Encyclopedia, Difference between revisions of "Alice Hamilton" - New World
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[[Image:Alice_hamilton.jpg|right|240px|thumb|Dr. Alice Hamilton]] | [[Image:Alice_hamilton.jpg|right|240px|thumb|Dr. Alice Hamilton]] | ||
| − | '''Alice Hamilton''' (February 27,1869 - September 22,1970) was the first woman appointed to the faculty of [[Harvard Medical School]] | + | '''Alice Hamilton''' (February 27,1869 - September 22,1970) was the first woman appointed to the faculty of [[Harvard Medical School]], a leading expert in the field of [[occupational health]], and a pioneer in the field of [[industrial toxicology]]. Her studies of occupational illnesses and the dangerous effects of industrial metals and chemical compounds on the [[human body]] mark a respected and long career of public investigation regarding the hazards of industrial workplaces. |
==Life== | ==Life== | ||
| − | Alice Hamilton was born | + | Alice Hamilton was born in [[Fort Wayne, Indiana]] in 1869 to parents Montgomery and Gertrude Hamilton. Alice was the second of four girls and one boy, all of whom remained close throughout their childhood and professional careers. Her sister, Edith, would later become a famous author publishing [[The Greek Way]] (1930) and other works about classical culture. Though Alice was home schooled, she would later complete her early education at [[Miss Porter's School]] in [[Farmington, Connecticut]]. In hopes of becoming a medical doctor, Alice spent the summer after her graduation from Miss Porter’s School being tutored in the subjects of chemistry and physics. Upon completion of her studies, Alice entered the [[University of Michigan Medical School]] where she focused on the field of [[pathology]]. |
| − | In 1893, | + | In 1893, Alice received her [[doctor of medicine]] degree from the [[University of Michigan]] Medical School. She then completed internships at the [[Minneapolis]] Hospital for Women and Children and the [[New England]] Hospital for Women and Children before setting out for Germany where she hoped to further pursue her professional career. From 1895 to 1897, Alice studied [[bacteriology]] and [[pathology]] at universities in [[Munich]] and [[Leipzig]], later finding work alongside bacteriologist Carl Weigert. Upon her return to the United States, she began work as a research assistant at [[Johns Hopkins Medical School]] where she worked under pathologist [[Simon Flexner]], the first director of the [[Rockefeller Institute of Medical Research]]. |
| − | Hamilton | + | ==Work== |
| + | In 1897 Hamilton accepted a position as professor of pathology at [[Northwestern University]]’s [[Women’s Medical School]] in [[Chicago]], Illinois. Hamilton would also work with Chicago’s [[Memorial Institute for Infectious Diseases]] while taking residence at Jane Addam’s Hull House, the first settlement house to be established in America. Here she worked alongside similar progressive figures including [[Jane Addams]], [[Alzina Stevens]], and [[Sophonsiba Breckenridge]], and lived among the poor residents of the surrounding Chicago community. | ||
| − | + | While here, Hamilton became increasingly interested in the problems faced by industrial workers, especially those causing occupational injury and illness. The study of 'industrial medicine', which aimed at identifying the illnesses caused by certain jobs, had become increasingly important since the [[Industrial Revolution]] of the late [[nineteenth century]] which led to new dangers in the workplace. In 1907, Hamilton began exploring existing literature from abroad regarding industrial medicine and found that such data was not being studied much in America. Setting out to change this, she used aspects of her medical training to examine certain causes for outbreaks of [[typhoid fever]] and [[tuberculosis]] which plagued the surrounding low-income communities of [[Hull House]]. Here she identified poor working conditions as leading to weakened immune systems, which lead to the further spread of infectious diseases of the workplace. This finding lead to her 1908 appointment to the [[Illinois Commission on Occupational Diseases]], the first such investigative body in the United States. Here she sought to examine the health of workers and industrial working conditions throughout the state and investigated a range of similar issues for a variety of state and federal health committees. | |
| − | |||
| − | In | + | In 1911, she began working as a special investigator for the [[Department of Labor]] where she identified the used of toxins [[white lead]] and [[lead oxide]] within the paint industry. Her findings helped make aware the dangers of lead poisoning for both adults and children in the workplace and at home. Throughout [[World War I]], at the request of the [[National Research Council]], Hamilton also investigated the poisonous effects of explosive manufacturing on workers. |
