Dr. Mary Walker, CMOH, Cabinet Card, Plus

Cabinet card of Mary Walker in her later years wearing her Medal of Honor. Collins Studio: Oswego, NY, n.d., ca 1880s. With four 20 cent postage stamps from the USPS "American Commemoratives" series, 1982.

An 1855 graduate of Syracuse Medical College, Mary Walker (1832-1919) was an author and early feminist who gained distinction during the Civil War as a humanitarian, surgeon and spy. Walker was actually appointed surgeon of the 52nd OVI in 1863 by General Thomas in recognition of her skills and was captured in 1864 and ultimately exchanged for a Confederate officer "man for man." She was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in January 1866 on the personal recommendation of General Sherman and refused to part with it when it was revoked for "unusual circumstances" along with numerous other Civil War medals in 1917. Dr. Walker died in 1919 and it was not until 1977 that President Carter officially reinstated the award. Mary Walker remains the only woman recipient of the CMOH.
Condition Report: Toning to image and mount. Image has faded a bit. Few scattered spots on image and mount. Minor surface soiling. Some corner, edge wear to mount, including bumped top left corner.