Describes some early black male and female doctors in the state

1. Early African-American
Physicians in Alabama
A.J. Wright, M.L.S.
Anesthesiology Library
UAB

2. BLACK PHYSICIAN MILESTONES
 ca. 1780: James Derham
first U.S. physician (apprenticeship)
 1837: James McCune Smith
first M.D. (Univ of Glasgow)
 1847: David John Peck
first U.S. M.D.
(Rush Med. Coll., Chicago)

3. BLACK PHYSICIAN MILESTONES
 1854: John V. deGrasse
first medical society member (Boston)
 1864: Rebecca Lee Crumpler
first woman U.S. M.D. (NE Female Medical
College)

4. U.S. PHYSICIANS
1900 1910
 White 129, 841 147,741 (13.8% increase)
 Black 1,734 3,077 (77.5% increase)

5. BLACK MEDICAL SCHOOLS
19TH
Century
 1868: Howard (Washington, D.C.)
 1876: Meharry (Nashville)
 1882: Leonard (Shaw) (Raleigh, N.C.)

6. HOWARD MEDICAL COLLEGE

7. MEHARRY MEDICAL COLLEGE

8. ALABAMA’S BLACK PHYSICIANS
1879-1905
 Male 66
 Female 4
 Cert. Refused -14
-Total 56

9. ALABAMA’S BLACK PHYSICIANS
1879-1905
Medical Schools
 Meharry 37
 Howard 10
 Leonard 5
 Michigan 4
 Unknown 3
 Long Island Hosp. 2
 Illinois Med Coll 2
 Other 6
 Total 70

10. ALABAMA MEDICAL
PRACTICE ACT OF 1877
 Designated MASA to establish
physician standards/qualifications
 MASA Board of Censors became state
BME
 Each county’s Board of Censors could
also administer exams/issue licenses
recognized statewide

11. EARLY CERTIFIED BLACK
PHYSICIANS IN ALABAMA
 1879: Burgess E. Scruggs (Madison Co.)
 1884: Cornelius N. Dorsette (Montgomery Co.)
 1885: Allen L. Strong (Dallas Co.)
 1889: Lincoln L. Burwell (Dallas Co.)

12. EARLY CERTIFIED BLACK FEMALE
PHYSICIANS IN ALABAMA
 Halle Tanner Dillon [Tuskegee]
 Justina Lorena Ford [Normal]
 Blanche Beatrice Thompson [Alex
City/Opelika]
 Pauline Elizabeth Dinkins [Selma]

13. Burgess E. Scruggs, M.D.

14. Burgess E. Scruggs, M.D.
 Univ. of Nashville, 1870
 Meharry, 1879
 Certified in Madison Co. 1879
 Practiced in Huntsville until 1920s
 Buried in Glenwood Cemetery,
Huntsville

15. Cornelius N. Dorsette, MD
185?-1897

16. Cornelius Nathaniel Dorsette, M.D.
185?-1897
 Born Davidson Co., North Carolina
 Hampton Inst. Classmate of B.T. Washington
 Univ. of Buffalo Med. Sch., 1882
 Certified Montgomery Co., 1884

17. Booker T. Washington

18. Booker T. Washington

19. Early view of Tuskegee Institute

20. Tuskegee faculty w/Andrew Carnegie [1906]

21. Classroom scene at Tuskegee

22. Allen L. Strong, M.D. [1861-1899]
 Born in Forest, Mississippi
 Graduated Howard Univ. 1885
 Certified Dallas Co. Board, 1885
 Selma: 1885-1890
 Atlanta: 1890-1895
 Mobile: 1895-1899

23. Halle Tanner Dillon Johnson, MD
1864-1901

24. Halle Tanner Dillon, M.D.
[1864-1901]
 Born Pittsburgh, Penn.
 Women’s Med. Coll. Penn., 1891
 Certified Ala. State Board, 1891
 Tuskegee Inst., 1891-1894
 Hale Infirmary, Montgomery (?)

25. Halle Tanner Dillon, M.D.
[1864-1901]
 Examiners included:
 Dr. Peter Bryce
 Dr. George A. Ketchum
 Dr. James T. Searcy
 Dr. J.B. Gaston

26. Halle Tanner Dillon, M.D.
[1864-1901]
 “During her tenure she was responsible
for the medical care of 450 students as
well as for 30 officers and teachers and
their families. [She] was expected to
make her own medicines, while
teaching one or two classes each term.”
[Hine DC, 1985]

27. Halle Tanner Dillon, M.D.
[1864-1901]
 “For her efforts she was paid six
hundred dollars per year plus room and
board; she was allowed one one-month
vacation per year.”
[Hine DC, 1985]

28. Halle Tanner Dillon, M.D.
[1864-1901]
 In 1894, married Rev. John Quincy
Johnson, mathematics teacher at
Tuskegee
 In 1895 they moved to Columbia, South
Carolina
 In 1900 he became pastor of AME
church in Nashville

