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Phoebe Jane Babcock Wait (September 30, 1838 - 1904) was an American physician.
Early life
Phoebe Jane Babcock Wait was born in
Westerly, Rhode Island
Westerly is a town on the southwestern shoreline of Washington County, Rhode Island, first settled by English colonists in 1661 and incorporated as a municipality in 1669. It is a beachfront community on the south shore of the state with a popula ...
, on September 30, 1838. She was one of a family of eight daughters and three sons.
Career
Her early education was acquired in the district school, and after teaching for two years she entered
Alfred University
Alfred University is a private university in Alfred (village), New York, Alfred, New York. It has a total undergraduate population of approximately 1,600 students. The university hosts the New York State College of Ceramics, which includes The ...
,
Alfred (village), New York
Alfred is a village located in the town of Alfred in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 4,174 at the 2010 census. The village lies in the north-central part of the town of Alfred on the eastern edge of Allegany County. ...
, and received the degree of A. B.
She was afterwards a teacher in the Institute for the Blind in New York City. She spent her married life at the Institute, but her influence flowed outward into wider channels. Recognizing the need of a broader and more practical education for women, in 1868 she entered the
New York Medical College
New York Medical College (NYMC or New York Med) is a private medical school in Valhalla, New York. Founded in 1860, it is a member of the Touro College and University System.
NYMC offers advanced degrees through its three schools: the School o ...
and Hospital for Women, in New York City.
In 1871 she received the degree of M D. In 1869 Alfred University conferred upon her the degree of A. M., recognizing her merit. Wait rendered valuable service in church work and for ten years she was president of the
Dorcas Society of her local church and she was one of the managers of the Baptist Home for the Aged.
She was a member of the national and county medical societies, showing in her essays on medical and kindred topics ability and originality in step with medical progress. In 1879 she received the diploma of the New York Ophthalmic Hospital and College.
In 1880 she was elected to the chair of obstetrics in the New York Medical College and Hospital for Women. In that special line of medical work she was best known, and in it she showed exceptional skill and ability. In 1883 she was made chairman of the hospital staff, which position she held uninterruptedly for many years. Upon the death of
Clemence Sophia Harned Lozier, the founder and dean of the college, Wait was elected by the faculty to the vacant office. The value of her work for women increased with her years of service.
She was a leading member of a number of societies having in view humanitarian objects. She was secretary of the Society for Promoting the Welfare of the Insane, and was also a member of the consulting staff of the Brooklyn Woman's Homeopathic Hospital.
She was a member of the New York County Homeopathic Medical Society, the American Institute of Homoepathy, the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) is an international temperance organization, originating among women in the United States Prohibition movement. It was among the first organizations of women devoted to social reform with a program th ...
, Phalo,
Sorosis
Sorosis Club rules in 1869
Sorosis was the first professional women's club in the United States. It was established in March 1868 in New York City.
History
The club was organized in New York City with 12 members in March 1868, by Jane Cunningham ...
and other clubs.
Personal life
In 1863 Phoebe Jane Babcock Wait became the wife of William B. Wait, the superintendent of the Institute for the Blind in New York City.
She was the mother of seven children, of whom four daughters died young.
Surviving children are: Mrs. Frank Battles, Dr. Oliver B. Wait and William Bell Wait, Jr.
She died in 1904 and is buried at First Hopkinton Cemetery,
Hopkinton, Rhode Island
Hopkinton is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island. The population was 8,398 at the 2020 census.
History
Hopkinton is named after Stephen Hopkins, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who was governor of the Colony of Rhode Island a ...
.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wait, Phoebe Jane Babcock
American women physicians
1838 births
1904 deaths
Wikipedia articles incorporating text from A Woman of the Century