Mary circa 1871, with medals she didn’t earn, but it wasn’t illegal for her to wear and they really do spiff up her outfit, don’t they?

In honor of International Nurses Day on May 12, we decided to revisit the life of Mary Seacole. Sure, Florence Nightingale would have been a more obvious choice, but, well, she was too obvious. Mary was a contemporary of Florence, they even had an encounter during their lives, but Mary aided soldiers during the Crimean War a bit differently than Florence did and headed right down to the front lines to help make people comfortable (and sell some food.) Mary was beloved, brave, smart, ambitious, and enchanted most everyone she met.

 

Time Travel with The History Chicks

For the links of things we talked about in this episode, visit Mary’s original shownotes here: Mary Seacole

For information about the Local’s Meet-up dinner in London on August 7th, and to see if there are any spots for the tour, visit LIKE MINDS TOURS.

Women in Medicine Playlist

In order of Nurseyness:

Florence Nightingale, Episode 137

Clara Barton, Episode 111

Lydia Pinkham, Episode 126

Marie Curie, Episode 158

And then some turn-your-head-sideways-and-squint women of medicine:

Louisa May Alcott, Episode 142

Mary Mallon, Episode 149 (thanks to Sean A. in the Lounge for pointing this out)