Ellis, Constance (1872-1942)

Field of activity
Medical practitioner; academic; general practitioner; obstetrician/gynaecologist; pathologist; Physician
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-754059

Biographies

ELLIS, CONSTANCE (1872-1942), medical practitioner, was born on 2 November 1872 at Carlton, Melbourne, sixth child of Louis Ellis, deputy sheriff and later sheriff of Victoria, and his wife Lydia Constance, née Phillips; both parents were born in New South Wales of Jewish stock. 'Connie' herself never married. In 1886 she entered the Presbyterian Ladies' College, where she completed a brilliant scholastic career in 1890. She enrolled for the medical course at the University of Melbourne in 1894, and from 1896 to 1898 attended the Janet Clarke hostel, Trinity College, as a non-resident. She gained honours in every year of the course, and at the final examinations in March 1899 came second in surgery and third in medicine. This entitled her to a residentship at the (Royal) Melbourne Hospital, and after a year there she spent a further two years residency at the (Royal) Children's Hospital. She took up general and obstetric practice in Wattletree Road, Malvern.

View the full record at Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Constance Ellis became the first woman graduate of the University of Melbourne to obtain the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) in March 1903. She joined the pathology department of the Queen Victoria Hospital in 1902 and was honorary pathologist from 1908 until 1919. Ellis was the first woman to become a demonstrator and lecturer of Pathology at the University of Melbourne. A foundation member of the Lyceum Club, Ellis was also a member of the Medical Women’s Society, the Australian Association for Fighting Venereal Diseases, the Victorian branch of the British Medical Association, the National Council of Women of Victoria, the Victorian Baby Health Centre Association and the Emily McPherson College.

  • 1886 - 1890 Educated at Presbyterian Ladies' College (PLC)
  • 1894 Enrolled for the medical course at the University of Melbourne
  • 1896 - 1898 Attended Janet Clarke hostel, Trinity College, as a non-resident
  • March 1899 At the final examinations Ellis came second in surgery and third in medicine
  • 1902 Joined the honorary staff of the Queen Victoria Hospital
  • March 1903 Obtained the degree of Doctor of Medicine (by examination)
  • 1908 - 1919 Honorary pathologist at the Queen Victoria Hospital
  • 1911 President of the Old Collegians' Association (PLC)
  • 1911 - 1942 Council member of the College of Domestic Economy (later Emily McPherson College)
  • 1912 Vice-president and one of the founders of the Lyceum Club (Melb.)
  • 1918 - 1919 President of the Lyceum Club
  • 1920 - 1942 Vice-president of the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association
  • 1925 Took part in PLC's jubilee congress, a two-day discussion on social and welfare matters
  • July 1925 Became a member of the first committee of the Melbourne Business and Professional Women's Club
  • 1932 - 1934 Council president of the Emily McPherson College

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Constance Ellis was the first women to graduate with a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Melbourne (1903). Her undergraduate record was outstanding as she gained honours in every year of her course and in her final year exams came second in surgery and third in medicine. Ellis gained a one-year residentship at the Melbourne Hospital and later established a private obstetrics and general medicine practice in Malvern. She held many other posts at various hospitals around Melbourne. Constance Ellis was also an inaugural council member of the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association and its vice-president from 1920 to 1942; president of the Medical Women's Society; councillor of the British Medical Association, Victorian branch; and the first Australian female councillor of the parent British Medical Association.

  • 1894 - 1899 Education - Bachelor of Medicine (MB) and Bachelor of Surgery (ChB) completed at the University of Melbourne
  • c. 1900 Career position - Resident at the Melbourne Hospital
  • 1901 - 1902 Career position - Resident at the Children's Hospital, Melbourne
  • 1902 - 1907 Career position - Honorary Surgeon at the Queen Victoria Hospital
  • 1903 Education - Doctor of Medicine (MD) received from the University of Melbourne
  • 1908 - 1919 Career position - Honorary Pathologist at the Queen Victoria Hospital
  • 1918 - 1919 Career position - Founder and President of the Lyceum Club
  • 1920 - 1942 Career position - Vice-President of the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association

View the full record at Encyclopedia of Australian Science

Related people and organisations

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Australian Women's Register

Resources for Constance Ellis

Selected resources (16)

