Emily Hancock Siedeberg
Encyclopedia
Emily Hancock Siedeberg-McKinnon, CBE
, MB, ChB
, BSc
(17 February 1873, Clyde
, Otago, New Zealand – 13 June 1968, Oamaru
, New Zealand
) was New Zealand's first female medical graduate.
She was the third child of Irish Quaker Anna Thompson and Franz David Siedeberg, a German architect who had emigrated to New Zealand in 1861 and taken up mining. When Emily was three the family settled in Dunedin, her father becoming a successful building contractor. Emily was educated at the Normal School and at Otago Girls' High School
, where she held a board scholarship. From an early age she accepted her father's dictum that she should train as a doctor.
Encouraged by her father, she studied medicine and graduated from the University of Otago
Medical School in 1896. She did her post-graduate studies at the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin and in Berlin
. After postgraduate training and work experience overseas, she eventually registered as a medical practitioner and set up a private practice in Dunedin. She was appointed Medical Superintendent at St. Helen's Hospital, Dunedin, and served from 1905 - 1938.
Dr. Siedeberg was active in community and welfare work. A founding member of the Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Society for the Protection of Women and Children in 1899, she was president of the Dunedin branch from 1933 to 1948 and became honorary life president in 1949.
on 8 October 1928 and would be known as E.H. Siedeberg McKinnon and Emily H. Siedeberg-McKinnon. They had no children.
Siedeberg-McKinnon delivered Janet Frame
, the New Zealand author and screenwriter.
Widowed in 1949, she died in the Presbyterian Social Service Association home at Oamaru on 13 June 1968, aged 95.
(1929) and of the New Zealand Registered Nurses' Association (1939), a King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
(1935) and a CBE (1949).
The cul-de-sac Emily Siedeberg Place in Dunedin was named in her honour in 1993, as part of Suffrage Centennial Year.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
, MB, ChB
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, or in Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae , are the two first professional degrees awarded upon graduation from medical school in medicine and surgery by universities in various countries...
, BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
(17 February 1873, Clyde
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
, Otago, New Zealand – 13 June 1968, Oamaru
Oamaru
Oamaru , the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, is the main town in the Waitaki District. It is 80 kilometres south of Timaru and 120 kilometres north of Dunedin, on the Pacific coast, and State Highway 1 and the railway Main South Line connects it to both...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
) was New Zealand's first female medical graduate.
She was the third child of Irish Quaker Anna Thompson and Franz David Siedeberg, a German architect who had emigrated to New Zealand in 1861 and taken up mining. When Emily was three the family settled in Dunedin, her father becoming a successful building contractor. Emily was educated at the Normal School and at Otago Girls' High School
Otago Girls' High School
Otago Girls' High School is a secondary school in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. It was opened 6 February 1871, after a long campaign by educationalist Learmonth Whyte Dalrymple...
, where she held a board scholarship. From an early age she accepted her father's dictum that she should train as a doctor.
Encouraged by her father, she studied medicine and graduated from the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
Medical School in 1896. She did her post-graduate studies at the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin and in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. After postgraduate training and work experience overseas, she eventually registered as a medical practitioner and set up a private practice in Dunedin. She was appointed Medical Superintendent at St. Helen's Hospital, Dunedin, and served from 1905 - 1938.
Dr. Siedeberg was active in community and welfare work. A founding member of the Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Society for the Protection of Women and Children in 1899, she was president of the Dunedin branch from 1933 to 1948 and became honorary life president in 1949.
Founder
She was also a foundation member of the:- Otago University Women's Association
- New Zealand Federation of University Women
- The Townswomen's Guild
- Delegate to the first Pan-Pacific Women's Conference
- National Council of Women of New Zealand (Dunedin branch) (1918)
- New Zealand Medical Women's Association founder (1921) and first president
- Otago Pioneer Women's Memorial Association
Personal life
She married James Alexander McKinnon (died 1949) in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
on 8 October 1928 and would be known as E.H. Siedeberg McKinnon and Emily H. Siedeberg-McKinnon. They had no children.
Siedeberg-McKinnon delivered Janet Frame
Janet Frame
Janet Paterson Frame, ONZ, CBE was a New Zealand author. She wrote eleven novels, four collections of short stories, a book of poetry, an edition of juvenile fiction, and three volumes of autobiography during her lifetime. Since her death, a twelfth novel, a second volume of poetry, and a handful...
, the New Zealand author and screenwriter.
Widowed in 1949, she died in the Presbyterian Social Service Association home at Oamaru on 13 June 1968, aged 95.
Recognition
She was awarded a life membership of the New Zealand Branch of the British Medical AssociationBritish Medical Association
The British Medical Association is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association’s headquarters are located in BMA House,...
(1929) and of the New Zealand Registered Nurses' Association (1939), a King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
The King George V Silver Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the coronation of King George V.-Issue:...
(1935) and a CBE (1949).
The cul-de-sac Emily Siedeberg Place in Dunedin was named in her honour in 1993, as part of Suffrage Centennial Year.