Born: 8 November 1833, United States
Died: 3 December 1912
Country most active: United States
Also known as: NA
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Alice Bunker Stockham was an obstetrician and gynecologist from Chicago and the fifth woman to become a doctor in the United States. She advocated for gender equality, dress reform, birth control, and sexual fulfillment for both genders in successful marriages. In addition to her medical career, she was well-traveled and had notable acquaintances, including Leo Tolstoy and Havelock Ellis. Dr. Stockham’s visits to Sweden inspired her to introduce domestic craft education in the United States, establishing shop and home economics classes.