Letter from Elizabeth Blackwell to Anna Q. T. Parsons, Oct. 29, 1847

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This is a scanned version of the original document in the Abernethy Manuscripts Collection at Middlebury College.

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[Elizabeth Blackwell Phil. Pa. Nov 6th 47 23 Ans A.Q.T.P May 8th 48]

Philadelphia Oct 29th 1847.

My dear Miss Parsons

Mr Kay brought me your letter addressed to the Women of the Union of Associationists, as unfortunately I am the sole representative of womankind in the associative movement of Philadelphia. Your first letter remained unanswered because we had reason to hope, that some ladies who seemed interested in the cause, would join the movement, and so form the body, to which strictly speaking your letter was addressed, but we are disappointed in the expectation, and I will therefore answer your letter in informal friendship.

Of my unbounded sympathy in your views and plans, I can most cordially assure you. Association is to me, the great hope of the world, the realization of those vague aspirational & grand prophetic visions, which in all ages, have reflected on mankind, beams of the coming day. To labor successfully in hastening the time of universal freedom & harmony, I my highest ambition, & I have devoted my life to this work.

The path I have chosen, is a singular one, & may perhaps interest you, as the strong desire to labor for the cause of Universal Unity is the spring of my action, which though unusual, will I hope promote our great object. In striving to open the Profession of Medicine to women, I hope to render our sex, a true service.

We are now cramped on every side; crowded into a few occupations, with no scope for varied talent, or the acquisition of wealth

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and with no chance of escape from the beaten track, hedged in with prejudices and false views of life. By my example I hope to point the way, to a new honorable, & lucrative field of action which shall be occupied by a strong body of independent thoughtful women, who having bravely won a sphere of action which most appropriately belonged to them, will be champions of reform, a powerful aid to their sisters, in quietly trampling upon false adages & taking with firm dignity, whatever rightfully belongs to them.

It is a sad but true thought, that the false social positions of women is in a great measure, their own fault. Let them awake from their slumber, clearly see the truth, & resolve to live it, & I really believe the world is saved. This awakening, I hope to aid in, & by influence & fortune, work slowly for the right.

My resolution, to obtain a thorough, medical education & the degree of Doctor, is surrounded by so many difficulties, as to seem almost impossible of attainment. I have been striving to accomplish this purpose month after month, meeting continually with new obstacles & disappointments - I have however at last been encouraged, by a unanimous motivation from the students of a flourishing medical school in the state of New York, to become a member of their Institution, and I shall probably soon leave Philadelphia, for the purpose of accepting the offer.

You must excuse my intruding private affairs, upon, you, a stranger, but, I thought my faith in the cause & my method of aiding it, might meet with your sympathy.

Your plan of a sale, seemed to me wise - I heartily wish I could effectually aid it - but my time is fully occupied, & I have endeavored in vain to enlist the assistance of other ladies - they are

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sadly blind to their true interests - happily, in the warfare between truth & error, numbered are of no avail, and one strong heart, may prove the destroying angel, to hosts of darkness. Let us work then in faith & love - we are few but earnest & He that is for us, is mightier than, he that is against us.

Yrs in true Sympathy

Elizabeth Blackwell

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Hope Ins

Paid

[postmark: PHILA OCT 30 10cts]

Miss Anna. Q. T. Parsons. Boston. Mass.

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