Saddle River Artist Carolyn Palmer Honors Trailblazers Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell and Dr. Sarah Loguen Fraser
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Saddle River NJ, a powerful new tribute to medical history has been unveiled in Syracuse, New York, thanks to the skilled hands of Saddle River sculptor Carolyn Palmer. Palmer’s remarkable talent has brought to life the stories of two monumental figures: Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S., and Dr. Sarah Loguen Fraser, the first African American woman to graduate from a co-ed medical school.
These 6-foot-2-inch, 400-pound bronze statues now stand as beacons of courage at the Weiskotten Hall entrance to the SUNY Upstate Medical University, celebrating the perseverance required to break medicine’s earliest gender and racial barriers.
The Pioneering Legacy of SUNY Upstate Alumni
The unveiling on October 23rd marked a major milestone in honoring the university’s groundbreaking legacy:
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Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell (1821–1910): In 1849, Blackwell graduated from Geneva College of Medicine (a predecessor to SUNY Upstate), becoming the first woman in the United States to earn a medical degree. She gained entry only after her 150 male classmates approved her acceptance as a joke—a joke she finished by graduating at the top of her class.
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Dr. Sarah Loguen Fraser (1850–1933): Graduating in 1876, Loguen Fraser became the first African American woman to earn a medical doctorate from the co-ed institution. Born in Syracuse to abolitionists who ran a major Underground Railroad stop, her life was dedicated to medicine and fighting societal norms. She later became the first woman licensed to practice medicine in the Dominican Republic.
The Sculptor’s Challenge: Capturing the Soul in Bronze
For New Jersey artist Carolyn Palmer, who is known for immortalizing figures like Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, and previous Popes, this project presented a unique challenge: limited visual references of the doctors in their younger years.
Palmer dedicated 18 months to the project, focusing on capturing the spirit behind their historic achievements. As she noted, “When visual references are limited, I search for the soul behind them by studying their life stories. My goal is to sculpt not just their likeness, but their presence.”
Palmer, as a woman working in the male-dominated field of sculpture, felt a deep connection to their struggles: “Their stories of courage and perseverance were captivating. It was an honor to immortalize these trailblazers in bronze.”
More Than Statues: The Lasting Impact
The commissioning of the Blackwell statue was part of SUNY Upstate Medical University’s campaign to celebrate the 200th anniversary of her birth, which also established scholarships and an annual lectureship in her name.
Similarly, Dr. Loguen Fraser’s legacy continues to inspire, with the Upstate Child Care Center named in her honor, and the annual Sarah Loguen Fraser Scholarship awarded to students who embody her ideals. She is also recognized yearly during Black History Month.
These statues stand as powerful symbols of courage, reminding us of the immense challenges faced by women and minorities entering the medical profession in the 1800s, and the enduring importance of diversity in medicine.
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