Frances Hoggan Mamwlad


Frances Hoggan

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-I was able to study the subject

-of my choice at university.

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-I know that many women fought

-for me to have that right...

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-..and none more so than

-Frances Hoggan from Brecon.

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-Frances was the

-first British woman...

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-..to receive a medical degree

-from an European university.

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-She was a strong believer

-in equal rights for men and women.

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-Society was very narrow-minded

-when it came to educating women.

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-Family acquaintances were horrified

-that I wanted to go to university.

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-Conforming to women's status

-and Victorian morality...

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-..was challenging for Frances.

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-When she had her child...

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-..it would have been difficult

-to continue her studies...

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-..and a career was not an option.

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-But she was determined and had an

-adventurous and successful career.

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-She went to Zurich to be a doctor.

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-She also spent time in South Africa,

-India and with the black Americans.

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-She was a very modern figure.

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-Today, men and women study together

-at the Swansea School of Medicine.

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-But this was not the case

-150 years ago.

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-It was impossible for a woman to

-have a medical degree in Britain.

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-There was strong opposition

-against it.

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-Men were at the forefront

-and society accepted this.

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-An increasing number of women

-wanted to study medicine...

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-..including Frances Hoggan.

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-She lived an exciting life...

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-..and travelled the world.

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-But her journey started north

-of the Brecon Beacons in Brecon.

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-In 1843,

-Frances was born in this house...

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-..the daughter to Richard

-and Georgiana Morgan.

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-Her father was a church curate.

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-He was promoted to the role of vicar

-and the family relocated to Baglan.

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-Frances was the oldest of five...

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-..and her father died

-when she was just eight years old.

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-After studying at the

-local school in Cowbridge...

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-..she moved to Paris

-to continue her studies aged 15.

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-In France,

-she experienced an exotic life...

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-..and considered becoming a doctor.

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-In Britain...

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-..a campaign was afoot to attract

-women to the medical profession.

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-Dr Elizabeth Blackwell

-had graduated in America...

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-..and wanted more women

-to join the profession...

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-..despite it being impossible for

-women to study medicine in Britain.

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-Elizabeth Blackwell

-held a series of lectures...

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-..for the Langham Circle in London.

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-The Langham Circle

-was a society of educated women...

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-..who were interested

-in the issues of the day.

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-They discussed different subjects...

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-..and the lectures inspired some

-members of the Langham Circle...

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-..to apply for medicine.

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-For example, Elizabeth Garrett

-and Sophia Jex-Blake...

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-..wanted to become

-qualified doctors.

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-But there was a problem.

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-Women were not permitted

-to join medical schools...

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-..as science was a male-only field.

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-It was harder for women

-to be doctors in Britain...

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-..than in any other

-European country.

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-In Frances' time, it was almost

-impossible for women to be doctors.

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-The medical profession...

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-..had recently started

-the medical register...

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-..with the aim to get rid of quacks

-and they succeeded.

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-But it also meant that women who

-didn't achieve a British degree...

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-..would not be included

-on the medical register.

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-The only way a woman

-could study medicine...

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-..was to receive a diploma from the

-Worshipful Society of Apothecaries.

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-Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

-was the first woman to do this...

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-..and was given a licence to appear

-on the medical register.

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-Frances started

-her course in 1866...

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-..and paid to have private lessons

-in medical school.

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-She passed with honours.

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-A few weeks later,

-the society's board...

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-..decided that private lessons did

-not conform to their requirements.

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-It was therefore impossible for

-any woman to study for a diploma.

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-Frances' only option

-was to study abroad...

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-..and she went to the

-University of Zurich...

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-..where she could enjoy learning

-in a free and kind atmosphere...

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-..which would be impossible

-in Britain.

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-How difficult was it for someone

-like Frances to take this route?

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-It was incredibly difficult

-and you needed to be wealthy.

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-It was three times more expensive

-for women to get qualifications.

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-They were taught privately

-and kept apart from men.

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-She completed a six-year course

-in three years...

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-..learnt Sanskrit

-in her spare time...

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-..and wrote a thesis

-on muscular dystrophy.

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-She became something of a legend

-in Zurich due to her achievements.

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-I'm amazed she isn't

-better known in Wales.

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-Frances received her degree

-in Zurich in March 1870.

