Toward a History of Us All: Women Physicians and Historians of Medicine
A feminist historian of medicine recounts the efforts of early-20th-century women in science who spearheaded a research project detailing the history of medical women in the US. In 1925, the American Medical Women's National Assoc founded the Committee of the History of Medicine. Headed by Kate Hurd-Mead, who gave up a clinical practice to devote herself to research, the committee remained active until 1941, making the writing of history an important part of the political agenda of women physicians. It is contended that the fact their ambitious work has largely been ignored by male historians makes it historically & politically imperative to establish a history of feminist historians of science & medicine that acknowledges the symbolic & political roles played by feminist historians who documented feminine medical/scientific authority. It is suggested that reevaluating the historiographical project implemented by Hurd-Mead's committee within the historical context of a time when women were discouraged from becoming physicians places the experiences of these women at the core of the history of medicine. 26 References. J. Lindroth