Public Domain
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler: First African American woman to obtain a medical degree.
Overview
Rebecca
Davis Lee Crumpler is the first African-American woman to earn a medical
degree. She was also the first African-American to publish a text concerning
medical discourse. The text, A Book of Medical Discourses was published in 1883.
Achievements
- First African-American woman to earn a medical degree.
- First African-American woman to earn a Doctor of Medicine degree from the New England Female Medical College.
- Published A Book of Medical Discourses in 1883. The text was one of the first written by an African-American concerning medicine.
Early
Life and Education
Rebecca
Davis Lee was born in 1831 in Delaware. Crumpler was raised in
Pennsylvania by an aunt who provided care for sick people. In 1852, Crumpler
moved to Charlestown, Ma. and was hired as a nurse. Crumpler desired to do more
than nursing. In her book, A Book of Medical Discourses, she wrote, “I really
conceived a liking for, and sought every opportunity to relieve the suffering
of others.”
In
1860, she was accepted into the New England Female Medical College.
Following
her graduation in medicine, Crumpler became the first African-American woman to
earn a Doctor of Medicine degree at for the New England Female Medical College.
Dr.
Crumpler
After
graduating in 1864, Crumpler established a medical practice in Boston for poor
women and children. Crumpler also received training in the “British Dominion.”
When
the Civil War ended in 1865, Crumpler relocated to
Richmond, Va.
She
argued that it was “a proper field for real missionary work, and one that would
present ample opportunities to become acquainted with the diseases of women and
children. During my stay there nearly every hour was improved in that sphere of
labor. The last quarter of the year 1866, I was enabled . . . to have access
each day to a very large number of the indigent, and others of different
classes, in a population of over 30,000 colored."
Soon
after her arrival in Richmond, Crumpler began working for the-the Freedmen’s Bureau as well as other missionary and
community groups. Working alongside other African-American physicians, Crumpler
was able to provide healthcare to recently freed slaves.
Crumpler
experienced racism and sexism. She describes the ordeal she endured by
saying, "men doctors snubbed her, druggist balked at filling her
prescriptions, and some people wisecracked that the M.D. behind her name stood
for nothing more than 'Mule Driver.'"
By
1869, Crumpler had returned to her practice on Beacon Hill where she provided
medical care to women and children.
In
1880, Crumpler and her husband relocated to Hyde Park, Ma. In 1883, Crumpler
wrote A Book of Medical Discourses. The text was a compilation of the
notes
she had taken during her medical field.
Personal
Life and Death
She
married Dr. Arthur Crumpler shortly after completing her medical degree. The
couple had no children.
Crumpler
died in 1895 in Massachusetts.
By
Femi Lewis
Updated January 21,
2016.
I chose Dr. Crumpler as an example for all the young men and women who have been told they can't because of their race or gender, or whatever reason. She experienced both racism and sexism, but she endured.
The song I chose is by Earth, Wind, and Fire, Shining Star. We all are Shining Stars, and no matter who we are or where we are from, we can shine. In tribute to Maurice White
I chose Dr. Crumpler as an example for all the young men and women who have been told they can't because of their race or gender, or whatever reason. She experienced both racism and sexism, but she endured.
The song I chose is by Earth, Wind, and Fire, Shining Star. We all are Shining Stars, and no matter who we are or where we are from, we can shine. In tribute to Maurice White