Maude at McGill

The story of Maude Abbott: her career (subtitles available in EN and FR). Watch the video with transcription.

Maude grew up in a world in which death was very present. At an age when most young girls have other concerns, she already showed great empathy and realism. Her state of mind is reflected in these simple words, recorded in her diary following a church service: “I wonder who will die before next Christmas.”

Cover of the book Florence Nightingale; black ink on sepia paper. Above the border is written: “All Profits for the Benefit of the Canadian Red Cross Society”. Inside the border, above the title there is the red cross of the Canadian Red Cross. The title reads: “Florence Nightingale As Seen in Her Portraits Price, 75 cents BY MAUDE E. SEYMOUR ABBOTT, B.A., M.D. McGill University Montreal”.

Florence Nightingale as seen in her portraits by Maude Abbott, 1916

Title page of the book Florence Nightingale; sepia paper with the following text: “Florence Nightingale As Seen in Her Portraits With a sketch of her life, and an account of her relation to the origin of the Red Cross Society By MAUDE E. SEYMOUR ABBOTT McGill University Montreal Fifteen Illustrations BOSTON, U.S.A. Reprinted from the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal September 14th, 21st and 28th, 1916”.

Florence Nightingale as seen in her portraits by Maude Abbott, 1916

As a teenager in the village, Maude continued her studies and developed an exceptional memory. She didn’t feel like other girls her age. “What geese some girls are. Why, they are hundreds going to school and longing to get away from it. One of my day-dreams, is that of going to school.” Maude left St. Andrews in 1884 at the age of 15 to attend the Misses Symmers and Smyth’s private academy in Montreal. She showed great intellectual promise and longed to continue her studies. “We are never satisfied. My next wish is to go to College.”

Colour photograph of the Lord Stanley Gold Medal awarded to Maude Abbott in 1888, reverse face. The medal is gold in colour and shows a coat of arms, surrounded by the inscription “Presented by His Excellence The Governor General”.

The Lord Stanley Gold Medal awarded to Maude Abbott in 1890

Colour photograph of the Lord Stanley Gold Medal awarded to Maude Abbott in 1888, front face. The medal is gold in colour and shows, in the centre, the jugate portraits of Lord Stanley of Preston and his wife, Lady Stanley of Preston. Around their portraits circles the inscription “Lady Stanley of Preston 1888 Lord Stanley of Preston G.C.B. Gov. Gen. Of Canada”.

The Lord Stanley Gold Medal awarded to Maude Abbott in 1890

After completing her entrance examinations, Maude was awarded a scholarship to McGill University. In the fall of 1885, she enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program in the Faculty of Arts at McGill University. “I am literally in love with McGill!” exclaimed Maude in her diary. She was now a Donalda, the name given to female students in honour of Donald Smith (later Lord Strathcona) for his contribution to establishing women’s education at McGill. Maude was living on a cloud. She received her Bachelor of Arts in 1889.

Certificate of recognition; colour. At the top, “Maude E. Abbott” with raised initials and a scroll to the right with the letters “B.A., C.M., M.D.” On the left, a banner with flowers in a black frame surrounds a golden circle with the overlapping letters “MD”.

Certificate of recognition awarded to Maude E. Abbott in 1910 by the citizens of the village of St. Andrews in recognition of the esteem and immense pride felt by her fellow townsmen

A benevolent grandmother Maude Abbott, one of Canada’s first female physicians