Alexander, Lilian Helen (1861 - 1934)

Summary

Lilian Alexander was one of the first women to practice medicine in Melbourne. In 1877 she and Helen Sexton advertised in the Age newspaper asking whether any other women were interested in studying medicine. As a result they and five others were admitted to study medicine at the University of Melbourne. Alexander's first appointment after qualifying was at the Women's Hospital, Carlton. She and other recent women graduates worked to raise money for a hospital to treat women and run by women doctors, for which they had demonstrated a need. The result of their efforts was founding of the Queen Victoria Hospital for Women and Children. Alexander was on the staff, specialising in surgery, for over 20 years from the Hospital's inception in 1896. She continued in private practice until 1928. Alexander served terms as the inaugural Secretary and later President of the Victorian Medical Women's Society.

Details

Chronology

1886

Education - Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Melbourne

1888

Education - Master of Arts (MA), University of Melbourne

1893

Education - MB, University of Melbourne

1895

Career position - Inaugural Secretary, Victorian Women's Medical Association

1901

Education - BCh, University of Melbourne

Published resources

Book Sections

• Kelly, Farley, 'Alexander, Lilian Helen (1861 - 1934), medical practitioner' in Australian dictionary of biography: supplement 1580 - 1980, with a name index to the Australian dictionary of biography to 1980, Christopher Cunneen, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2005), p. 7. http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/alexander-lilian-helen-12770. Details

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q17000730. Details
• 'Alexander, Lilian Helen (18610315-19341018)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1465068. Details

See also

• Kelly, Farley, 'The "Woman Question" in Melbourne, 1880-1914', PhD thesis, Monash University, 1983. Details