“I refuse to be confined by society's expectations; instead, I will pave my own path and break barriers.” ~Dr. Mary Edwards Walker
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker shattered gender barriers when she became the first female surgeon in the U.S. and the only female recipient of the Medal of Honor for her work during the Civil War. She was also a fierce advocate for women's rights and dress reform, often receiving criticism for her decision to wear pants.
As the daughter of abolitionists, Walker was raised in a progressive household. Her parents didn't conform to the traditional gender roles of the time and didn't expect their children to either. The women were allowed to wear pants and ditch the corsets while they helped with physical labor around the farm, and the men helped with household chores. Walker's parents also opened their own school to ensure their daughters could get the same education as their son.
After graduating from her parents' school, Walker attended college at Falley Seminary, but her dream was to attend medical school. As a child, Walker had developed a love for medicine by spending hours poring over old medical journals her father had kept around the house. So, after she finished college, she worked as a teacher until she saved enough money to attend Syracuse Medical School, where she graduated with honors as the only woman in her class.
Walker started her own practice yet dropped everything at the start of the Civil War to help care for wounded soldiers. She signed up to become an Army surgeon but was turned away because of her gender. While she was told she could sign up as a nurse, she declined and became a civilian volunteer surgeon instead. Working in the field hospitals wasn't enough for Walker, so she began treating soldiers on the front lines. In 1863, her request to practice as a surgeon was finally accepted, and she officially became the first female U.S. Army Surgeon. She was brought on as a contract acting assistant surgeon, meaning she was a civilian surgeon serving the army. Despite her lack of military status, she regularly crossed battle lines to care for the wounded and in 1864, was captured by the Confederate army and held for four months until being released on a prisoner exchange.
In recognition of her efforts during the war, Walker was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1865. Out of over 3,500 recipients, she is the only woman in history to receive this award. Unfortunately, in 1916, the Army was directed to review the eligibility of past recipients as the eligibility requirements had changed. Since Walker was never officially commissioned into the Army and she hadn't been in combat, she was one of the 911 people who had their award revoked. Despite this decision, she refused to return the medal and never stopped wearing it, pinned proudly to her chest. In 1977, the Medal of Honor was reawarded to her posthumously.
After the war, Walker started writing and lecturing to advocate for dress reform and women's rights. She argued that the long skirts, layered petticoats, and tight corsets of women's dresses were unhygienic and impaired mobility. She was known for wearing pants under a short skirt and her signature top hat, and was frequently arrested for her clothing choices.
In 1871, Walker tried to register to vote but was turned away. This inspired her to become a member of the women's suffrage movement. This was short-lived, however, because she turned away from the traditional suffragists when they proposed a Constitutional amendment. She firmly believed the Constitution had already granted women the right to vote and that Congress just needed to enact enabling legislation. Since she disagreed with the tactics of the traditional suffragists, she continued to advocate for women's rights on her own, being ignored by the other suffragists who thought her abrasive nature was harmful to the movement. Despite her public opinion, Walker testified twice about women's suffrage before the U.S. House.
The Mary Edwards Walker Quarter design was discussed at the March 1, 2023, Citizens Coinage Advisory (CCAC) meeting. During the meeting, the committee spent a lot of time discussing the redundancy of the Medal of Honor on the coin. Some people felt that including three representations of the medal, the close-up, on her coat, and written with the date, was overkill and that other aspects of her life could also be highlighted. Others argued that the different representations all held merit. The medal pinned to her jacket is different from how it is worn today, but that is how she wore it every day, so it was important to include. Many also felt it was important to include a close-up view of the medal and the award's name, since most civilians aren't familiar with it. The committee wanted her honor to be clear.
The committee also liked how the portrait showed her determination and young age. She was only in her 30s when she signed up to be a surgeon for the war, something most people don't know. They wanted to ensure a youthful portrait was chosen to highlight this fact. She is also seen holding her surgeon's kit, highlighting the fact that she was a doctor and her service during the war.