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.

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

Grand Slam finals

Doubles (1 title)

Outcome	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Winner	1899	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Myrtle McAteer	Maud Banks 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	James P. Gardner	Elizabeth Rastall Albert Hoskins	6–4, 6–0 & ab.

Other finals

Doubles (1 runner-up)

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

References