29. Halle Tanner Dillon, M.D.
[1864-1901]
 Died of dysentery and childbirth
complications April 26, 1901
 She was 37
 Buried in Greenwood Cemetery,
Nashville

30. Ionia R. Whipper, M.D.
1872-1953
 Howard Medical School, 1903
 Succeeded Dillon at Tuskegee as resident
physician
 Cared only for female patients
 Returned to Washington, D.C. and began
work with unwed mothers
 Opened Ionia R. Whipper Home, Inc., for
Unwed Mothers in 1931

31. Alonzo Homer Kenniebrew, M.D.
 Tuskegee, 1891
 Meharry, 1897
 Married Leonora
Love Chapman,
1899
 Moved to Illinois in
1902

34. Lincoln L. Burwell, M.D. [1866-1928]
 Born in McKinley, Marengo County
 Graduated valedictorian, Selma Univ.
 Two daughters graduated from Oberlin
College, Ohio
 Served many years as Secretary of
Trustees, Selma Univ.

35. Lincoln L. Burwell, M.D. [1867-1928]
 Leonard Medical College, 1890
 Drug store owner
 Established Burwell Infirmary, 1907
 “We…always found him the same:
even-tempered, friendly, regular in his
habits, always ready to help a worthy
cause…” [JNMA 1928]

36. Lincoln Laconia Burwell, M.D.
 From John A.
Kenney, The Negro
in Medicine, 1912

37.  From John A.
Kenney, The Negro
in Medicine, 1912

38. Burwell Infirmary, 1931
“Burwell Infirmary (Colored), 508 Philpot
Ave. Estab. 1907; general; 25 beds; 2
bassinets; school of nursing; individual
control; Mrs. Minnie V. Anderson, R.N.,
supt.”
American Medical Directory, 1931, p. 197

39. Pauline E. Dinkins, M.D.
 B. December 30, 1891, in Marion
 Woman’s MC Philadelphia, 1919
 Certified Ala. state board July, 1919
 807 Minter Ave., Selma in 1921
 Missionary trip to Africa 1929

40. Pauline E. Dinkins, M.D.
 U.S. Passport #459678 / 9-20-1927
 Published African Folk Tales [1933]
 D. 1961

42. SS Albert Ballin 1923

43. John Wesley Moorer, M.D. [?-1942]
 Born in Braggs, Alabama
 Selma University graduate
 Meharry graduate, 1899
 Certified Clarke Co. 1899
 In Selma by 1900
 Selma Univ. physician and trustee

44. Selma University, ca. 1895

45. Arthur McKinnon Brown, M.D.
1867-1939
 B. Raleigh NC
 U. of Michigan, 1891
 Highest score on
Alabama medical
exam to that time
 First black officer
commissioned in
regular U.S. army

46. Arthur McKinnon Brown, M.D.
1867-1939
 Surgeon, Lieutenant in 10th
U.S. Cavalry
[Buffalo Soldiers]
 Served 1898-9 in Cuba during Spanish-
American War
 Built home in 1906 at 319 4th
Terrace in
Smithfield
 Designed by Wallace A. Rayfield

47. Ulysses Grant Mason, M.D.
 Meharry, 1895
 Birmingham, 1895
 Published articles in
medical literature
 Active in efforts to
create library
service for blacks in
Birmingham

49. John Wesley Darden, M.D.
 Leonard MC, 1901
 Moved to Opelika, 1903
 Built home at 1323 Auburn St., 1904
 Died in 1949
 Darden H.S., 1951
 Merged w/Opelika H.S., 1971
 Darden Foundation formed 2001

50. Image is from the renovation project of this house
http://www.opelikahighschools.org/id195.html

51. Thomas Vivian McCoo, M.D.
1883-1967
 Selma Univ. graduate
 Leonard MC graduate
 Practiced in Eufaula for
almost 50 years
 Son William also a
doctor [Los Angeles]
 Granddaughter Marilyn
a singer [Fifth
Dimension, etc.]

52. Hiram Ethan Archer, M.D.
 Born July 1870 in Michigan
 1900 U.S. Census: Huntsville
 Spouse: Henrietta M. Archer [teacher]
 Listed in Selma in 1912 American
Medical Directory
 Listed in Selma as “not in practice” in
1921 American Medical Directory

53. Alexander George William Allen, M.D.
 Born 1859 in Smith Station, Alabama
 Meharry graduate, 1899
 Practicing in Union Springs, Bullock
 1910 Trans MASA
 1912 and 1921 American Medical
Directory

54. Alexander George William Allen, M.D.
 1910 Census: Union Springs Ward 5
 Spouse Carrie A. Allen
 5 children
 Ages 2 through 7

55. Anderson Milton Williams, M.D.
 Leonard Medical College, 1900
 Certified Bullock Co. 1900
 Union Springs 1900-1910

56. James W. Wylie [Wiley?], M.D.
 University of Illinois, 1905
 Certified state board, 1905
 Greensboro, Hale County, 1910

