Ellis, Constance (1872 - 1942)

Constance Ellis became the first woman graduate of the University of Melbourne to obtain the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) in March 1903. She joined the pathology department of the Queen Victoria Hospital in 1902 and was honorary pathologist from 1908 until 1919. Ellis was the first woman to become a demonstrator and lecturer of Pathology at the University of Melbourne.

A foundation member of the Lyceum Club, Ellis was also a member of the Medical Women’s Society, the Australian Association for Fighting Venereal Diseases, the Victorian branch of the British Medical Association, the National Council of Women of Victoria, the Victorian Baby Health Centre Association and the Emily McPherson College.

Events

1886 - 1890	Educated at Presbyterian Ladies' College (PLC)
1894	Enrolled for the medical course at the University of Melbourne
1896 - 1898	Attended Janet Clarke hostel, Trinity College, as a non-resident
March 1899	At the final examinations Ellis came second in surgery and third in medicine
1902	Joined the honorary staff of the Queen Victoria Hospital
March 1903	Obtained the degree of Doctor of Medicine (by examination)
1908 - 1919	Honorary pathologist at the Queen Victoria Hospital
1911	President of the Old Collegians' Association (PLC)
1911 - 1942	Council member of the College of Domestic Economy (later Emily McPherson College)
1912	Vice-president and one of the founders of the Lyceum Club (Melb.)
1918 - 1919	President of the Lyceum Club
1920 - 1942	Vice-president of the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association
1925	Took part in PLC's jubilee congress, a two-day discussion on social and welfare matters
July 1925	Became a member of the first committee of the Melbourne Business and Professional Women's Club
1932 - 1934	Council president of the Emily McPherson College

Membership

• The Catalysts' Society (1910 - )

  One of the original 19 members of 'The Catalysts'

  [1910 - 1942]

• Lyceum Club (Melbourne) (1912 - )

  [1912 - 1942]

• National Council of Women of Victoria (1902 - )

  Member of the health committee and reported on the operation of the Commonwealth maternity allowances scheme in 1921

  [1902 - 1942]

Presided

• Lyceum Club (Melbourne) (1912 - )

  [1918 - 1919]

Vice President

• Lyceum Club (Melbourne) (1912 - )

  [1912 - 1918]

Book Sections

• Ellis, A S, 'Ellis, Constance', in Nairn, Bede and Serle, Geoffrey (eds), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 8, Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Vic., p. 433. [ Details... ]
• Radi, Heather, 'Constance Ellis', in Radi, Heather (ed.), 200 Australian women : a Redress anthology, Women's Redress Press Inc., Broadway, NSW, 1988, pp. 92-93. [ Details... ]

Online Resources

• Westmore, Ann, 'Ellis, Constance (1872 - 1942)', in History of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences at Melbourne, Centre for the Study of Health and Society, University of Melbourne, 8 September 2003, http://www.cshs.unimelb.edu.au/umfm/biogs/FM00126b.htm. [ Details... ]

See also

• Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, 'Where are the Women in Australian science?', 22 August 2003, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/wisa/wisa.html. [ Details... ]
• Docherty, James, The Emily Mac : the story of the Emily McPherson College, 1906-1979, Ormond, Melbourne, 1981, 314 pp. [ Details... ]
• Gillison, Joan M, A History of the Lyceum Club Melbourne, The Lyceum Club, Melbourne, 1975, 118 pp. [ Details... ]
• Hutton Neve, M. ( Marjorie), This mad folly: the history of Australia's pioneer women doctors, Library of Australian History, Sydney, 1980, 174 pp. [ Details... ]