| − | + | Due to her accomplished background, in 1919 Hamilton was hired as an assistant professor in the new [[Department of Industrial Medicine]] at [[Harvard Medical School]]. Her appointment made her the first woman to serve as faculty there. A [[New York Tribune]] article celebrated the appointment with the dramatic headline: "A Woman on Harvard Faculty—The Last Citadel Has Fallen—The Sex Has Come Into Its Own.” Despite her accreditation, Hamilton faced continual discrimination as a woman in the workplace, and was excluded from various social activities and the all-male graduation procession. After her retirement from Harvard in 1935, Hamilton served as a medical consultant to the [[U.S. Division of Labor Standards]], and retained her connections to Harvard as [[professor emerita]]. | |
==Legacy== | ==Legacy== | ||
| − | + | Throughout her professional career, Hamilton was successful at garnering the attention of the [[US government]] to the poisonous effects of workplace toxins such as [[aniline dyes]], [[carbon monoxide]], [[mercury]], [[radium]] and [[hydrogen sulfide]]. At the 1925 [[Tetraethyl]] lead conference in [[Washington D.C.]], Dr. Hamilton was the most prominent critic of adding [[tetraethyl lead]] to gasoline. Her active concern for the betterment of working conditions also lead her to advocate on behalf of individual [[civil liberties]] and further prompted her awareness within the field of international affairs. She would serve as the only female member of the League of Nations Health Committee from 1924-1930. Throughout her professional career Hamilton also retained close ties to the Hull House community, returning to the Chicago neighborhood each year until [[Jane Addam]]’s death in 1935. | |
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| − | In 1995 her extensive contributions to | + | In 1944 Hamilton was included in the list of [[Men in Science]], later receiving the [[Lasker Award]] in 1947. In 1995 her extensive contributions to public health were commemorated by a US Postal Stamp, and in 2002 she was named a [[ACS National Historical Chemical Landmarks|ACS National Historical Chemical Landmark]] in recognition of her role in the development of [[occupational medicine]]. A figure of controversy to the end, Hamilton’s activities were closely monitored by the US [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] well into her nineties. She would die in 1970 at the age of 101. |
==Publications== | ==Publications== | ||
Revision as of 16:42, 15 March 2007
Alice Hamilton (February 27,1869 - September 22,1970) was the first woman appointed to the faculty of Harvard Medical School, a leading expert in the field of occupational health, and a pioneer in the field of industrial toxicology. Her studies of occupational illnesses and the dangerous effects of industrial metals and chemical compounds on the human body mark a respected and long career of public investigation regarding the hazards of industrial workplaces.
Life
Alice Hamilton was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1869 to parents Montgomery and Gertrude Hamilton. Alice was the second of four girls and one boy, all of whom remained close throughout their childhood and professional careers. Her sister, Edith, would later become a famous author publishing The Greek Way (1930) and other works about classical culture. Though Alice was home schooled, she would later complete her early education at Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Connecticut. In hopes of becoming a medical doctor, Alice spent the summer after her graduation from Miss Porter’s School being tutored in the subjects of chemistry and physics. Upon completion of her studies, Alice entered the University of Michigan Medical School where she focused on the field of pathology.
In 1893, Alice received her doctor of medicine degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. She then completed internships at the Minneapolis Hospital for Women and Children and the New England Hospital for Women and Children before setting out for Germany where she hoped to further pursue her professional career. From 1895 to 1897, Alice studied bacteriology and pathology at universities in Munich and Leipzig, later finding work alongside bacteriologist Carl Weigert. Upon her return to the United States, she began work as a research assistant at Johns Hopkins Medical School where she worked under pathologist Simon Flexner, the first director of the Rockefeller Institute of Medical Research.
Work
In 1897 Hamilton accepted a position as professor of pathology at Northwestern University’s Women’s Medical School in Chicago, Illinois. Hamilton would also work with Chicago’s Memorial Institute for Infectious Diseases while taking residence at Jane Addam’s Hull House, the first settlement house to be established in America. Here she worked alongside similar progressive figures including Jane Addams, Alzina Stevens, and Sophonsiba Breckenridge, and lived among the poor residents of the surrounding Chicago community.
