A few statistics help put her remarkable achievement in perspective. in the US. [26][27] Arthur was a former fugitive slave from Southampton County, Virginia. Dr. Rebecca Davis Lee Crumpler was the first African American woman doctor in the United States. 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. On March 1, 1864, the board of trustees named her a Doctor of Medicine. Forgotten Books., 2017. Rebecca Lee Crumpler first African-American female physician Rebecca Lee Crumpler graduated from medical school during a time when it was extremely uncommon for an African American to attend a medical college. (2020, December 11). [1] Her house is on the Boston Women's Heritage Trail. The book has two parts that cover the prevention and cure of infantile bowel complaints, and the life and growth of human beings. [5][6] She was raised in Pennsylvania by her aunt who cared for ill townspeople. Fortunately, she won a scholarship from the Wade Scholarship Fund, an organization funded by North American 19th Century anti-enslavement activist Benjamin Wade. Boston African American community prior to the Civil War. 2016. [7][22] This was Wyatt’s second, and her first, marriage. General medicine Rebecca Lee Crumpler challenged the prejudice that prevented African Americans from pursuing careers in medicine to became the first African American woman in the United States to earn an M.D. [18] Specifically in the first chapter, Crumpler gave non-medical advice concerning her thoughts on what age and how a woman should enter into marriage. Additionally, Davis Lee's husband, Wyatt, died of tuberculosis in 1863, while she was still in medical school. “Celebrating Rebecca Lee Crumpler, First African-American Woman Physician.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 9 Mar. In 1860, there were only 300 women out of 54,543 physicians in the United States and none of them were [Black]. Due to her talent, Crumpler was given a recommendation to attend the school by her supervising physician when she was a medical apprentice. In addition to her general knowledge as a physician, Crumpler focused on healing women and children. Crumpler first practiced medicine in Boston, primarily serving poor women and children. [1][2][f]Rebecca knew that being the first African American woman in this field would be challenging but she has resilience and overcame this adversity. [15] Her main desire in presenting this book was to emphasize the "possibilities of prevention". Crumpler wanted to enter the medical field but had few opportunities. She is best remembered as the first African-American woman physician in the United States. Writing in a BMJ Opinion piece, Dr. Nycole […] The granite stone was the result of a fundraising appeal spearheaded by Vicky Gall, a history buff and president of the Friends of the Hyde Park Library. You’d be accurate if you were imagining Rebecca Lee Crumpler— the first Black physician in America and the first Black woman to earn a medical degree. [16] Although her primary focus was on the health of women and children, which seemed to be influenced by homeopathy, Crumpler recommended courses of treatment without stating that the treatment was homeopathic. [a] Crumpler was one of the first female physician authors in the nineteenth century. Crumpler, December 1870, Boston, Massachusetts, Arthur and Rebecca Crumpler]. In July 2020, Crumpler—who had lain in an unmarked grave in Hyde Park since she died in 1895 and next to her husband's unmarked grave since he died in 1910—finally received a headstone honoring her legacy. “Having been reared by a kind aunt in Pennsylvania, whose usefulness with the sick was continually sought, I early conceived a liking for, and sought every opportunity to relieve the sufferings … University News Boston Honors … None of them were African Americans making Rebecca Lee Crumpler the first and only African American physician in her class. [24] This tragedy may have motivated Rebecca to begin her study of nursing for the next eight years. Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first Black woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. Documents and photos of her life have been lost to time except for a journal she kept. Markel, Dr. Howard. [6] She was inspired by her aunt after seeing that she was the one to go to when people got sick. In 1883, Crumpler published A Book of Medical Discourses from the notes she kept over the course of her medical career. Lewis, Femi. Today we celebrate the life of Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831-1895). In 1883, Crumpler wrote "A Book of Medical Discourses." She said of that time, "During my stay there nearly every hour was improved in that sphere of labor. In this Special Feature, we celebrate the life and achievements of one of these Black pioneers: Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler. [34] Arthur