LETTER: ALS to Elwood Harvey re Female Medical College.
Mott, Lucretia. Autograph letter signed, “Lucretia Mott,” to Dr. Ellwood Harvey, Female Medical College, Philadelphia, [April or July] 7, 1853; two pages, 7.25” x 9.25”, Auburn, New York.
Mott tries to remain neutral in a scandal between two doctors at the Female Medical College in Philadelphia. In part:
I received thy letter two weeks since, and but for my reluctance to put pen to paper in the unhappy affairs of the Medical College & Dr. Longshore, I should have answered it immediately. I have written to Harriet A. Judd disclaiming any part or lot in the Penn College or any use that may be made of my name as giving countenance to Dr. Longshore’s coarseness. Had I known of the existing difficulties, I should not have become a subscriber to (& in that way only a member of) the Fem. Med. Educ. Society. It was only as one means of woman’s elevation that I was induced to give my name; not as expecting intelligently to co-operate with the Society - least of all to have any use made of it to promote the new college attempted to be established...If as thou thinks, such use is make of my recorded name, I should be quite willing to have equal publicity given to my disclaimer - while thou knows my great reluctance to appear as a partisan in your dissensions.. I have known little of Dr. Longshore personally. His labors for years in the Temperance cause when that movement was most unpopular, was worthy of praise, however wanting at time in prudence & good taste. His sister-in-law Hannah Longshore too has shown a perseverance under difficulties & obstacles which few women would have surmounted. For these reasons, I have felt reluctant to appear in any position antagonistic to their interests & temporal well being. If however, the charges against Dr. Longshore can be substantiated, I shall have no objection to a denial of any co-operation with him, appearing in a suitable public print. Thy friend, Lucretia Mott.
Though the specifics of the “difficulties” Mott refers to are unknown, they culminated in a libel
suit filed by Dr. Joseph Skelton Longshore against Dr. Ellwood Harvey, both doctors at the Female
Medical College. Dr. Harvey pronounced Longshore “guilty of fraud, that he was incompetent, and that
he was coarse in language and sentiment.” Sadly, Dr. Harvey was found libel but the judge upon
sentencing commented “that although compelled to give judgment against him, his conduct throughout
the whole affair commanded his admiration. A college that would allow within its walls the teaching of
such immoral doctrines as those of Dr. Longshore is no better than a disorderly house, and should be
indicated as such.” Dr. Longshore was later granted a charter for a co-educational medical school, Penn
Medical University, which Mott refers to in her letter.
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