Comments on: When Dead White Men Were Actually Dead White Women, and other historical things that interest me http://www.feministsdontbakebread.com/2007/05/05/when-dead-white-men-were-actually-dead-white-women-and-other-historical-things-that-interest-me/ Neither do they knit. Apparently. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:02:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Caro http://www.feministsdontbakebread.com/2007/05/05/when-dead-white-men-were-actually-dead-white-women-and-other-historical-things-that-interest-me/#comment-1171 Caro Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:52:58 +0000 http://www.feministsdontbakebread.com/2007/05/05/when-dead-white-men-were-actually-dead-white-women-and-other-historical-things-that-interest-me/#comment-1171 Hi, some references which might interest you: Julie Wheelwright, Amazons and Military Maids, Pandora, 1989 (about a whole range of women who passed as men in various contexts including the military). Alison Oram has written some articles and has a book coming out soon on cross-dressing women. Patricial Duncker, James Miranda Barry, 2000: a novel based on the facts of this case, although it does take some liberties with them. Hi, some references which might interest you:
Julie Wheelwright, Amazons and Military Maids, Pandora, 1989 (about a whole range of women who passed as men in various contexts including the military).
Alison Oram has written some articles and has a book coming out soon on cross-dressing women.
Patricial Duncker, James Miranda Barry, 2000: a novel based on the facts of this case, although it does take some liberties with them.

]]> By: CrankyCrone http://www.feministsdontbakebread.com/2007/05/05/when-dead-white-men-were-actually-dead-white-women-and-other-historical-things-that-interest-me/#comment-1170 CrankyCrone Fri, 08 Jun 2007 02:43:27 +0000 http://www.feministsdontbakebread.com/2007/05/05/when-dead-white-men-were-actually-dead-white-women-and-other-historical-things-that-interest-me/#comment-1170 To my knowledge women were not allowed into the British Army until the 20th century (<a href="http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Wwaac.htm" rel="nofollow">in a limited capacity in WW1</a>). The British Army was (is?) The Original Boys Club. In the 18th & 19th centuries, the rank of Surgeon in the BA was an officer rank, and like other officer ranks, not open to 'just anybody'. The system of officers was one of recommendation and coming from 'a good family'. There should be some information on Dr Barry's Army career at <a href="http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/?source=home" rel="nofollow">The National Archives</a> in Kew (an online search yielded no results). It is doubtful that people knew or suspected that she was female at the time. I found James Barry MD listed in <em>Hart's Annual Army List 1860</em>. This gives the following career dates: Hospital Assistant 5 July 1813, Assistant Surgeon 7 Dec 1815, Surgeon (no date given), Staff Surgeon 22 Nov 1827, Deputy Inspector General 16 May 1851, Inspector General 7 Dec 1858, Placed on Half Pay (retirement) 19 July 1859. To my knowledge women were not allowed into the British Army until the 20th century (in a limited capacity in WW1). The British Army was (is?) The Original Boys Club.

In the 18th & 19th centuries, the rank of Surgeon in the BA was an officer rank, and like other officer ranks, not open to ‘just anybody’. The system of officers was one of recommendation and coming from ‘a good family’. There should be some information on Dr Barry’s Army career at The National Archives in Kew (an online search yielded no results). It is doubtful that people knew or suspected that she was female at the time.

I found James Barry MD listed in Hart’s Annual Army List 1860. This gives the following career dates: Hospital Assistant 5 July 1813, Assistant Surgeon 7 Dec 1815, Surgeon (no date given), Staff Surgeon 22 Nov 1827, Deputy Inspector General 16 May 1851, Inspector General 7 Dec 1858, Placed on Half Pay (retirement) 19 July 1859.

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