died in May 1910. She did not mention that medicine could be harmful, but stated the conventional amount of standard medicine usage. When she grew older, Crumpler moved to Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1852 to be employed as a nurse until she was … Rebecca Lee Crumpler is an African-American physicist who also became an author in the mid 1800’s. Though she faced both intense racial and gender discrimination, Crumpler attended to the medical needs of thousands of formerly enslaved people in Richmond, Virginia—the former capital of the Confederacy—just after the Civil War, and earned the respect of many in the medical profession. From these doctors I received letters commending me to the faculty of the New England Female Medical College, whence, four years afterward, I received the degree of Doctress of Medicine. In the … Crumpler graduated medical college at a time when very few African Americans were allowed to attend medical college or publish books. Rebecca Lee Crumpler is widely considered by historians as the first African-American woman to become a physician in the states. Lewis, Femi. [28], Rebecca Crumpler died on March 9, 1895, in Fairview, Massachusetts, while still residing in Hyde Park. It is thought that she did not practice medicine during her last 12 years of life in Hyde Park, though records are scarce, particularly on this part of her life. [30], The couple were active members of the Twelfth Baptist Church where Arthur was a trustee. Rebecca Crumpler plaque. This school was founded in 1848 by Samuel Gregory. In 1864, Rebecca became the New England Female Medical College’s only [Black] graduate (the school closed its doors in 1873.) "[33] About marriage, she said the secret to a successful marriage "is to continue in the careful routine of the courting days, till it becomes well understood between the two". She read a poem that she had written for him, where "she touchingly alluded to his love for the gifted Emerson". She was the first Black woman to earn a medical degree in the United States and the only Black woman to graduate from the New England Female Medical College, which was absorbed by Boston University in 1873. [12] At the Freedmen's Bureau she worked under the assistant commissioner, Orlando Brown. [1][e], Crumpler first practiced medicine in Boston. [4] In 1883, she published A Book of Medical Discourses. Femi Lewis is a writer and educator who specializes in African American history topics, including enslavement, activism, and the Harlem Renaissance. https://www.thoughtco.com/rebecca-lee-crumpler-biography-45294 (accessed February 18, 2021). Israel Tisdale Talbot and Samuel Gregory in 1848 and accepted its first class, of 12 women, in 1850," according to Dr. Howard Markel, in his 2016 article, "Celebrating Rebecca Lee Crumpler, First African-American Woman Physician," published on the PBS Newshour website. Markel noted that there was strong opposition in the medical community to the school, particularly from male doctors: Even 10 years later in 1960, when Davis Lee enrolled in the New England Female Medical College, there were only 300 female physicians out of nearly 55,000 medical doctors in the United States, Markel noted. When Adams died, his family was sold and nine-year-old Arthur was kept by Robert Adams' son, John Adams of Smithfield, Virginia after Arthur won a wrestling contest with John on the day of the estate auction. They offer mentors, workshops, and resources to help members succeed. [28], Although no photographs or other images of Crumpler survive,[1] a Boston Globe article described her as "a very pleasant and intellectual woman and an indefatigable church worker. She moved to Charlestown, Massachusetts, in 1852, where she worked as a nurse before applying and becoming accepted into the New England Female Medical College. In 1860, due to the heavy demands of medical care for Civil War veterans,[9] there were more opportunities for women physicians and doctors. [32] By 1880, the Crumplers moved to Hyde Park, Boston. There is little information about her early years, though historians agree that she spent much of her childhood in the care of an aunt in Pennsylvania. Dr. Crumpler attended New England Female Medical College, which became the BU School of Medicine. [23] A year later Wyatt’s son, Albert, died at age 7. Indeed, the doctors were so taken with her abilities that they recommended her for the New England Female Medical College—one of the few in the United States accepting women at the time, let alone a Black woman. Dedicated to nurses and mothers,[1][2] it focused on the medical care of women and children. [4] Donations were collected through a fundraiser to create gravestones for the couple and a ceremony was held at Fairview Cemetery, as a gravestone finally was installed, marking where she and