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-Three months before

-Elizabeth Garrett...

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-..obtained her degree

-from Sorbonne in Paris.

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-What happened

-when she returned to Britain?

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-Could she be any type of doctor?

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-Could she be any type of doctor?

-

-No, not really.

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-In the early days...

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-..the majority of women in the

-medical world took inferior roles...

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-..as they were deemed unsuitable

-for treating an adult male.

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-She went to work

-with Elizabeth Garrett...

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-..who had made it

-onto the medical register.

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-Elizabeth established the St Mary's

-Dispensary for Women and Children.

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-The dispensary developed into

-The New Hospital for Women...

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-..and was at the forefront

-for treating women and children.

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-Frances loved working in health care

-and women's education.

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-At the age of 30,

-Frances married George Hoggan...

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-..a prominent doctor from Scotland.

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-This was the first wedding

-of two doctors in Britain...

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-..and the pair ran surgeries

-from their home on Portman Square.

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-When she chose to study medicine,

-she faced a plethora of challenges.

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-However, something happened which

-could have brought it to an end...

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-..a combination of youth folly

-and Victorian morality.

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-It's suggested that Frances

-gave birth to a daughter, Elise...

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-..while studying in Paris and

-this could have ended her career.

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-It's claimed that Frances

-gave birth to a child...

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-..who was then raised as her sister.

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-Frances' mother had

-made the brave decision...

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-..to raise the child

-as one of her own.

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-Had her mother taken

-a different attitude...

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-..darker things would

-have come to pass...

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-..such as an abortion.

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-Abortion did take place

-and it was very common in Wales.

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-There were many stories...

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-..of people who found

-babies bodies...

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-..in locations such as rivers,

-fields and pigsties.

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-I believe that Frances was

-extremely lucky to have her mother.

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-Her mother seems to have been a

-person who was ahead of her time...

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-..who had taken a compassionate

-attitude towards the situation.

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-There is no proof that Elise

-was the daughter of Frances...

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-..but Dr Neil McIntyre

-is a strong believer of the theory.

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-When you look at

-future census records...

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-..you discover that they

-were often living together.

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-They lived at the same address...

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-..and clearly she has a very close

-relationship with Elise...

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-..which seemed a bit ambiguous...

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-..in terms of whether she was

-a sister or something different.

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-Frances went out of her way

-to conceal any relationship.

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-Why would she do that?

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-I think she had determined

-on medicine as a career...

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-..perhaps before she

-became pregnant...

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-..and I think that would

-have been impossible...

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-..if she had been known to have an

-illegitimate child in those times.

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-Being a single parent...

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-..would have ruined her chances

-of becoming a doctor.

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-As far as we're aware...

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-..Frances never publicly recognized

-Elise as her daughter.

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-.

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-Subtitles

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-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

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-At the end of the 19th Century,

-a young woman from Brecon...

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-..was at the forefront in the battle

-to get women doctors.

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-Frances Hoggan was a key figure

-in women's history and medicine...

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-..but her name has been forgotten.

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-Frances is rarely acknowledged.

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-There are rumours of a memorial

-for her at Brecon Cathedral.

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-Hello, Dean.

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-Hello, Dean.

-

-Welcome to Brecon Cathedral.

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-I'm here to try and find

-the monument for Frances Hoggan.

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-It's a brass ewer.

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-Do you know where it might be?

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-I've been in post for ten months

-and I've not come across it.

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-We might be able to have a look

-in the cathedral safe.

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-It would be there for safe keeping.

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-Shall we have a look?

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-Shall we have a look?

-

-We can do.

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-History books say

-Elizabeth Garrett Anderson...

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-..was the first woman in Britain

-to receive a medical degree.

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-But, Frances graduated three months

-ahead of Elizabeth.

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-Oh, gosh.

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-Oh, gosh.

-

-Welcome to the vestry.

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-Do you think it might be in here?

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-Do you think it might be in here?

-

-It could be in the safe.

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-It's difficult to open,

-but we'll have a go.

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-That's a urn.

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-That's a urn.

-

-Oh, my goodness. I think this is it.

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-Well that's amazing.

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-Good heavens.

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-Good heavens.

-

-Wow!

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-Presented by the Brecknock Society

-and Friends...

