brought Medicine to Women — and Women to Medicine 

By Janice P. Nimura

Published by W.W. Norton, 2021, 336 pages

Reviewed by Jill Norgren

Social change unfolds in many ways pushed along by social movements, catastrophic events such as war and, of course, technology.  In her excellent new biography, The Doctors Blackwell, Janice Nimura documents another important force for change: individuals. In this book, written with grace and clarity, Nimura describes how the Blackwells brought women to medicine and medicine to women. 

In 1849 Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman physician in the United States after successfully completing medical school. Several years later, Emily, her younger sister, followed Elizabeth into clinical practice after also completing a medical education. The sisters, born in England, had immigrated to the United States in 1832 with their family. They grew up in a close, intellectual, religious, and reform minded community of parents, siblings, and friends. (Above, Elizabeth Blackwell)

Elizabeth’s mind bent toward philosophy. After a dying woman friend suggested that sick women would be better treated if there were female doctors, however, Blackwell developed an interest in medicine, and eventually a challenge, that she  had to follow. The journey was not going to be easy.

Mid-nineteenth century medical schools were rudimentary institutions of learning and fiercely patriarchal. Despite her fine mind, Elizabeth failed to win admission at several. Only through a Shakespearean comedy of errors — students were asked if they would admit a woman — did twenty-six year old Elizabeth receive an invitation to study at the Geneva Medical College in upstate New York. It does not take much imagination to conjure life as a pioneering woman student in the small village of Geneva in which the townspeople, Nimura relates, thought her wicked or insane. Recall that, at this time, most women would not speak up publicly in mixed company much less listen to lectures about male and female physiology. Nimura describes Elizabeth’s first months at Geneva as “grueling, lonely and uncomfortable.”

Much of what sustained Blackwell, separate from a formidable intellect, was her personal philosophy. As a young woman Blackwell wrote “I know I am one of the Elect.” Later, she says that the highest must suffer for the sins of the lowest. She dedicates her life to redeeming humanity. As a strong woman, she sees herself obliged to lead other women. Nevertheless, she had no interest in contributing to the emerging American women’s movement.  Instead, in her last year of medical studies Elizabeth writes to her bright younger sister Emily, “join me in my cause.” In February of 1854 Emily, too, has fought her way to a medical degree. Like Elizabeth before her, Emily pursues further clinical training in Europe and then the two sisters begin the daunting challenge of establishing themselves as doctors in New York City, operating a small clinical practice. (Below, Emily Blackwell)

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