What
The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Gallery in central London commemorates the life and work of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Britain’s first woman doctor.
“It tells the story of her struggle to obtain a medical education and recounts her achievement in founding a hospital in which, for over 100 years, women patients were treated by women doctors,” says its curator, Elizabeth Crawford.
The gallery is housed in two rooms in the old hospital building, which has been restored to form part of the new headquarters of trade union Unison. It was built in 1890 when it was known as the New Hospital for Women. It was renamed the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital after its founder’s death in 1917.
Opened
On 9 June 2011, the 175th anniversary of the birth of Anderson.
Collection
The gallery puts the story of Anderson’s own career into the context of 19th-century campaigns to provide women with greater opportunities – professional, educational, social and political.
Interactive screens illustrate the 19th- and 20th-century campaigns to improve social and working conditions for all men and women, including, latterly, those undertaken by Unison, many of whose members are employed in the health sector.
The gallery uses electronic media – soundscapes and projections – to describe Anderson’s work, and showcase letters and reminiscences by former patients and hospital workers.
There are also numerous books, photographs and five of Anderson’s notebooks. “There aren’t really any objects to curate, just knowledge,” says Crawford. There are some artefacts associated with other early women doctors, such as medical bags and hypodermics.
Budget
The gallery is funded by Unison.
Highlights
“The main room – called the Medical Institute – was originally designed as a place for women doctors who, when the hospital opened, were not eligible for membership of medical societies. Here they had access to journals and could meet,” Crawford says.
“The interior of the room was designed by Anderson’s sister, Agnes Garrett, one of the first women to become a professional interior decorator. When the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital finally closed the building was listed, thanks to the work of the campaigning group Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Gallery for Women.”
Visitors
The gallery gets regular passing interest and schoolchildren and medical students also visit.
Sticky moment
There were early computer difficulties. “The technology has now settled down and is behaving itself,” Crawford says. “It was quite a challenge to manage this through the early months following the opening.”
Future projects
“To improve visitor numbers and do more outreach work within the immediate community and beyond,” says Crawford.
www.egaforwomen.org.uk
The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Gallery in central London commemorates the life and work of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Britain’s first woman doctor.
“It tells the story of her struggle to obtain a medical education and recounts her achievement in founding a hospital in which, for over 100 years, women patients were treated by women doctors,” says its curator, Elizabeth Crawford.
The gallery is housed in two rooms in the old hospital building, which has been restored to form part of the new headquarters of trade union Unison. It was built in 1890 when it was known as the New Hospital for Women. It was renamed the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital after its founder’s death in 1917.
Opened
On 9 June 2011, the 175th anniversary of the birth of Anderson.
Collection
The gallery puts the story of Anderson’s own career into the context of 19th-century campaigns to provide women with greater opportunities – professional, educational, social and political.
Interactive screens illustrate the 19th- and 20th-century campaigns to improve social and working conditions for all men and women, including, latterly, those undertaken by Unison, many of whose members are employed in the health sector.
The gallery uses electronic media – soundscapes and projections – to describe Anderson’s work, and showcase letters and reminiscences by former patients and hospital workers.
There are also numerous books, photographs and five of Anderson’s notebooks. “There aren’t really any objects to curate, just knowledge,” says Crawford. There are some artefacts associated with other early women doctors, such as medical bags and hypodermics.
Budget
The gallery is funded by Unison.
Highlights
“The main room – called the Medical Institute – was originally designed as a place for women doctors who, when the hospital opened, were not eligible for membership of medical societies. Here they had access to journals and could meet,” Crawford says.
“The interior of the room was designed by Anderson’s sister, Agnes Garrett, one of the first women to become a professional interior decorator. When the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital finally closed the building was listed, thanks to the work of the campaigning group Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Gallery for Women.”
Visitors
The gallery gets regular passing interest and schoolchildren and medical students also visit.
Sticky moment
There were early computer difficulties. “The technology has now settled down and is behaving itself,” Crawford says. “It was quite a challenge to manage this through the early months following the opening.”
Future projects
“To improve visitor numbers and do more outreach work within the immediate community and beyond,” says Crawford.
www.egaforwomen.org.uk