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-..in memory of Frances

-Elizabeth Hoggan, March 1970.

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-The very thing you were looking for.

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-The very thing you were looking for.

-

-Goodness gracious!

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-It looks as if it's in constant use.

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-We use that

-to fill the font for baptisms.

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-Throughout her life, Frances

-challenged Victorian society...

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-..that opposed women's education.

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-Frances' bid to study medicine

-in Britain was refused.

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-Her name was banned

-from the medical register...

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-..and abolished from the

-British Medical Association.

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-In 1876,

-the Enabling Act was passed...

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-..thanks to the work of Jex-Blake

-and her supporters.

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-She got the act passed

-in parliament.

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-It gave universities the choice

-to give medical degrees to women.

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-One of the first places

-to do this...

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-..was the Kings and Queens

-College of Physicians in Ireland.

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-Frances travelled to Ireland

-and sat an exam...

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-..and she made it onto

-the medical register in 1877.

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-Thanks to Elizabeth Blackwell

-and Elizabeth Garratt...

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-..she was one of the first

-of a few women who achieved this.

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-The determination of the women

-is underlined by Frances...

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-..in The Woman Question in Europe.

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-In spite of disadvantages

-under which they still labour...

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-..the next 25 years will have

-to record fresh achievements...

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-..accomplished by medical women in

-the practice of their profession...

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-..in science and the direction

-of much-needed social reform.

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-Married women have the right

-to their own property.

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-Few women managed to break

-into medicine.

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-Wealthier women could vote.

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-Frances' interest

-in educating women grew...

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-..and offering them

-the same opportunities as men.

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-You could say

-that she was an outsider.

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-She was respected

-due to being well-educated...

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-..and she was also a doctor.

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-A few female doctors existed

-around the world at that time...

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-..let alone in Wales.

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-She had connections

-with Elizabeth Garratt Anderson...

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-..and other English feminists.

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-They realized that education

-was the first step...

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-..to guarantee that women could

-use their abilities to vote...

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-..and to get positions

-in public office.

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-In 1882, Frances was appointed

-as a school doctor...

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-..at the North London

-Collegiate School.

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-This was a groundbreaking job.

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-In the school archive, there

-are many documents about Frances.

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-This is her personal notebook.

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-In this large book,

-there's a page for each pupil...

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-..with notes, measurements,

-their weight and height...

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-..references about the condition of

-their eyes and many other details.

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-It was a pioneering school,

-with its headmistress, Miss Buss...

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-..offering physical education

-lessons to the girls.

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-Frances' work was also appreciated.

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-Dear Miss Buss.

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-I should be glad if Mrs Hoggan could

-examine my daughter, Katie Sharman.

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-I find one shoulder out...

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-..and fear a slight tendency

-to lateral curvature of the spine.

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-With kind regard,

-I am yours sincerely.

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-A B Sharman.

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-This separate notebook

-has exercises...

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-..details of how to use the

-gymnasium and how often to exercise.

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-In a period when people believed

-that exercise was bad for girls...

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-..she was ahead of her time.

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-Despite spending

-most of her life in London...

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-..Frances campaigned

-to improve education in Wales...

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-..and especially

-the education of women.

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-Middle and upper class women did

-experience some form of education.

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-They were taught to play the piano,

-or had singing or art lessons.

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-These accomplishments

-made a good wife.

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-Certain schools provided education

-beyond elementary level...

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-..including Dr Williams' School

-in Dolgellau...

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-..Howell's School in Llandaff

-and Howell's School in Denbigh.

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-Very few girls attended the schools

-despite the funded places for them.

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-Frances wanted to guarantee

-that the funds were used properly...

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-..and ensured that girls

-had access to an education.

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-How was Frances linked

-with Cardiff University?

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-She had been part of the campaign

-to ensure that women...

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-..had access to the universities

-in England and Edinburgh.

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-As part of the campaign for colleges

-and universities in Wales...

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-..she also supported the move

-for women to achieve degrees...

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-..and campaigned for a separate

-hall of residence for women.

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-The Aberdare Hall opened

-as part of Cardiff University.

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-Following the death

-of her husband...

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-..Frances spent the rest

-of her life as an activist.

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-She travelled the world

-and visited India and Africa...

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-..to improve the health and

-education of the less fortunate.

