Mary Elizabeth Bennett Ritter (June 7, 1860 – March 17, 1949) was an American physician and an advocate for women's rights and public health issues in Berkeley, California. She was known as a pioneer in her time because women were largely excluded from medical training and employment. Despite restricted access, Ritter built a successful private practice. She also advocated for women in medical professions, training for nurses, and sanitation standards in hospitals and doctor's offices. She helped start the Pacific Dispensary for Women and Children, free clinics for poor women and children. In 1933, she published her autobiography, More Than Gold in California.
Ritter was born Mary Elizabeth Bennett in Salinas, California. She was the daughter of farmers, William Bennett and Abigail Noble Bennett, who did not support her ambition to become a doctor.[1] Before entering medical school, Ritter earned an independent income, which she saved to pay for educational expenses. In 1886, she earned her medical degree from Cooper Medical College in San Francisco, which is now Stanford School of Medicine.
Bennett remained in the Bay Area and built a successful personal practice for 20 years. She treated both rich and poor on a sliding scale and was known to provide free services for those most in need. In addition to her medical practice, Ritter was also an advocate. In 1891, she worked with women medical students of the University of California (UC) in Berkeley, with funding from Phoebe Hearst, the only woman on the UC Board of Regents, in order to build a gymnasium for women students.[1] She also advocated for better housing for women students. In 1935, UC Berkeley awarded Ritter an honorary Ph.D. for her work as an unofficial first dean of women.[2]
She married zoologist William Emerson Ritter on June 23, 1891.[1] In 1909, Mary Ritter retired from her medical practice and moved to La Jolla, California, where her husband was employed. In La Jolla, She continued her advocacy work and gave many lectures about public health issues as well as woman and infant care.[2]
Ritter wrote an autobiography called More than Gold in California, detailing her work as a physician, her work as a women's advocate, and her role as a partner in her husband's biological projects.
More than Gold in California. Berkeley: Professional Press, 1933.
Medical Student and Intern, in: Recollections of Cooper Medical College (1883-1905), by Mary B. Ritter, George Blumer, Louis F. Alvarez, and Walter C. Alvarez. Palo Alto: Stanford Medical School, 1964.
Referencesedit
^ abcRitter, Mary (1933). More than Gold in California.
"Ritter, Mary Bennett". socialarchive.iath.virginia.edu. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012.
Day, Deborah (21 June 2002). Mary Elizabeth Bennett Ritter Biography (PDF) (Report). Scripps Institution of Oceanography Archives.
December 07, 2023
mary, bennett, ritter, mary, elizabeth, bennett, ritter, june, 1860, march, 1949, american, physician, advocate, women, rights, public, health, issues, berkeley, california, known, pioneer, time, because, women, were, largely, excluded, from, medical, training. Mary Elizabeth Bennett Ritter June 7 1860 March 17 1949 was an American physician and an advocate for women s rights and public health issues in Berkeley California She was known as a pioneer in her time because women were largely excluded from medical training and employment Despite restricted access Ritter built a successful private practice She also advocated for women in medical professions training for nurses and sanitation standards in hospitals and doctor s offices She helped start the Pacific Dispensary for Women and Children free clinics for poor women and children In 1933 she published her autobiography More Than Gold in California Mary Bennett RitterRitter on her 87th birthday in 1946BornMary Elizabeth Bennett 1860 06 07 June 7 1860Salinas CaliforniaDied 1949 03 17 March 17 1949Mountain View CaliforniaNationalityAmericanEducationStanford School of MedicineOccupationPhysicianTitleM D Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 3 References 4 External linksBiography editRitter was born Mary Elizabeth Bennett in Salinas California She was the daughter of farmers William Bennett and Abigail Noble Bennett who did not support her ambition to become a doctor 1 Before entering medical school Ritter earned an independent income which she saved to pay for educational expenses In 1886 she earned her medical degree from Cooper Medical College in San Francisco which is now Stanford School of Medicine Bennett remained in the Bay Area and built a successful personal practice for 20 years She treated both rich and poor on a sliding scale and was known to provide free services for those most in need In addition to her medical practice Ritter was also an advocate In 1891 she worked with women medical students of the University of California UC in Berkeley with funding from Phoebe Hearst the only woman on the UC Board of Regents in order to build a gymnasium for women students 1 She also advocated for better housing for women students In 1935 UC Berkeley awarded Ritter an honorary Ph D for her work as an unofficial first dean of women 2 She married zoologist William Emerson Ritter on June 23 1891 1 In 1909 Mary Ritter retired from her medical practice and moved to La Jolla California where her husband was employed In La Jolla She continued her advocacy work and gave many lectures about public health issues as well as woman and infant care 2 Ritter wrote an autobiography called More than Gold in California detailing her work as a physician her work as a women s advocate and her role as a partner in her husband s biological projects Ritter died in Mountain View California Works editMore than Gold in California Berkeley Professional Press 1933 Medical Student and Intern in Recollections of Cooper Medical College 1883 1905 by Mary B Ritter George Blumer Louis F Alvarez and Walter C Alvarez Palo Alto Stanford Medical School 1964 References edit a b c Ritter Mary 1933 More than Gold in California a b Day Deborah Mary Ritter biography PDF External links edit Ritter Mary Bennett socialarchive iath virginia edu Archived from the original on 15 December 2012 Day Deborah 21 June 2002 Mary Elizabeth Bennett Ritter Biography PDF Report Scripps Institution of Oceanography Archives Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary Bennett Ritter amp oldid 1114758095, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
