- December 11, 2019 By Austin Farb For over a century, the Yale School of Medicine only accepted male students from its opening in 1813. It was not until 1916, that the first female students were admitted as well. Part of the reason was due to World War I, which reduced the number of qualified students to be admitted to Yale’s School of Medicine. Another reason women were admitted was because of Henry Farnam, who at the time was an economics professor at Yale. Henry Farnam’s daughter Louise, wanted to attend medical school but was disqualified based on her gender. Farnam responded to the situation by discussing the matter at multiple board meetings and by sending a letter to Yale President Arthur T. Hadley. In this letter, Farnam stated, "Word has reached me informally that the faculty of the Medical School are willing to admit a limited number of women provided they are graduates of a college and provided funds can be raised to put in a suitable lavatory. As the latte...