On 1 February 1917, Articles of Association were drawn up and signed, thus creating the Medical Women's Federation.[3] There were 190 members to begin with, including Jane Harriett Walker, Ethel Williams, Catherine Chisholm, Florence Barrett, and Louisa Aldrich-Blake.[2] The offices opened on 13 February.[4] At the outset they considered accepting members living outside the British Isles and reported receiving enquiries from Canada, Tasmania, Australia and India.[5]