22 Facts About Gertrude Kelly

Gertrude Bride Kelly was a prominent New York City surgeon and suffragette, labour and social activist, Irish independence supporter, and anarchist.

Gertrude B Kelly was born Brigid Kelly on February 10,1862 in Carrick-on-Suir, Ireland to teachers Jeremiah Kelly and Kate Forrest Kelly.

Gertrude Kelly emigrated with her family to the United States in 1868, settling in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Gertrude Kelly's father went back into teaching in the public school system, becoming a principal of a New Jersey school in 1872.

Gertrude Kelly's father was the president of the Jersey City branch of the Land League.

An individualist anarchist in the 1880s, Gertrude Kelly published frequent articles in the periodicals Liberty and the Irish World.

Gertrude Kelly was the foremost woman contributor to Liberty and hugely praised by the editor Benjamin Tucker.

Gertrude Kelly was a member of the Ladies' Land League in America.

Gertrude Kelly believed in the No Rent Manifesto published by the Irish National Land League in 1881.

Gertrude Kelly founded a medical clinic in Chelsea as well as being on the surgical staff at the New York Infirmary for Women and Children for over 30 years.

Gertrude Kelly wrote numerous papers on surgical and medical procedures, and on social health issues.

Gertrude Kelly spoke against the practices of teaching women embroidery and art rather than making them self-sufficient.

Gertrude Kelly saw herself as an anarchist in the beginning but began to identify as a socialist in later years.

Gertrude Kelly made the point, "There is, properly speaking, no woman question, apart from the question of human rights and human liberty".

Gertrude Kelly was an atheist who referred to herself as an unredeemed pagan.

Gertrude Kelly never married but lived with her companion Mary Walsh.

Gertrude Kelly claimed to have been a member of almost every Irish association in New York.

Gertrude Kelly was the only female patron of the Gaelic Society in New York and served as the chairwoman of the 1913 Irish Historic Pageant.

Gertrude Kelly was president of the association and arranged new chapters around the country as well as arranging speakers and fundraising.

Gertrude Kelly did not support Irish Volunteer leader John Redmond's move to support the British armed forces in the First World War.

Gertrude Kelly was arrested during an anti-war demonstration during the war.

Gertrude Kelly was one of the organizers of the American Women Pickets for the Enforcement of America's War Aims which protested at the British Embassy in Washington in 1920.