Kate Campbell Hurd-Mead

Kate Campbell Hurd-Mead

Kate Campbell Hurd-Mead (April 6, 1867 – January 1, 1941) was an American physician, feminist, and medical historian. She is best known for her work in promoting the role of women in medicine and for her historical research on women physicians.

Early Life and Education

Kate Campbell Hurd was born in Danville, Quebec, Canada, to Dr. Edward Payson Hurd and Mary Ward Hurd. She moved with her family to Newburyport, Massachusetts, where her father practiced medicine. Hurd-Mead attended the Putnam Free School in Newburyport and later graduated from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1888.

Medical Career

After completing her medical degree, Hurd-Mead interned at the New England Hospital for Women and Children in Boston, Massachusetts. She then traveled to Europe to further her medical education, studying in Paris, Vienna, and London. Upon returning to the United States, she established a successful practice in Norwich, Connecticut.

Hurd-Mead was a pioneer in advocating for women's health and was actively involved in various medical organizations. She was a member of the American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association, and the Medical Women's International Association. She also served as president of the American Medical Women's Association.

Contributions to Medical History

Hurd-Mead is perhaps best known for her contributions to the history of women in medicine. She authored the seminal work A History of Women in Medicine: From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century, published in 1938. This book remains a crucial resource for understanding the contributions of women to the field of medicine throughout history.

Feminism and Advocacy

In addition to her medical practice and historical research, Hurd-Mead was a staunch advocate for women's rights. She was involved in the women's suffrage movement and worked tirelessly to promote the education and professional development of women physicians. She believed that women had a unique and essential role to play in the medical profession and fought against the barriers that limited their opportunities.

Personal Life

Kate Campbell Hurd married Dr. William Edward Mead in 1893. The couple had two children. Hurd-Mead continued to practice medicine and engage in her historical research until her death in 1941.

Legacy

Hurd-Mead's work has had a lasting impact on the field of medical history and the recognition of women in medicine. Her dedication to documenting the achievements of women physicians has ensured that their contributions are remembered and celebrated.

See Also

• Women in medicine
• History of medicine
• Women's suffrage in the United States
• American Medical Women's Association