Partner Dora Mason

Queer Places:
34 Kimbolton Rd, Bedford MK40 2NX, UK

Ethel Maud Stacy (1877–1938) was a prominent physician, suffragist, and community leader based in Bedfordshire. After qualifying in medicine in London in 1904, she moved to Bedford, where she had established her medical practice by 1907 or 1908. Beyond her clinical work, Stacy was a core figure in the local fight for women's rights. In 1908, she hosted the foundational meeting to discuss forming the Bedford Society for Women's Suffrage at her home, located at 34 Kimbolton Road in Bedford. She took on significant administrative responsibilities within the organization, serving as both honorary secretary and honorary treasurer. She remained a leading figure in the society until 1918, when its members agreed to dissolve the group following the passage of the Representation of the People Act.

Throughout her career, Dr. Stacy maintained close professional, social, and personal connections within networks of professional women and fellow suffragists. She practiced medicine alongside Dr. Dora Mason, sharing a joint professional life in Bedford. In addition to her general practice, Dr. Stacy ran a nursing home directly from her Kimbolton Road address up until the time of her death. Her leadership in civic and professional organizations continued into her later years, notably serving as the president of the Bedford Soroptimist Club in 1934.

Dr. Stacy's life and testamentary dispositions reflect deep personal and professional ties that intersect with early 20th-century LGBTQ and women's history. These domestic and professional partnerships between female doctors were common among pioneering women of her era, often offering both personal companionship and independent livelihoods. In her will, Dr. Stacy specifically bequeathed her midwifery bag and medical instruments to her co-practitioner, Dr. Dora Mason. Furthermore, she left her collection of china and glass to Dr. Jane Walker, an influential physician and close personal friend of the prominent suffragist leader Millicent Garrett Fawcett. These enduring co-habitations, shared practices, and targeted personal bequests highlight the closely knit personal and professional networks built by early female medical professionals and suffragists.

References:

Women, Peace and Welfare: A Suppressed History of Social Reform, 1880-1920 Paperback – June 1, 2019 by Ann Oakley

Other references:

• Medical Registers & Medical Directories (1904–1938): Records tracking medical qualifications in London (1904) and medical practice listings at 34 Kimbolton Road, Bedford, including entries for joint practice with Dr. Dora Mason and the operation of her nursing home.
• National Archives & Principal Probate Registry Records: Probate records and Last Will and Testament entries detailing bequests (including medical instruments to Dr. Dora Mason, and china and glass to Dr. Jane Walker).
• Bedfordshire Archives and Local Studies Service: Minutes and administrative files of the Bedford Society for Women's Suffrage (1908–1918), recording the founding meeting held at 34 Kimbolton Road, as well as role listings for Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer.
• British Medical Journal (BMJ) Archives: Official notices, committee reports, and obituaries regarding Dr. Stacy's involvement with the Maternity and Child Welfare Subcommittee and local medical administration.
• Soroptimist International & Local Women's History Archives: Records of the Bedford Soroptimist Club documenting Dr. Stacy's presidency in 1934, along with secondary local history publications detailing the networks of early female doctors and suffragists in Bedfordshire.

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