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-She made the biggest impression

-on black Americans.

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-How was Frances linked

-with the American activists?

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-At the end of the 19th century

-and like many other activists...

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-..Frances' hobbies were broad

-and stretched internationally.

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-Her experiences as an advocate

-of education among Welsh women...

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-..was the foundation of her work

-in studying the rest of the world.

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-The American scientist and activist,

-W E B Dubois...

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-..was interested in drawing the

-world's intellectuals together...

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-..to answer what he called,

-The Colour Problem.

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-By making international connections,

-he came into contact with Frances...

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-..and invited her to the

-University of Atlanta in 1906.

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-That is when they first met.

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-They wrote letters about the battles

-faced by black Americans...

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-..and about Dubois' campaigns.

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-In the late 1910s, he established

-The Crisis newspaper...

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-..to which Frances contributed her

-thoughts on education and folklore.

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-Frances' interests

-were incredibly broad...

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-..and she had the opportunity to

-publish in The Crisis in the 1920s.

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-How influential was Frances?

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-It's hard to measure that today

-because she's relatively unknown.

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-However, she was a prominent figure.

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-She is on the editorial boards of an

-encyclopedia that Dubois compiled.

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-The feministic element

-is what makes her stand out.

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-She believed women's education

-was essential to social development.

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-She wanted to celebrate

-the contribution of women.

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-This can be seen from her work

-in America and India.

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-Frances spent her final years

-in London.

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-She never remarried...

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-..but had continued contact

-with Elise, her illegitimate child.

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-What happened to Elise?

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-She married a clergyman

-and had five children.

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-One of whom stayed in Britain...

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-..but the others went with her

-and John to Canada.

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-Did Frances ever visit her?

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-Did Frances ever visit her?

-

-Almost certainly.

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-After Frances' husband died,

-she travelled a great deal...

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-..and a number of her trips were

-to the United States and Canada.

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-Is there any evidence...

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-..that Elise knew that Frances

-was her mother and not her sister?

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-According to the family descendants,

-they are fairly convinced...

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-..that Elise did not know that

-Frances was her mother.

0:20:510:20:55

-Frances lived until the age of 83.

0:20:580:21:01

-Her ashes were buried with her

-husband in Woking Cemetery.

0:21:020:21:06

-Almost a century since her death...

0:21:180:21:20

-..her name is finally starting

-to enjoy an elevated position.

0:21:200:21:24

-As a female, Frances Hoggan

-achieved so much...

0:21:240:21:28

-..as an exemplar

-to what is possible...

0:21:290:21:31

-..and what should have been done

-centuries ago.

0:21:320:21:35

-In a ceremony at the Assembly,

-the Learned Society of Wales...

0:21:360:21:40

-..launched an award for research

-students in memory of Frances.

0:21:410:21:45

-She's a Welsh star and we need

-to remember her for that reason.

0:21:460:21:52

-This is a role model

-for other women.

0:21:550:21:58

-The medal will allow other women...

0:21:580:22:01

-..who have achieved equal success

-to be celebrated.

0:22:020:22:06

-As the first female doctor to

-graduate, she was ahead of her time.

0:22:090:22:14

-She should be celebrated for her

-role in Welsh intellectual history.

0:22:140:22:20

-I suspect

-that her biggest contribution...

0:22:250:22:29

-..was to guarantee at a critical

-period in Welsh history...

0:22:290:22:33

-..that Wales would be at the

-forefront within education.

0:22:330:22:38

-Wales should be extremely proud...

0:22:430:22:45

-..that someone with such

-perseverance and capability...

0:22:450:22:50

-..was raised in South Wales...

0:22:500:22:52

-..at a time when it seemed

-impossible for women to be doctors.

0:22:520:22:57

-The way we record history...

0:23:030:23:05

-..means that some important

-stories are lost.

0:23:060:23:09

-Frances Hoggan's story

-is the perfect example of this.

0:23:090:23:13

-Many happen to stumble upon

-her story, as I did...

0:23:130:23:17

-..but we find a unique character,

-a distinguished activist...

0:23:170:23:22

-..someone who was at the

-forefront of women's education...

0:23:220:23:26

-..and a doctor who showed the world

-exactly what a Welsh woman can do.

0:23:260:23:32

-S4C Subtitles by Tinopolis

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