Marie Antoinette Bennette was a trailblazer, not only in the field of education, but also in the field of medicine.
There are many women in the history of the United States who have been trailblazers, not only in the teaching profession, but in other professions as well. One of these was Marie Antoinette Bennette, a California school teacher who was also a pioneer as a doctor.
Marie was born on November 25, 1858, one of four daughters of David and Maria Bennett. Her parents were immigrant ranchers of French descent. To honor her French heritage, Marie added an “e” at the end of her last name
As a young girl, Marie’s family transplanted themselves from Illinois to Single Springs in El Dorado County, California. Marie’s parents saw to it that their daughters received more education than was the norm for young ladies of the day. After her graduation from high school in Shingle Springs, Marie enrolled at San Jose Normal School, the first institution of higher learning established in California to train new teachers. Once she completed her education there, Marie moved to San Bernardino in southern California. There she became a well-respected teacher and, eventually, a principal.
Despite her success as an educator, Marie longed to become a doctor. While still working in the classroom, she studied medicine at night as an apprentice to Dr. W. H. Fox. Dr Fox earned notoriety as the first president of the San Bernardino County Medical Society. Eventually, Marie was able to enroll in medical school at Cooper Medical College. This institution later became the Stanford School of Medicine. On Nov. 11, 1885, Marie graduated from Cooper, with honors. Thus, Marie became the first female Californian to earn a medical diploma. Not content to finalize her education there, Marie continued her studies at the medical college and hospital clinic of Philadelphia. There she completed post-graduate work specializing in women’s and children’s diseases. She then returned to Oakland, where she established her first medical practice. She also became a Mrs., having married newspaper editor Will Nash.
In August, 1990, the adventurous couple traveled to Alaska, where Marie opened a hospital in the mining town of Porcupine. Three years later, Marie and Will moved to southeastern Arizona and settled in Bisbee, where Will accepted a position as the editor of the Tombstone Epitaph.
This Chalkboard Champion passed away on July 28, 1937, at the age of 78. She is buried in Pioneer Memorial Cemetery in Shingle Springs, California.
