Ten pfennig. That’s all it cost. Look closely. This unassuming plaque on Alte Schönhauser Strasse commemorates Dr Emilie Lehmus and Dr Franziska Tiburtius. This seemingly small detail tells a monumental story. It’s the story of the Dr. Emilie Lehmus & Dr. Franziska Tiburtius Plaque.
Here in 1877 these two extraordinary women opened the first polyclinic for women and children in Berlin. Imagine the courage it took. Women were barred from German universities. They had to travel to Zurich to study medicine. They faced ridicule from male colleagues. They even faced court injunctions and slander. But they persevered.
Their clinic wasn’t just a place for treatment. It was a beacon of hope. It provided affordable care. Women who couldn’t afford the ten pfennig fee received treatment for free. This was revolutionary. It broke down barriers. It challenged societal norms.
The plaque doesn’t just tell their story. It whispers their resilience. Their dedication. Their compassion. It speaks of a time when women fought for their right to practice medicine. A time when they challenged a male-dominated system.
Dr Lehmus and Dr Tiburtius didn’t just become doctors. They became pioneers. They opened doors for generations of women. Their legacy lives on. Not only in this plaque but in every woman who follows their footsteps in the medical profession.
Their clinic eventually grew. It even included an operating room. They employed other female doctors. They trained them. They worked together. They lived their lives in what Dr Tiburtius called “a kind of intellectual communism”.
This plaque is a small but significant monument. It stands as a testament to their perseverance. Their success shows the importance of fighting for equality and justice. It is a reminder of their groundbreaking work. This is the story of the Dr. Emilie Lehmus & Dr. Franziska Tiburtius Plaque. Remember their names. Remember their fight. Remember their triumph.