Dr. Mary Walker, featured on this postcard, was photographed by Jessie Tarbox Beals (1870–1942) in 1915. The postcard commemorates the exhibition Women's Work, on view July 21, 2023 - July 7, 2024
This portrait of suffragist and surgeon Dr. Mary Walker (1832–1919) shows several medals pinned to her coat—including the Congressional Medal of Honor, awarded by President Andrew Johnson for her service during the Civil War, when she worked as a War Department surgeon in field hospitals and prisons. Despite constant harassment and several arrests, Dr. Walker wore trousers, jackets, and a top hat throughout her life, insisting that women's clothing was uncomfortable and impractical for her line of work.
The Center for Women’s History new exhibition showcases approximately 45 objects from New-York Historical’s own Museum and Library collections to demonstrate how “women’s work” defies categorization. Curated by the Center for Women’s History curatorial staff and fellows.