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Australian Women's Register

  1. Ellis, Constance (1872 - 1942)History of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences at Melbourne Centre for the Study of Health and Society : Ellis, Constance (1872 - 1942)
    Westmore, Ann
    [2003]
    Published: University of Melbourne
    Series: http://www.cshs.unimelb.edu.au/umfm/biogs/FM00126b.htm
  2. Ellis, Constance (1872-1942)Australian Dictionary of Biography Online 08 : Ellis, Constance (1872-1942)
    Ellis, A S
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
    Series: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080456b.htm
  3. Constance Ellis200 Australian women : a Redress anthology Radi, Heather 92-93 : Constance Ellis
    Radi, Heather
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press Inc.
  4. The Emily Mac : the story of the Emily McPherson College, 1906-1979
    Docherty, James
    [1981]
    Published: Ormond
  5. This mad folly: the history of Australia's pioneer women doctors
    Hutton Neve, M. ( Marjorie)
    [1980]
    Published: Library of Australian History
  6. Where are the Women in Australian science?
    Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    Series: http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/wisa/wisa.html
  7. A History of the Lyceum Club Melbourne
    Gillison, Joan M
    [1975]
    Published: The Lyceum Club
  8. 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology
    Radi, Heather
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press
  9. State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection: Papers and history of the Lyceum Club (1970 - 1975)
    "Not a grey hair among us", a brief history of the foundation and development of the Lyceum Club of Melbourne in the years 1912-1959, a talk given to "The Catalysts", Lyceum Club, 15 September 1970, by Joan Gillison. Also, notes and correspondence of Joan Gillison, 1970-1975, relating to the Lyceum Club.
    MS 9182
  10. National Library of Australia: National Council of Women of Victoria Minutes (1904 - 1960)
    Mfm G 7541-7544
  11. Private Hands (contact Australian Women's Archive Project): National Council of Women of Victoria (1902 - )
  12. State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection: The Catalysts (1910 - 2000)
    A collection of papers read by members of the Catalysts at their monthly meetings, c1921-1981; Miss Doubledays's copies of papers; minute books, 1910-1997; notices of meetings; financial records; correspondence; press cuttings; and biographical information about early members.
    MS 11233

Encyclopedia of Australian Science

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  1. ELLIS Family History
    Created by Jann.Gallen, 1 item.

    Ellis family(-lies) of Golden Gully, Tambaroora and Hill End NSW

  2. Roome Constance Louisa
    Created by lizku, 3 items.

  3. James Ellis
    Created by mcjools, 8 items.

    Possibles for James Ellis Sr.

  1. Phillips, Rebecca (1872-1942)
    ... , mother of Emanuel Phillips Fox, and Lydia, mother of Dr Constance Ellis. P. D. Phillips ...
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.137)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.137)

  2. Ellis, Constance Jane (1860-1959)
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.045)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.045)

  3. Ellis, M. H., (Malcolm Henry) (1890-1969)
    ... Thomas James Ellis, an Irish-born storekeeper and bookkeeper, and his wife Constance ...
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.03)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.03)

  1. Website: 200 Australian Women
    www.200australianwomen.com
    Matching pages:
    • Constance Ellis - 5/11/2007
    • ... [Constance Ellis]Constance Ellis 1872 - 1942 doctor Constance Ellis (1872-1942), doctor, was born...
    View 5 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.077)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.077)

  2. Website: Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au
    Matching pages:
    View 299 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.059)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.059)

  3. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 72 matching archived pages
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.054)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 0.054)

  1. [Dr. Constance Ellis]
    Clarke, Pegg, ...
    [ Photograph : 1934 ]
  2. [Dr. Constance Ellis] Pegg Clarke. ...
    Clarke, Pegg, 1...
    [ Photograph : 1934 ]
  1. The mysterious Benedict Society / Trenton Lee Stewart ; illustrated by Carson Ellis
    Stewart, Trenton Lee
    Cricket
    [ Book, Audio book, Article : 2007-2011 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    At 50 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.107)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.107)

  2. Perry Ellis realigns its design studio. (Perry Ellis International) (Brief Article)
    White, Constance C.R
    WWD
    [ Article : 1992 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.067)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.067)