57. John Andrews Kenney, Sr., M.D.
1864-1950
 Born Albemarle Co., Virginia
 Leonard (Shaw) Med. Sch., 1901
 Tuskegee Institute, 1902
 Negro in Medicine, 1912
 NMA President, 1913
 Left Tuskegee, 1924

58. John A. Kenney, M.D.
 Resident Physician, Tuskegee Institute
 Began in August, 1902
 First operation on a male student
 Diseased metatarsal bone

59. “At the close of the operation he laid his hands on both my
shoulders, and said, ‘Well done. I’ll go with you anywhere.’
As he was one of the State’s recognized surgeons, and the
leading operator in Macon and adjoining counties, his
compliment pleased me very much.”
--Kenney, J National Med Assoc, 1946
“At the close of the operation…”

60. Louis William Johnston, M.D.
 University Alabama Medical School,
1889
 Began practice in Tuskegee
 Member, State Board of Medical
Examiners
 Member, State Department of Health
 Administered general anesthesia for
Kenney’s first operation

61. John A. Andrew Hosp., Tuskegee
http://www.lindakenneymiller.com/index.html

62. http://www.lindakenneymiller.com/index.html
 Dr. John A. Kenney
founded the Journal
of the National
Medical Association.
Pictured here is the
editorial staff of the
Journal which was first
published in 1909.
Seated is Dr. C.V.
Roman, the first editor.

63. Linda Kenney Miller
 Granddaughter of
Dr. John A. Kenney
 Written a novel
based on his life,
Beacon on the Hill
[2008]

64. http://www.lindakenneymiller.com/index.html

66. John A. Kenney, M.D.
 Resident Physician, Tuskegee Institute
 Began in August, 1902
 First operation on a male student
 Diseased metatarsal bone

67. BLACK PHYSICIANS:
U.S. and ALABAMA
1932 1942
• U.S. 3,985 3,810
• Alabama 116 125
• Birmingham 27 19

68. John A. Darden, M.D., House
 Opelika
 Top photo from
Kenney’s Negro in
Medicine [1912]
 Color photo, Sept.
2002

69. Norma Jean Darden
 In her book
Spoonbread and
Strawberry Wine:
Recipes and
Reminiscences of a
Family she talks
about her uncle, Dr.
Darden

70. SS Albert Ballin

71. Cornelius N. Dorsette, MD
185?-1897

72. Halle Tanner Dillon Johnson, MD
1864-1901

73. Ionia R. Whipper, M.D.
 Howard Medical School, 1903
 Succeeded Dillon at Tuskegee as
resident physician
 Cared only for female patients
 Returned to Washington, D.C. and
began work with unwed mothers
 Opened Ionia R. Whipper Home, Inc.,
for Unwed Mothers in 1931

74.  Obituary NYT 1950

75.  JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION Vol. XXII,
No.3
(1930)
 KENNEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
(Incorporated)
 Newark, New Jersey
 By JOHN A. KENNEY, M.D.,
President

76. Kenney/Community Hosp.
Newark NJ ca. 1930s

77. “At the close of the operation he laid his hands on both my
shoulders, and said, ‘Well done. I’ll go with you anywhere.’ As he
was one of the State’s recognized surgeons, and the leading operator
in Macon and adjoining counties, his compliment pleased me very
much.”
--Kenney, J National Med Assoc, 1946

78. Louis William Johnston, M.D.
 University Alabama Medical School,
1889
 Began practice in Tuskegee
 Member, State Board of Medical
Examiners
 Member, State Department of Health
 Administered general anesthesia for
Kenney’s first operation

79. MILESTONES IN ALABAMA
 1904: Alabama State Medical Congress
 1912: NMA annual meeting, Tuskegee
 1913: John A. Kenney, Sr., NMA
President
 1914: Arthur M. Brown, NMA President
 1914: Health Improvement Week est.
by B.T. Washington

80. JNMA COVERS
 Kenney Jan. 1956
 Dorsette Nov. 1960
 Tuskegee VA March 1962
 Holy Family Hospital (Ensley) Jan. 1963

82. JUSTINA LAURENA CARTER FORD, M.D.
1871-1952
 b. Knoxville, Illinois
 Herring Medical College, Chicago-1899
 Practiced about 2 yrs. in Normal, Alabama
 Spent remainder of career in Denver
 Home is now Black American West Museum

83. BLANCHE BEATRICE S. THOMPSON, M. D.
 Georgia native
 Meharry, 1901
 Cert. Tallapoosa Co., 1903

84. LUCY HOPKINS WHITE
 b. 1791
 Made deposit in March, 1870, at
Huntsville branch of Freeman’s Saving
and Trust Co.
 Listed occupation as “Doctor”

85. AMANDA JONES
 b. 1817
 Made deposit in October, 1870, at
Huntsville branch of Freedman’s Saving
and Trust Co.
 Listed occupation as “Doctors”