In honor of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910), the first woman in America to receive the Doctor of Medicine degree, the Elizabeth Blackwell Award is given by Hobart and William Smith Colleges to a woman whose life exemplifies outstanding service to humanity.
Two aspects of Elizabeth Blackwell’s own story guide the selections of honorees: first, Dr. Blackwell was a woman whose life opened doors to other women, by conspicuous professional achievement in a previously male-dominated occupation.
Second, she lived a life of service, in which her talents and skills were offered to aid and benefit others. Recipients of the Elizabeth Blackwell Award are women who have achieved and women who have served.
In 1949, Hobart and William Smith Colleges celebrated the 100th anniversary of Blackwell's graduation by presenting the Elizabeth Blackwell Centennial Award to 12 internationally famous female doctors.
In 1958, Hobart and William Smith joined in the creation of the Elizabeth Blackwell Award. The award was first given in 1958 (at the 50th anniversary Convocation of William Smith College) to Gwendolyn Grant Mellon, medical missionary and founder of Hôpital Albert Schweitzer in Haiti.
Since then, distinguished women from around the world have been honored with the Elizabeth Blackwell Award for outstanding service to humanity. You can read about each of the awardees at right.
April 24, 2008
Dr. Wangari Maathai P '94, P '96, Sc.D. '94.
April 27, 2007
Dr. Priscilla A. Schaffer '64, Sc.D. '94
September 7, 2004
Bishop Barbara Clementine Harris
September 9, 2003
Loretta C. Ford
September 4, 2001
Madeline K. Albright
May 15, 1998
Billie Jean King
February 10, 1996
Wilma Mankiller
September 23, 1993
Barbara Jordan
September 27, 1991
Margaret Chase Smith
February 22, 1991
Dr. Antonia C. Novello
February 19, 1988
Barbara Aronstein Black
October 9, 1985
Cicely Saunders
March 8, 1985
Sandra Day O’Connor
February 11, 1984
Hannah Holborn Gray
February 26, 1982
Agnes George de Mille
February 15, 1980
Mary Douglas Leakey
September 30, 1977
Mary S. Calderone
October 3, 1975
Antonia Brico
Janurary 23, 1974
Frances Keller Harding
May 28, 1973
Judith Graham Pool
June 8, 1972
Marian Anderson
April 10, 1972
Mary Lasker
June 13, 1971
Mina Rees
June 14, 1970
Helen Brooke Taussig
June 15, 1969
Georgiana Sibley
June 16, 1968
Constance Baker Motley
September 8, 1967
Catharine Macfarlane
July 10, 1966
Fe del Mundo
June 13, 1965
Annette LeMeitour-Kaplun
June 14, 1964
Margaret Mead
June 9, 1963
Marty Mann
June 10, 1962
Frances Perkins
June 18,1961
Leona Baumgartner
June 12, 1960
Miki Sawada
June 14, 1959
Elisabeth Luce Moore
September 27, 1958
Gwendolyn Grant Mellon