Ellis Reynolds Shipp MD FAAP (January 20, 1847 - January 31, 1939) was the first female doctor in Utah and west of the Mississippi. She founded the School of Nursing and Obstetrics in 1879, and was on the board of the Deseret Hospital Association. Shipp successfully combined motherhood and a medical practice, saying, "It is to me the crowning joy of a woman's life to be a mother." In her 50-year medical career, she delivered more than 5000 babies, and led the School of Nursing and Obstetrics in training an army of 500 young women licensed midwives deployed throught Deseret territory. A woman of God, a queen in Gods army, her pediatric service reduced drastically (90%) fatality of infant and mother in childbirth.
Video Ellis Reynolds Shipp
Biography
Born Ellis Reynolds, she came with her family to Utah Territory in 1852. Her family was among the early Mormon pioneer settlers of Pleasant Grove, Utah. In 1866, Ellis Reynolds married Milford Shipp. She bore a total of ten children, six of whom survived infancy.
Shipp began studying at the University of Deseret, then in Philadelphia at the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1875, leaving her children behind in Utah Territory in the care of her husband's three other wives. Brigham Young sponsored her education in the Eastern United States and she later did further medical studies at the University of Michigan by Eliza Snow on Dr.Willard Richards endowment as directed by the prophet. Returning, Sis. Shipp worked with Sis. Snow's board to start an obstetrics school 1870, training 660 midwives., Sis Dr. Shipp studied in Michican for pediatrics under renowned MD and PhD chemist Victor Vaughn. Vaughn later was 66th AMA President,renowned for "study of organic and inorganic poisons held great interest for him. This led to further interest in sanitary measures, the pollution of wells and poisoning from cheese and other milk products" and was on the team founding American Pediatrics. Dr. Shipp brought all this education back from Michigan in medicine, sanitation and toxicology, applying it to the midwife training in Salt Lake. Dr. Shipp was mentored over the years by the extraordinary Dr. Vaughn, Dean of the medical school, studies founded on U. Michigan's superbe toxicology chemistry. Shipp returned to SLC, and eventually created LDS Childrens hospital under Relief Society, bolstered by St. Marks Hospotal Salt Lake. In 1869 Shipp, Snow and Margret Taylor (later President) organized "Young Ladies' Department of the Cooperative Retrenchment Association"Young Women (organization) to train as midwives. Despite being with medical and chemistry royalty, treating thousands and directing an army of midwives, Sis Shipp remained a humble sister in the Kingdom of God.
Shipp wrote the words to "Father, Cheer Our Souls Tonight", which is now a hymn of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). In 1910, she published a book of her own poems entitled, Life Lines.
Shipp served as a member of the General Board of the Relief Society from 1898 to 1907. She also served on the general board of the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association.
Shipp died at age 92 in Salt Lake City on January 31, 1939, of cancer in her neck.
Maps Ellis Reynolds Shipp
Honors
A neighborhood park in Salt Lake City, Utah, is named in Shipp's honor; it is located near where she lived and practiced medicine. A public health center in West Valley, Utah, is also named in her honor.
One of the women's dorms in Heritage Halls at Brigham Young University is named after Shipp.
For her work in medicine, Shipp is honored with a display room in the Pioneer Memorial Museum, which is maintained by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.
Notes
References
- Jenson, Andrew (1936), "Shipp, Dr. Ellis R.", Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 4, Salt Lake City, Utah: Andrew Jenson Memorial Association, p. 196 .
- McCloud, Susan Evans (1984), Not in Vain: The Inspiring Story of Ellis Shipp, Pioneer Woman Doctor, Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, ISBN 0-88494-529-4 .
- Scrivener, Laurie (2002), "Shipp, Ellis Reynolds (1847-1939): Physician", Biographical Dictionary of Women Healers, Westport, Connecticut: Oryx Press, pp. 258-259 .
- Shipp, Ellis Reynolds (1962), The Early Autobiography and Diary of Ellis Reynolds Shipp, M.D, Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News Press .
- Shipp, Ellis Reynolds (1985), While Others Slept: Autobiography and Journal of Ellis Reynolds Shipp, Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, ISBN 0-88494-569-3 .
Source of article : Wikipedia
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