Jane Craven

Dr. Jane Wells Craven (born January 25, 1875, in India, but lived primarily in Chicago, Illinois) was an American doctor, prize winning tennis player, World War I. ambulance driver and medic.

Jane Wells Craven
Born(1875-01-25)January 25, 1875
Lucknow, India
NationalityAmerican
EducationNorthwestern University
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
circa 1898
Occupation(s)physician, tennis player, WWI ambulance driver

Craven won the 1899 U.S. National Championships in women's doubles tennis, alongside her teammate Myrtle McAteer. She was awarded the Croix de Guerre in 1917 for her medical service in France during World War I.

She later became a Roman Catholic nun and took the name Sister Elizabeth.

Early life and education

Jane Wells Craven was born on 25 January 1875 in Lucknow, India, to Jane Maria (née Wells) (d. 1914)[1] and Reverend Thomas Craven. Her parents married in 1870, her mother was from New York state and her father was a Welsh-born Methodist Missionary. "Jennie," as she was known in the family, had three siblings: Theodora (b. 1872), Henry (b. 1874) and Merritt (b. 1876).[2]

The Craven family immigrated to the United States in 1879[3] and had settled in Evanston, Illinois by 1880, where Jane Wells Craven attended Evanston Township high school. She studied medicine at Northwestern University in Evanston,[4] graduating around 1898 with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree.[2][5][6] Her siblings Theodora and Henry also attended Northwestern.[7]

Craven eventually began playing lawn tennis and won the 1899 US Women's National Championship in women's doubles with Myrtle McAteer. They later played together on 30 June 1909 and won a qualifying match in the Western Pennsylvania Tennis Association tournament.[8]

In 1900, Craven narrowly escaped marrying a serial bigamist when one of his wives wrote to her and warned her of the situation. She replied "Thank you for your warning. Have learned the truth in time".[9]

Medical career

By 1899, Dr. Craven was living and working in osteopathic medicine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,[1] as listed in the city's directory.[2]

By 1905, Craven had returned to her birthplace of Lucknow in India and was using her medical expertise to help to plague victims there. She spoke Hindi. Before 1910, she worked in Egypt, again as part of medical teams fighting contagious diseases and plague. By 1911, Craven had returned to Pittsburgh, when she was runner-up to Hazel Hotchkiss in a tennis event.[2]

Whilst living in Pittsburgh, Craven visited the Iron City Fishing Club in Moon Bay, Woods Bay in the Massasauga Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. She purchased Island B69 in 1912, built a cottage on it and called it Dilkusha, from Hindi. Craven sold the island in 1920, having reportedly found solace there from the traumas of her medical work in World War One.[10]

World War One

Craven was instrumental in raising funds in Pittsburgh to take a field ambulance and crew to the French front during World War I. She drove the ambulance herself.[11][2]

In December 1917, she was awarded the Croix de Guerre for her work during the war. She is thought to be the first American woman to be honored with the award.[12][2][13]

Tennis

Doubles (1 title)
Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Winner 1899 U.S. National Championships Grass United States Myrtle McAteer United States Maud Banks
United States Elizabeth Rastall		 6–1, 6–1, 7–5

Mixed doubles (1 runner-up)
Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up 1899 U.S. National Championships Grass United States James P. Gardner United States Elizabeth Rastall
United States Albert Hoskins		 6–4, 6–0 & ab.

Doubles (1 runner-up)
Outcome Year Championship Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up 1910 Cincinnati tournament United States Miriam Steever United States Martha Kinsey
United States Helen McLaughlin		 6–1, 4–6, 3–6

References
  1. "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 12 Mar 1914, page Page 7". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  2. "Biographies of Female Tennis Players". Tennis Forum. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  3. "1900 United States Federal Census". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  4. "2018.46.77 - 2018.46 | Museum of Osteopathic Medicine". momicoh.pastperfectonline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  5. "2021.14.01 - 2021.14 | Museum of Osteopathic Medicine". momicoh.pastperfectonline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  6. "2018.46.10 - 2018.46 | Museum of Osteopathic Medicine". momicoh.pastperfectonline.com. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  7. www.ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/344813821:2469?tid=&pid=&queryId=2a79fedf3c2f6c35813ca4034872b8bb&_phsrc=ACJ304&_phstart=successSource&gsfn=&gsln=&h=344813821. Retrieved 2023-05-01. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. Humanities, National Endowment for the (1909-06-30). "The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, June 30, 1909, LAST EDITION, Image 11". p. 11. ISSN 2766-5542. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  9. Humanities, National Endowment for the (1903-01-06). "The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, January 06, 1903, Image 7". p. 7. ISSN 1941-2959. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  10. "Craven Island B69 - (The Gilles) - Woods Bay Community Association". Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  11. "The Gazette Times". news.google.com. October 1915. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  12. Humanities, National Endowment for the (1917-12-20). "Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, December 20, 1917, Sports Extra, Image 1". ISSN 2151-3945. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  13. "Chicago Tribune Thu Dec 20 1917". Ancestry.com. 1917.
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