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I was at Aldi's returning my cart when a sweet woman came up to me and said, "Here! Take my quarter." It turned out to be one I hadn't seen before—the Dr. Mary Edwards Walker US quarter. Oh yay!
Mary Edwards Walker made history as the first female surgeon in the U.S. Army during the Civil War, where she served as a unpaid, contract surgeon despite women being barred from the military. Born in 1832, she earned her medical degree from Syracuse Medical College in 1855, one of the few women to do so at the time. During the war, she worked tirelessly for the Union, even being captured by Confederate forces and held as a prisoner of war for several months. She was released during a prisoner swap. In 1865, Walker was awarded the Medal of Honor for her bravery. The U.S. War Department revoked it in 1917 for not meeting the military criteria, but it was restored by Congress in 1977 after a long campaign by historians and advocates who argued that her service and achievements were deserving of the recognition. According to the Smithsonian Institution, she remains the only American Woman to receive the military decoration.
Mary was also a passionate advocate for women's rights, especially when it came to dress reform. She rejected the restrictive clothing of her time and championed the right for women to wear more practical attire, like pants.
On a side note, I'd like express gratitude for women like Mary Edwards Walker, Amelia Bloomer, and Elizabeth Smith Miller, all of whom played pivotal roles in advocating for more practical, less restrictive clothing for women!
Walker's defiance of gender norms extended to her personal and professional life, where her choices often clashed with society’s expectations. Her unconventional lifestyle, including her decision to wear men's clothing, contributed to the breakdown of her marriage to Albert Miller, who struggled with her defiance of societal norms.
Mary passed away on February 21, 1919, at the age of 87 in Oswego, New York. What an extraordinary life she led—one marked by being a prisoner of war, a relentless defiance of societal norms, and an unwavering commitment to helping others through her medical work. Her story inspires me! Unfortunately, her quote rings true: we often wait too long to recognize great people. But perhaps this little post will help bring her remarkable story to light just a bit more.
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| Located on her statue by the entrance of Oswego Town Hall |
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| Holloman Air Force Base display |
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| Post Civil War - "reform dress"-shortened dress with bloomer pants |
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| Circa 1911 - often seen in a man's top coat and hat |
