Mary Burfitt Williams
Mary Burfitt Williams | |
|---|---|
.png) Williams on her wedding day, 1921 | |
| Born | Mary Boyd Burfitt 9 November 1882 Redfern, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 30 November 1956 (aged 74) Bellevue Hill, New South Wales, Australia |
| Burial place | Waverley Cemetery |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney |
Mary Boyd Burfitt Williams (9 November 1882 – 30 November 1956) was an Australian pathologist and physician. She was the first pathologist at Lewisham Hospital in Sydney and later a physician in Macquarie Street.[1][2]
Early life and education[edit]
Mary Boyd Burfitt was born on 9 November 1882, daughter of Annie (née Fitzmaurice) and auctioneer and historian Charles Trimby Burfitt.[2][3] She was one of seven children, of whom two brothers became doctors and the third a solicitor.[4] She was educated at Rosebank College in Five Dock, matriculating in 1902.[5] She completed a BA and BSc at the University of Sydney,[6] before graduating with first class honours in Bachelor of Medicine in 1909 and a Master of Surgery from the same university in 1910.[7][8] As part of her degree she studied pathology and, with fellow student Elsie Dalyell, wrote a paper which was presented at a medical conference in Victoria.[8]
Career[edit]
Williams and Dalyell found employment at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) in 1910.[8] She was working as a pathologist at RPAH in 1912[9], being the first female senior resident there,[1] and at Lewisham Hospital in 1914.[10] Despite some resistance, she was appointed residency status at Crown Street Women's Hospital where she gained experience in obstetrics.[2] She opened a general practice in Glebe in 1912 until 1924 when she moved into rooms in Macquarie Street. She maintained the role of honorary physician at Lewisham Hospital until 1938.[1]
Williams was elected president of the University Catholic Women's Society in 1924, a year after it was inaugurated.[11] She was an active member of the movement which led to the establishment of Sancta Sophia College, a residential college for Roman Catholic women at the University of Sydney in 1929.[12] She sat on the Council of the college from its inception through to 1953.[1]
Personal[edit]
Williams married fellow doctor Grosvenor Williams on 19 January 1921 at St James' Church in Glebe.[13] Their three sons also became medical doctors[2] and two were lecturers at the University of Sydney.[14]
She died on 30 November 1956 at Bellevue Hill and is buried at Waverley Cemetery.[1][2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e "Williams, Mary Boyd Burfitt". Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Finn, Rosslyn, "Mary Boyd Burfitt Williams (1882–1956)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 4 May 2024
- ^ "Death of Dubbo Pioneer". The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate. New South Wales, Australia. 2 September 1927. p. 2. Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Veteran Passes". The Sun. No. 5243. New South Wales, Australia. 27 August 1927. p. 7 (Last Race Edition). Retrieved 5 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "University Examinations". Freeman's Journal. Vol. LIII, no. 3299. New South Wales, Australia. 29 March 1902. p. 19. Retrieved 5 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Degrees and Prizes". The Daily Telegraph. No. 9337. New South Wales, Australia. 3 May 1909. p. 9. Retrieved 5 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Burfitt Williams, Mary Boyd". The University of Sydney: Sydney Medical School. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "The Honour List". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 22, 457. New South Wales, Australia. 5 January 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 5 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The Year-book of New South Wales – 1912". 1912. Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via Trove.
- ^ "The Year-book of New South Wales – 1914". Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via Trove.
- ^ "University Catholic Women's Society". The Catholic Press. No. 1488. New South Wales, Australia. 10 July 1924. p. 20. Retrieved 5 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Providing for Catholic University Girls: The College Movement Successfully Launched". Freeman's Journal. Vol. LXXIV. New South Wales, Australia. 1 May 1924. p. 19. Retrieved 5 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "A Page of Interest for Every Woman". Sunday Times. No. 1826. New South Wales, Australia. 23 January 1921. p. 13. Retrieved 5 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Faculty of Medicine Handbook 1971. University of Sydney. 1971. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
