Florence Rena Sabin (1871-1953) was an American anatomist and medical researcher. Her excellent and innovative work on the origins of the lymphatic system, blood cells, and immune system cells, and on the pathology of tuberculosis was well-recognized during her lifetime. She was also a trailblazer for women in science: the first woman to hold a full professorship at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, the first woman elected to the National Academy of Sciences, and the first woman to head a department at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research. In her retirement years, she pursued a second career as a public health activist in Colorado, and in 1951 received a Lasker Award for this work.

As part of its Profiles in Science project, the National Library of Medicine has made available online, in collaboration with the Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College and the American Philosophical Society, a digitized selection of the Florence R. Sabin Papers. This website provides access to the portions of the Florence R. Sabin Papers that are now publicly available. Individuals interested in conducting research using the full collections of Florence R. Sabin Papers should contact the Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College and the American Philosophical Society.

This Profile is designed to introduce you to the various phases of Sabin's scientific career and professional life. Narrative sections available from the navigation bar under "The Story" focus on Sabin's life and major scientific contributions.

Researchers can search the digitized items using the Search box or browse all Documents and Visuals in the collection by selecting "Collection Items" from the navigation bar.