#historical trans people

“You’re not a well-known figure in our history
It seems a few have even heard your name
The tales of your success become a mystery
So tell me your secret
Tell me your secret, Doctor James”

-Doctor James by Gilmore & Roberts

[Image description: a series of four sepia images containing lyrics in a messy green font. The first is a photo of Dr James Barry’s headstone. The inscription reads “Dr James Barry. Inspector General of hospitals. Died 25 July 1865. Aged 70 years.” Across the bottom the lyrics read “A high ranked man with a stone so plain…”. The second image is of a narrow street with the words “Trained in medicine, joined the army” in the top left corner and “On foreign soil you fought for change” in the bottom right corner. The third image is of a covered corpse laying in a bed with the words “This corpse has a female form!” in the top left corner and “Dressed as a man but she’s a woman born.” in the bottom right. The fourth image is a painting of Dr James Barry and across the bottom it says “I’m telling your secret, Doctor James”. End ID.]