Mary Edwards Walker: podcast appearances and interviews

Mary Edwards Walker (November 26, 1832 – February 21, 1919) was an American abolitionist, prohibitionist, surgeon, and a pioneering figure in women's rights. She earned her medical degree from Syracuse Medical College in 1855 and subsequently established a medical practice. Walker attempted to join the Union Army at the start of the Civil War but was initially turned away. She later served as a surgeon at a temporary hospital in Washington, D.C., before being hired by Union forces and assigned to the Army of the Cumberland and the 52nd Ohio Infantry. She became the first female surgeon in the United States Army. During the conflict, she crossed enemy lines to treat wounded civilians and was captured by Confederate forces, leading to her arrest as a spy. She was held as a prisoner of war in Richmond, Virginia, until her release through a prisoner exchange. For her efforts in treating battle wounded both on and off the battlefield, she was awarded the Medal of Honor, making her the only woman to receive the medal and one of only eight civilians to do so. Her name was removed from the Medal of Honor roll in 1917 but was reinstated in 1977. After the war, Walker engaged in writing and lecturing to support women’s suffrage. Her career and activism marked significant contributions to both military history and the advancement of women's rights.