Elizabeth Blackwell opens the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children

Background. Elizabeth Blackwell returned to New York City in 1851 to establish her own medical practice, believing prejudice against women was less severe there. She founded the New York Dispensary for Poor Women and Children in 1853. By 1857, the need for more space and resources led to the expansion of this dispensary into a full infirmary, driven by Blackwell, her sister Emily, and Marie Zakrzewska.

Establishment. The New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children was opened in 1857 at East 7th Street near Tompkins Square Park. The founders, Elizabeth Blackwell, Emily Blackwell, and Marie Zakrzewska, aimed to provide medical care to underserved women and children. The institution required more space, prompting a move to Stuyvesant Square in 1858.

Legacy. Emily Blackwell is credited with the long-term survival of the infirmary. The institution's history was documented by administrator Anne Daniel in the 1930s. A commemorative plaque was unveiled in May 2018 at the former location of the infirmary, acknowledging its founding by Elizabeth and Emily Blackwell.