AUBURN — Androscoggin Historical Society will host an author talk by Annette Vance Dorey at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 22. She will speak about her research and the women in her recent book, “’Miss Dr. Lucy’ and Maine’s Pioneering Female Physicians, 1850s–1920.”

The book contains more than 170 biographical profiles of Maine’s earliest female practitioners. Two dozen of those early healers worked or lived in Androscoggin County.

How hard was it for females to gain admission to medical schools? Which colleges accepted women in pursuit of a medical career? Were those women mainly married or single?

Dorey will answer those questions and more. These books tell the stories of the personal and professional lives of women long forgotten. Women had to be strong and determined to earn their medical degrees and pursue careers as doctors when it was still a man’s profession.

Some were married to other doctors. Some were married to medicine and remained single. Many were Maine natives who traveled far for their medical training, but then did not return with their medical degree. Many came from other states and chose to establish medical careers in Maine.

The women varied in background, family life, medical training and medical disciplines.

An impressive number of these women were very involved in their professional medical associations, as well as in suffrage organizations and campaigns. The goal for many was to see equal rights granted to American women, and not only in medicine.

Dorey’s other recent books include “Maine Mothers Who Murdered 1875 to 1925: Doing Time in State Prison” (2012), and “Maine’s First Female Doctors” (2014).

Books will be available for purchase and signing. Advance copies are available at Annette-Writes.com.

Admission for this program is free, although donations are gratefully accepted. For more information about the Society, call 207-784-0586. This event is held at the Society’s museum on the third floor of the County Building, 2 Turner St. An elevator is available.