Dr. Mary Edwards Walker Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

The first woman to be commissioned a surgeon in the Union Army in the Civil War, Dr. Mary E. Walker (1832-1919) was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1865. She is the only woman to receive this award, the highest military award given by the U.S. government. She was captured by the Confederate Army in 1864 while treating Confederate soldiers. They accused her of being a spy, but eventually released her as part of an exchange with the Union Army. Later in life, she became a prominent social reformer, engaging in the abolition movement and the feminist movement. She was particularly passionate about dress reform, insisting on wearing pants and shirts rather than dresses. In 1982, Walker was honored on a U.S. commemorative postage stamp.