American Physiological Society.From the very beginning, Ida Hyde's life was destined to be different and full of significant firsts. It was Ida's mother who was the primary wage earner in the family and not her father. Mrs. Hyde's business skills helped to maintain the family's middle-class lifestyle. In 1870, the great Chicago Fire destroyed their house and their business. Ida was forced to take over responsibility for the family's support. She taught for several years before beginning her college education at the age of 24. She earned a bachelor's degree in biological science from Cornell University, and from there, Ida Hyde went to work for the Marine Biology Lab at Woods Hole. She also assisted in biology at Bryn Mawr College while working at the Marine Biology Lab.
In 1896, Ida Hyde completed her Ph. D. studies at the University of Heidelberg, the first woman to ever receive one for
her type of work. Dr. Ida Hyde became the first woman ever to do research at the Harvard Medical School. In 1902, she
completed another first. She was the first woman ever elected to the all-male
American Physiological Society.
Within the broad field of physiology, Dr. Hyde investigated both invertebrate and vertebrate animals, and the phases
of physiology ranging from circulation, respiration, and nervous functions to the development of embryos. Ida Hyde's
major contribution to the world of physiology was the development of a stimulating electrode that is small enough
to be inserted in a cell, and which could simultaneously inject or
remove material.
