For a short time in the early 1850's, Rochester led the country in women's coeducational medical education. Central Medical College encouraged women to study with men, and granted the MD in medicine to a small group of intrepid and forward thinking women who now occupy places in our history books. Unfortunately, this short period of our nation's medical history is all but forgotten today. What caused the school to start? Who attended? Who graduated? What ties were there between these women and the Woman Suffrage movement? There are surprising connections between our region and the start of this college, which we hope you will enjoy learning about.

Jane Oakes is a native of Victor, NY, where she grew up a short bike ride away from Valentown Museum and the late historian, J. Sheldon Fisher. By the time she was in her early teens, she'd spent so much time at Valentown that Mr. Fisher occasionally allowed her to lead tours, help sell penny candy, and assist with his electrical medicine show, now in the Smithsonian. This early exposure to local history cemented a lifelong love of the topic, and sharing knowledge with the public.

A graduate  of SUNY Geneseo with a Degree in Theater and a minor in Anthropology, she began working for Genesee Country Village and Museum, and continue there for 23 years, demonstrating open hearth cooking and teaching youth and adult classes. She also was the Education Coordinator for the Mills Mansion Museum in Mt. Morris, and has been a consultant for several other NYSX museums. She has served on the Boards of the Town of York Historical Society and the Livingston County Historical Society.

She currently resides in Mt. Morris, where she has recently retired from running a specialty food store and tea room.