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Women in Medicine and Science at Upstate

This guide provides information on female pioneers associated with Upstate and its predecessor institutions who left lasting impacts on medicine and science. Please check back regularly as we will continue to add influential women to this guide.

Frances A. Adams

Rediscovering the Class of 1885

Born in Syracuse in 1854, Frances A. Adams earned her medical degree in 1885 and worked from 1885 to 1887 in Dr. Ely Van der Warker's Sanitarium and later as an obstetrician at Syracuse Women and Children’s Hospital, from 1898 to 1900.

She attended the school by the name of Frank A. Adams. In the College’s registration book, she is entered as “Frank” but after graduation, she was known as Frances. 

 

 

The negative was made in 1938 when the College was completing its move from McBride Street to the new Irving Avenue campus. The frame may have broken long ago, and the individual photos and banner were salvaged except for the photo of Frank A. Adams.

The items are drawn from the Syracuse University College of Medicine Collection in the University Archives & Special Collections (RM 235) of the Health Sciences Library. 

Registration Book 1884-1885

Register of Frances A. Adams