While here, Hamilton became increasingly interested in the problems faced by industrial workers, especially those causing occupational injury and illness. The study of 'industrial medicine', which aimed at identifying the illnesses caused by certain jobs, had become increasingly important since the Industrial Revolution of the late nineteenth century which led to new dangers in the workplace. In 1907, Hamilton began exploring existing literature from abroad regarding industrial medicine and found that such data was not being studied much in America. Setting out to change this, she used aspects of her medical training to examine certain causes for outbreaks of typhoid fever and tuberculosis which plagued the surrounding low-income communities of Hull House. Here she identified poor working conditions as leading to weakened immune systems, which lead to the further spread of infectious diseases of the workplace. This finding lead to her 1908 appointment to the Illinois Commission on Occupational Diseases, the first such investigative body in the United States. Here she sought to examine the health of workers and industrial working conditions throughout the state and investigated a range of similar issues for a variety of state and federal health committees.
In 1911, she began working as a special investigator for the Department of Labor where she identified the used of toxins white lead and lead oxide within the paint industry. Her findings helped make aware the dangers of lead poisoning for both adults and children in the workplace and at home. Throughout World War I, at the request of the National Research Council, Hamilton also investigated the poisonous effects of explosive manufacturing on workers.
Due to her accomplished background, in 1919 Hamilton was hired as an assistant professor in the new Department of Industrial Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Her appointment made her the first woman to serve as faculty there. A New York Tribune article celebrated the appointment with the dramatic headline: "A Woman on Harvard Faculty—The Last Citadel Has Fallen—The Sex Has Come Into Its Own.” Despite her accreditation, Hamilton faced continual discrimination as a woman in the workplace, and was excluded from various social activities and the all-male graduation procession. After her retirement from Harvard in 1935, Hamilton served as a medical consultant to the U.S. Division of Labor Standards, and retained her connections to Harvard as professor emerita.
Legacy
Throughout her professional career, Hamilton was successful at garnering the attention of the US government to the poisonous effects of workplace toxins such as aniline dyes, carbon monoxide, mercury, radium and hydrogen sulfide. At the 1925 Tetraethyl lead conference in Washington D.C., Dr. Hamilton was the most prominent critic of adding tetraethyl lead to gasoline. Her active concern for the betterment of working conditions also lead her to advocate on behalf of individual civil liberties and further prompted her awareness within the field of international affairs. She would serve as the only female member of the League of Nations Health Committee from 1924-1930. Throughout her professional career Hamilton also retained close ties to the Hull House community, returning to the Chicago neighborhood each year until Jane Addam’s death in 1935.
In 1944 Hamilton was included in the list of Men in Science, later receiving the Lasker Award in 1947. In 1995 her extensive contributions to public health were commemorated by a US Postal Stamp, and in 2002 she was named a ACS National Historical Chemical Landmark in recognition of her role in the development of occupational medicine. A figure of controversy to the end, Hamilton’s activities were closely monitored by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation well into her nineties. She would die in 1970 at the age of 101.
Publications
- Hamilton, Alice M.D. Exploring the Dangerous Trades: The Autobiography of Alice Hamilton. Northeastern University Press, Reprint 1985. ISBN 0930350812.
- Hamilton, Alice M.A. Hamilton and Hardy's Industrial Toxicology. J. Wright Publishers, 4th Edition, 1983. ISBN 0723670277.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- National Library of Medicine. Dr Alice Hamilton, Biography Published 01 January, 1993. Retrieved 12 March, 2007.
- Chemical Achievers, The Human Face of the Chemical Science. Alice Hamilton. © 2005. Retrieved 12 March, 2007.
- Foner, Eric and John A. Garraty. American History Information Alice Hamilton. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1991. Retrieved 12 Mar. 2007.
External Links
- Alice Hamilton. Women in Chemistry.
- The Poisonous Occupations in Illinois. Physician Alice Hamilton Explores the “Dangerous Trades” at the Turn of the Century.
- Alice Hamilton Awards The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
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