Women's History Month
By Latrice Lewis
Women in Frederick's History
Frederick, MD has a rich history and for women’s history month we are sharing the impact some Frederick County women have had on workforce development and the quality of life in our county.
The Seton Center
The Seton Center in the northern end of the county, Emmitsburg, MD was named after, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, born in New York City on August 28, 1774. Her legacy includes religious congregations in the United States and Canada, whose members work on the unmet needs of people living in poverty in North America and beyond. Mother Seton, as she was often called, was canonized on Sunday, September 14, 1975, in St. Peter’s Square by Pope Paul VI. She was the first citizen born in the United States to be given the title of “Saint.” The Seton Center vision is to be a leading resource for emergency support services and skill development, catalyzing systemic change for a more vibrant, healthy community.
Hood College
Martha Church was Hood College’s first woman president, bringing with her, growth and diversity to the school. During her tenure (1975-95), Church was named one of the 100 most effective college and university presidents in the country. According to Hood’s website, she enhanced the academic reputation of the college, introduced graduate programs and “confirmed the college’s commitment to diversity.”
The Martha E. Church Center for Community and Civic Engagement is located on North Market Street in downtown Frederick.
Frederick Health
Frederick Health (FH) was founded by Emma Smith, who helped raise the first funds to start the hospital in the late 1890s. Smith was joined by Ida Markey, Nan Routzahn, Gertrude Sharretts and Janet Williams, and was eventually “elected president of the hospital venture” in 1897 but the Frederick City Hospital Association couldn’t be made official until 14 men joined the project.
The Frederick community assisted with opening the doors, as funds for the hospital were raised in a variety of ways including going door-to-door and lobbying the state. In 1902 Smith was eventually able to raise the entire $8,000 needed to open the hospital. Today, the hospital offers a wide array of services throughout the community in over 24 locations and boasts eight (8) women on the Board of Directors.
FH contributes to the health and wealth of Frederick County with over 4500 team members currently employed.
As we enter Women’s History month, let’s continue encouraging and supporting the women in both our personal and professional lives. This brief snapshot is a powerful reminder of the generational impact one woman can make on just one community.