Parents: Amos Preston 1786-1856 and Margaret Smith 1791-1863
DR. ANN PRESTON By Ann Preston Patnaude
Ann Preston was born December 1, 1813 at West Grove, PA., the daughter of Amos and Margaret Smith Preston. She attended a Quaker boarding school, but dropped out to return home and care for her ailing mother. By the norms of her time, even her limited education was far better than most girls received, but she yearned for more. She studied on her own at the local library, taught girls' hygiene to all-female classes, and apprenticed for two years with local physician Nathaniel R. Moseley. She then applied for admission to several medical schools, but was rejected because of her gender. At her urging, local Quakers then established the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, where Preston earned her medical degree in 1851. In 1858, when the Pennsylvania Medical society banned women from providing doctors' services at hospitals, she began soliciting contributions to establish a Women's Hospital for clinical training, and Philadelphia Women's Hospital opened its doors in 1862. In 1866 Preston was named Dean of Women's Medical College, making her the first female Dean of any medical school, and under her leadership the college became the first to admit women regardless of race. In addition to her medical career, she was an active abolitionist. Dr. Preston died April 18, 1872 in
Philadelphia. The Medical College of Pennsylvania, formerly in Philadelphia; chartered and opened 1850 as the Female
Medical College of Pennsylvania; became Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania 1867, Medical College of
Pennsylvania 1970. It was the first women's medical college in the world. In 1970 it began accepting male
students. The school merged (1993) with Hahnemann Univ., becoming the MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine of Allegheny Univ. of the Health Sciences, and was acquired in 1998 by Tenet Healthcare Corp., becoming MCP Hahnemann Univ. In 2002, Drexel University assumed operation of the school, which became the Drexel College of Medicine. Prior to 1833 was a member of the Clarkson Anti Slavery Society, which held its meetings quarterly at different points in Chester and Lancaster Counties. In 1838 she attended the meeting held in Philadelphia for the dedication of Pennsylvania Hall, erected for the purposes of free discussion. Her poem, entitled 'The Burning of Pennsylvania Hall' (by a mob) was one of the 2 selected from several hundred for
publication in the 'History of Pennsylvania Hall'. In 1848 she published a small book of poems for children, entitled 'Cousin Ann's Stories', which have become a classic in children's literature.
DR. ANN PRESTON By Ann Preston Patnaude
Ann Preston was born December 1, 1813 at West Grove, PA., the daughter of Amos and Margaret Smith Preston. She attended a Quaker boarding school, but dropped out to return home and care for her ailing mother. By the norms of her time, even her limited education was far better than most girls received, but she yearned for more. She studied on her own at the local library, taught girls' hygiene to all-female classes, and apprenticed for two years with local physician Nathaniel R. Moseley. She then applied for admission to several medical schools, but was rejected because of her gender. At her urging, local Quakers then established the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, where Preston earned her medical degree in 1851. In 1858, when the Pennsylvania Medical society banned women from providing doctors' services at hospitals, she began soliciting contributions to establish a Women's Hospital for clinical training, and Philadelphia Women's Hospital opened its doors in 1862. In 1866 Preston was named Dean of Women's Medical College, making her the first female Dean of any medical school, and under her leadership the college became the first to admit women regardless of race. In addition to her medical career, she was an active abolitionist. Dr. Preston died April 18, 1872 in
Philadelphia. The Medical College of Pennsylvania, formerly in Philadelphia; chartered and opened 1850 as the Female
Medical College of Pennsylvania; became Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania 1867, Medical College of
Pennsylvania 1970. It was the first women's medical college in the world. In 1970 it began accepting male
students. The school merged (1993) with Hahnemann Univ., becoming the MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine of Allegheny Univ. of the Health Sciences, and was acquired in 1998 by Tenet Healthcare Corp., becoming MCP Hahnemann Univ. In 2002, Drexel University assumed operation of the school, which became the Drexel College of Medicine. Prior to 1833 was a member of the Clarkson Anti Slavery Society, which held its meetings quarterly at different points in Chester and Lancaster Counties. In 1838 she attended the meeting held in Philadelphia for the dedication of Pennsylvania Hall, erected for the purposes of free discussion. Her poem, entitled 'The Burning of Pennsylvania Hall' (by a mob) was one of the 2 selected from several hundred for
publication in the 'History of Pennsylvania Hall'. In 1848 she published a small book of poems for children, entitled 'Cousin Ann's Stories', which have become a classic in children's literature.