  3. Hamlet / William Shakespeare
    Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
    [ Book, Audio book, Article : 1603-2009 ]
    Languages: English, Spanish, French, [26 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 201 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.061)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.061)

  4. Perry Ellis to resume bridge line for Fall '91. (Perry Ellis International Inc. plans women's apparel line)
    White, Constance C.R
    WWD
    [ Article : 1990 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.058)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.058)

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  1. I seek adventure : an autobiographical account of pioneering experiences in outback Queensland from 1889-1904 / Constance Jane Ellis
    Ellis, Constance Jane, 1860-1959
    [ Book : 1981 ]
    At 37 libraries
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.761)

    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.761)

  2. Pillars of gold / Alice Thomas Ellis
    Ellis, Alice Thomas
    [ Book, Audio book : 1992-2001 ]
    At 32 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.118)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.118)

  3. The mysterious Benedict Society / Trenton Lee Stewart ; illustrated by Carson Ellis
    Stewart, Trenton Lee
    Cricket
    [ Book, Audio book, Article : 2007-2011 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    At 50 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.109)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.109)

  4. Constance Fenimore Woolson / arranged and edited by Clare Benedict
    Woolson, Constance Fenimore, 1840-1894
    [ Book : 1930 ]
    At 2 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.101)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.101)

  1. [Biographical cuttings on Ellis Constance, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]
    [ Published : 1900-1990 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.28)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.28)

  2. Papers
    Pearce, Harry Hastings, 1897-1984
    [ Unpublished : 1875-1984 ]
    At National Library
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.071)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.071)

  3. Hilton, Hope A
    Hope Hilton
    [ Unpublished : 1815 ]
    View online (access conditions)
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.011)

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  1. I seek adventure / Constance Jane Ellis
    Ellis, Constance Jane, 1860-1959
    [ Sound : 1987 ]
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    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.231)

  2. Pillars of gold / Alice Thomas Ellis
    Ellis, Alice Thomas
    [ Book, Audio book : 1992-2001 ]
    At 32 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.118)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.118)

  3. The mysterious Benedict Society / Trenton Lee Stewart ; illustrated by Carson Ellis
    Stewart, Trenton Lee
    Cricket
    [ Book, Audio book, Article : 2007-2011 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    At 50 libraries
    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.109)

    This resource may be of limited relevance to your query (score: 0.109)

  4. Hamlet / William Shakespeare
    Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
    [ Book, Audio book, Article : 1603-2009 ]
    Languages: English, Spanish, French, [26 others]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
    At 201 libraries
    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.054)

    This resource may only be vaguely related to your query: matching terms may only have been found in the full text contents of the resource (score: 0.054)

  1. OBITUARY Dr. Constance Ellis
    Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890 - 1954) Friday 11 September 1942 p 2 Article
    ... OBITUARY Dr. Constance Ellis I MELBOURNE, Thursday. - Dr. Constance stance Ellis, who died at her home at South Yarra this morning and was privately ly buried this afternoon, was the first woman doctor in Victoria to obtain the decree of W.D. Dr. Ellis wa* the first woman demonstrator in pathology ... 55 words
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    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.845)

  2. WOMAN'S REALM TRIBUTES TO DR. CONSTANCE ELLIS
    The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) Saturday 31 August 1935 p 19 Article
    ... WOMAN'S REALM "TRIBUTES TO DR. CONSTANCE ELLIS An interesting feature of the annual meeting Ine of ... ady Hunting field present \estcidny afternoon was the number of tributes that weie paid to Dr rnnstnncc Ellis foi ... snld that he considered it a privilege to Join In any tribute to Dr Ellis, who was one of the most ... 233 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.149)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.149)

  3. NEVER TIRED. DISTINGUISHED WOMAN MEDICO. DR. CONSTANCE ELLIS'S VISIT.
    The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) Friday 18 May 1928 p 7 Article
    ... NEVER TIRED. DISTINGUISHED WOMAN MEDICO. DR. CONSTANCE ELLIS'S VISIT. --A quiet pride in the ... larly medical women, -women, was shown by Dr. Cflustanco 'Ellis, president of the Vic -.oiiau Women Graduates' ... Women Graduates' As- sociation is but logical. Dr. Ellis has tremendous faith in the possibilities ... 763 words
    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.146)

    This resource is likely to be relevant to your query (score: 1.146)