By SALINA POST
Salina Post proudly presents Flashback Friday in partnership with the Smoky Hill Museum. Enjoy a weekly tidbit of local history from the staff at Salina Post and the Smoky Hill Museum as we present "Salina-Flashback Fridays."
“I happen to be a registered pharmacist, but at times I have wondered whether I would be welcomed at the meetings and conventions because the meetings always say ‘the women will do so and so.’”
– Amy Rasher, the first woman in Salina to own and run a pharmacy
Filling In, Filling Rx
The World Wars brought about a noticeable shortage of male pharmacists. Pharmacy schools actively pursued women and as a result, women began to embrace the field of pharmacy.
Typical of the era, women had to prove their competence to their male counterparts. Most people believed women should only enter the hospital pharmacy or medical technology fields, rather than seek employment in drug stores.
After WWII, many women returned to domestic life. This presented a challenging landscape for female pharmacists as they tried to establish themselves in the profession. Despite these obstacles, women persisted and continued to make strides in the field of pharmacy.
READ MORE: 📸 Flashback Friday: Salina Post - Irene Nelson Carlson - Vol. 40
The percentage of female pharmacists in the United States more than doubled, rising from 4% to 9% between 1940 and 1950.
A Scientific Education Journey
Amy Rasher really loved to learn and teach. She started her career in Solomon, Kansas, as a teacher, a common vocation for many of her time. Rasher stood out because she put all her energy into science and math.
While teaching in Kingman, she lived with the Reynolds family. There she gained practical experience filling prescriptions for Pharmacist Stanley Reynolds. Because of her interest in science, she went to the University of Kansas to study pharmacy in 1945.
At KU, she became the president of Kappa Epsilon's Mu chapter, a group that brought together women in pharmacy. Their motto was "I think, therefore I am."
Rasher graduated in 1947 and passed the test from the Kansas State Board of Pharmacy. After graduation, Stanley Reynolds proudly advertised in the Kingman newspaper that the store now had another registered pharmacist. Rasher had acquired the necessary training to understand how medications worked, allowing her to provide valuable advice to customers.
After working for a while as a pharmacist in Kingman, Rasher moved to Salina for a new beginning. She bought the Pfaltzgraf Pharmacy building at 201 S. Santa Fe Avenue. In January 1958, she happily opened her own store, Amy Rasher Pharmacy. This was a big deal because there were not many businesses owned by women at the time.
It was a historic moment, as she became the first female pharmacist in Salina. Besides giving out medicines, Rasher kept on teaching, putting health tips in her ads to help people learn about staying healthy. Later, she joined up with B & K Prescription Shop, making a big impact on the local pharmacy scene.
READ MORE: 📸 Flashback Friday: Salina Post - Cora Walker Shelton - Vol. 39
Find out more about Rasher's story and the legacies of other remarkable Salina women at the Smoky Hill Museum's newest exhibit titled, "Step up to the Task" running from April 12 - Oct. 5
All exhibits at the Smoky Hill Museum are free to the public.