Tara Wink
One-hundred fifty years ago, Emilie Foeking made the crowning achievement of her academic career: She became the first woman to graduate from a University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) school.
Foeking (sometimes spelled Focking) graduated from the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery (BCDS), a predecessor to the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD), in 1873 with her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree; her graduation also marked the first time a woman had graduated from any medical or dental school in Baltimore.
Foeking was born Dec. 1, 1837, at Georgenthal, the estate of her father, Georg Foeking, near Dirschau in Danzig, Prussia, and was one of 12 children. Her sister, Therese Foeking, was a well-known kindergarten teacher and children’s book author.
When Emilie Foeking sought a dental education in Prussia and Germany, she was denied admittance, because women were not permitted to study in the country’s medical or dental schools. Therefore, Foeking pursued a degree in the United States where fellow countrywoman Henriette Hirschfield had just obtained a dental degree at the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery in 1869. Hirschfield was the first German woman to graduate with a dental degree in the United States. Unfortunately, when Foeking applied to the Pennsylvania school, she was turned away because the male students at the school vehemently protested woman students as distractions and unfit for dental education.
Dr. James Truman, then dean of the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, contacted BCDS Dean Ferdinand J.S. Gorgas asking for his consideration of Foeking. She was admitted to the school and graduated Feb. 27, 1873.
‘Novelty’ Vs. Important Milestone
Her graduation received mixed reports in local and national newspapers and professional journals. The Baltimore American reported her graduation as an “interesting feature” and a “novelty.” The article included a brief statement of her academic performance and a lengthy description of Foeking’s attire and appearance, a sketch not made of her male colleagues. The report of her graduation was reprinted in other state papers, including the Richmond Dispatch, in articles of a similar manner.
Alternatively, the American Journal of Dental Science, the first dental periodical in the world, reported about Foeking’s graduation in March 1873. In this article, Foeking’s graduation was highlighted as an important milestone in BCDS’ 33-year history. The article highlighted her achievements and work and placed faith in her abilities as a dentist, stating, “That she will succeed in establishing a large and lucrative practice, there is no doubt, as she is well qualified professionally, and is in manner so perfect a lady as to command the respect of all who know her.”
Additionally, Foeking’s BCDS thesis “Is Woman Adapted to the Dental Profession?” was published in the April 1873 edition of the American Journal of Dental Science. Foeking’s thesis responds to the widespread belief in the United States and Europe that women were incapable of successful careers in medical fields. Foeking, while steering clear of calling herself a “strong-minded” feminist, specifically outlines the reasons why women are well suited for these fields and why 19th-century society should accept women in these roles and remove the associated stigma. Her thesis remains a strong contemporary argument for women’s place in science, technology, engineering, and math fields.
From Baltimore to Germany
After graduation, Foeking remained in Baltimore, working with a dentist and 1865 BCDS graduate, Dr. Thomas Sollers Waters, at 43 Hanover St. until the building was damaged in a fire in September 1873. Foeking was living in the building at the time and had to be carried from the residence but was not hurt.
In 1874, Foeking married Johann Heinrich Wiede, a dental technician, in Berlin, Germany. She had dental practices in Danzig, Schwerin, Leipzig, and Stralsund. Wiede-Foeking finally landed in Lübeck, where she practiced until 1910. Her daughter, Emilie Wieda (Anglicized Emmy Wyda), was an actress who appeared in 80 films from 1913 to 1941.
Foeking died in Dresden on Nov. 28, 1910. After Foeking’s graduation from BCDS, women continued to receive dental education at the school after it merged with UMSOD in 1924.
