Early Faculty
Harvard's first woman full professor, Grete Bibring, was promoted in 1961, but for over 60 years, Harvard Medical School was home to women in researcher, instructor, curator, and assistant professorial roles. Over the course of each of these women's careers, whether long or short at Harvard, debate was held over what positions they were allowed to hold, as well as what benefits, responsibilities, and titles were appropriate for women in medicine.
These debates, and the achievements and stories of early pioneers, are documented in Eleanor Shore's article The Invisible Faculty, found in the summer 1983 Harvard Medical Alumni Bulletin. The article describes the struggles and triumphs of Harvard Medical School's first women instructors, researchers, curator and professor, including debates over titles, responsibilities and a woman's place in the laboratory and classroom.