Parents: Amos Preston 1786-1856 and Margaret Smith 1791-1863
DR. ANN PRESTON By Ann Preston Patnaude
Ann Preston was born December 1, 1813 at West Grove, PA., the daughter of Amos and Margaret Smith Preston. She attended a Quaker boarding school, but dropped out to return home and care for her ailing mother. By the norms of her time, even her limited education was far better than most girls received, but she yearned for more. She studied on her own at the local library, taught girls' hygiene to all-female classes, and apprenticed for two years with local physician Nathaniel R. Moseley. She then applied for admission to several medical schools, but was rejected because of her gender. At her urging, local Quakers then established the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, where Preston earned her medical degree in 1851. In 1858, when the Pennsylvania Medical society banned women from providing doctors' services at hospitals, she began soliciting contributions to establish a Women's Hospital for clinical training, and Philadelphia Women's Hospital opened its doors in 1862. In 1866 Preston was named Dean of Women's Medical College, making her the first female Dean of any medical school, and under her leadership the college became the first to admit women regardless of race. In addition to her medical career, she was an active abolitionist. Dr. Preston died April 18, 1872 in
Philadelphia. The Medical College of Pennsylvania, formerly in Philadelphia; chartered and opened 1850 as the Female
Medical College of Pennsylvania; became Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania 1867, Medical College of
Pennsylvania 1970. It was the first women's medical college in the world. In 1970 it began accepting male
students. The school merged (1993) with Hahnemann Univ., becoming the MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine of Allegheny Univ. of the Health Sciences, and was acquired in 1998 by Tenet Healthcare Corp., becoming MCP Hahnemann Univ. In 2002, Drexel University assumed operation of the school, which became the Drexel College of Medicine. Prior to 1833 was a member of the Clarkson Anti Slavery Society, which held its meetings quarterly at different points in Chester and Lancaster Counties. In 1838 she attended the meeting held in Philadelphia for the dedication of Pennsylvania Hall, erected for the purposes of free discussion. Her poem, entitled 'The Burning of Pennsylvania Hall' (by a mob) was one of the 2 selected from several hundred for
publication in the 'History of Pennsylvania Hall'. In 1848 she published a small book of poems for children, entitled 'Cousin Ann's Stories', which have become a classic in children's literature.
DR. ANN PRESTON By Ann Preston Patnaude
Ann Preston was born December 1, 1813 at West Grove, PA., the daughter of Amos and Margaret Smith Preston. She attended a Quaker boarding school, but dropped out to return home and care for her ailing mother. By the norms of her time, even her limited education was far better than most girls received, but she yearned for more. She studied on her own at the local library, taught girls' hygiene to all-female classes, and apprenticed for two years with local physician Nathaniel R. Moseley. She then applied for admission to several medical schools, but was rejected because of her gender. At her urging, local Quakers then established the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, where Preston earned her medical degree in 1851. In 1858, when the Pennsylvania Medical society banned women from providing doctors' services at hospitals, she began soliciting contributions to establish a Women's Hospital for clinical training, and Philadelphia Women's Hospital opened its doors in 1862. In 1866 Preston was named Dean of Women's Medical College, making her the first female Dean of any medical school, and under her leadership the college became the first to admit women regardless of race. In addition to her medical career, she was an active abolitionist. Dr. Preston died April 18, 1872 in
Philadelphia. The Medical College of Pennsylvania, formerly in Philadelphia; chartered and opened 1850 as the Female
Medical College of Pennsylvania; became Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania 1867, Medical College of
Pennsylvania 1970. It was the first women's medical college in the world. In 1970 it began accepting male
students. The school merged (1993) with Hahnemann Univ., becoming the MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine of Allegheny Univ. of the Health Sciences, and was acquired in 1998 by Tenet Healthcare Corp., becoming MCP Hahnemann Univ. In 2002, Drexel University assumed operation of the school, which became the Drexel College of Medicine. Prior to 1833 was a member of the Clarkson Anti Slavery Society, which held its meetings quarterly at different points in Chester and Lancaster Counties. In 1838 she attended the meeting held in Philadelphia for the dedication of Pennsylvania Hall, erected for the purposes of free discussion. Her poem, entitled 'The Burning of Pennsylvania Hall' (by a mob) was one of the 2 selected from several hundred for
publication in the 'History of Pennsylvania Hall'. In 1848 she published a small book of poems for children, entitled 'Cousin Ann's Stories', which have become a classic in children's literature.
