Doctor or Doctress?

Explore American history through the eyes of women physicians

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A photograph of Dr. Mabel Elliott examining a young boy.  Verso reads: This because a case of diseased joints, and was almost hopeless. See picture 13a showing the same boy after 3 months treatment at the AWH. at Ismidx.

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“Millions of refugees, almost totally without men”: The American Women’s Hospitals and the Fire of Smyrna

The years following the end of World War I were a time of great geographical and social change throughout the world, including Eastern Europe and Western Asia. In the war’s aftermath, the Ottoman Empire was dissolved and divided among the Allied Powers. In 1922, amidst this political, religious, and ethnic upheaval, the Turkish port city of Smyrna (now Izmir) was set ablaze, resulting in tens of thousands of people--mostly Greek and Armenian women and children--fleeing the destroyed city and gathering on the docks to board ships bound for Greece. These refugees ended up in living in outdoor camps on the tiny, barren Greek island of Macronissi (now called Makronisos), where there were no existing sources of shelter, food, water, or medical care.  In 1922, the American Women’s Hospitals established services on Macronissi to care for the refugees from Smyrna.  Dr. Mabel Elliott was the Near East medical director for the American Women's Hospitals during and after the first World War, treating refugees and orphans throughout Turkey, Armenia and Greece.

The refugees were badly in need of medical care, food, and shelter.  The women of AWH raised money and volunteered to travel abroad to provide medical services to devastated populations.

Creator: American Women's Hospitals

Language: english

Item Number: a144_181

Pages: 2

Size: 14.27 x 9.52cm

Physical Collection: Records of American Women`s Hospitals 1917-1982, ACC-144

Finding Aid: http://dla.library.upenn.edu/dla/pacscl/detail.html?id=PACSCL_DUCOM_WMSC144

Link to OPAC Record: http://innopac.library.drexel.edu/search/c?SEARCH=ACC-144

Cite this source: Title of document, date. The American Women’s Hospitals and the Fire of Smyrna: Millions of refugees, almost totally without men. Doctor or Doctress?: Explore American history through the eyes of women physicians. The Legacy Center, Drexel University College of Medicine Archives & Special Collections. Philadelphia, PA. Date of access. http://lcdc.library.drexel.edu/islandora/object/islandora:1492

American Women's Hospitals

Elliott, Mabel Evelyn, b. 1881

Missionaries, Medical--Turkey

Hospitals--Turkey--Izmit

Izmir (Turkey), Nineteen twenties, -- Refugees

Macronissi (Makronisos), Greece