Lydia Folger Fowler

Lydia Folger Fowler (May 5, 1822 – January 26, 1879) was an American physician, lecturer, and reformer, notable for being the second woman to earn a medical degree in the United States and the first American-born woman to receive such a degree. Her contributions to medicine, education, and women's rights have made her a significant figure in American history.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Lydia Folger was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, into a prominent Quaker family. Her early education was influenced by the Quaker belief in equality and education for all. She attended the Wheaton Female Seminary (now Wheaton College) in Norton, Massachusetts, where she excelled in her studies.

Career[edit | edit source]

After completing her education at Wheaton, Folger began her career as a teacher. However, her interest in medicine, inspired by the early death of her sister from tuberculosis, led her to pursue a career in the medical field. In 1849, she enrolled at the Central Medical College in Syracuse, New York, one of the few medical schools at the time that admitted women. She graduated in 1850, becoming the second woman in the United States to earn a medical degree. Following her graduation, Dr. Lydia Folger Fowler moved to New York City, where she opened a medical practice specializing in diseases of women and children. She also became a lecturer at the New York Hygeio-Therapeutic College, where she was the first woman to hold a professorship in an American medical college.

Activism and Reform[edit | edit source]

In addition to her medical practice and academic career, Fowler was an active advocate for women's rights and education. She was involved in the women's suffrage movement and worked to promote educational opportunities for women in the sciences. Fowler also wrote several books and pamphlets on health, hygiene, and women's rights, contributing to the growing discourse on these topics.

Personal Life[edit | edit source]

In 1844, Lydia Folger married Lorenzo Niles Fowler, a well-known phrenologist. The couple shared a commitment to reform and education, and they often collaborated on lectures and publications. They moved to England in the late 1850s, where Lydia continued her medical practice and her advocacy work.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Lydia Folger Fowler's pioneering work in medicine and her advocacy for women's rights have left a lasting legacy. She broke barriers for women in the medical profession and contributed to the broader movement for women's equality. Her life and work continue to inspire those who advocate for gender equality and access to education for all.