her husband are buried. “WOLFPACC Center.” WOLFPACC, wolfpacc.com. After studying at the New England Female Medical College, in 1864 she became the first African-American woman to become a doctor of medicine in the United States. in 1864. Her aunt's work in the medical field would have an abiding influence on Davis for the rest of her life, as she later wrote in "A Book of Medical Discourses": In 1852, Davis moved to Charlestown, Massachusetts, married Wyatt Lee, and took his last name, changing her name to Rebecca Davis Lee. Rebecca Davis Lee Crumpler was born free on February 8, 1831 to Absolum and Matilda (Webber) Davis in Christiana, Delaware. Her aunt was an important caregiver in the community, known for providing medical assistance to sick neighbors. [1][2][7] She won a tuition award from the Wade Scholarship Fund, established by a bequest from local businessman John Wade of Woburn. There is little info on her early on years, though historians concur that she spent a lot of her childhood in the care of an aunt in Pennsylvania. [28][29] On July 16, 2020, a ceremony was held at the Fairview Cemetery to dedicate a gravestone in memory of Rebecca Lee Crumpler and her husband Arthur. The faculty was hesitant to pass Crumpler because they thought she showed slow progress in learning. "Biography of Rebecca Lee Crumpler, First Black Female Physician in U.S." ThoughtCo, Dec. 11, 2020, thoughtco.com/rebecca-lee-crumpler-biography-45294. Dr. Lee Crumpler, née Rebecca Davis, was created on February 8, 1831, in Delaware to Absolum Davis and Matilda Webber. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, MD (1831-1895), graduated from the New England Female Medical College in 1864. Crumpler was born in 1831 in Delaware, to Absolum Davis and Matilda Webber. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first black woman in the US to obtain a medical degree. [7] Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the only African American woman who attended this school at this time. Some historians have wondered if Rebecca even knew of her … behind her name stood for "Mule Driver". She was also the first Black woman to author a medical text, "A Book of Medical Discourses," which was published in 1883. [8], It was rare for women or black men to be admitted to medical schools during this time. They were married on April 19, 1852,. Davis Lee "was not always treated fairly by her professors, but she worked hard and completed her courses," according to Sheryl Recinos in her book, "Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler: Doctress of Medicine." Many Black women have contributed to the development of the medical sciences throughout history, though often, their names have remained little known. [28] They had a home at 20 Garden Street in Boston. A passionate vocation to care for others and a desire to empower her patients drove Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831–95) to overcome 19th-century prejudice against her gender and ethnicity and qualify as “doctress of medicine” (the term she used), the first African American woman to do so. The Rebecca Lee Pre-Health Society at Syracuse University and the Rebecca Lee Society, one of the first medical societies for African-American women, were named after her. Crumpler was able to introduce her own text, and was also able to justify her work based on her own authority. Rebecca Davis Lee Crumpler, the first African-American woman to earn a medical degree, was born free in 1831 in Christiana, Delaware. By Written by Maria Cohut, Ph.D. via https://www.medicalnewstoday.com Many Black women have contributed to the development of the medical sciences throughout history, though often, their names have remained little known. In 1880, Crumpler and her husband relocated to Hyde Park, located in the southern part of Boston. She was also one of the first African Americans to write a medical book. The headstones of Rebecca Lee Crumpler (MED 1864), the first Black woman to graduate from a medical college in the United States, and her husband, Arthur Crumpler, a former slave, are at the Fairview Cemetery in Hyde Park, Mass. At Syracuse University there is a pre-health club named "The Rebecca Lee Pre-Health Society". [12] Some people heckled that the M.D. Crumpler died on March 9, 1895, in Hyde Park. Rebecca Lee Crumpler (MED 1864) was a trailblazer, the first Black woman to graduate from a US medical school. Posted 4 hours ago by in health Care 1 0. She was born on February 8, 1831 in Christiana.. She is one of the successful Physician. She treated freed slaves after the Civil War and published one of the first medical books by an African American in the US. She was raised in Pennsylvania by her aunt. Dr. Rebecca Davis Lee Crumpler was the first African American woman doctor in the United States. After earning her degree in Boston, she spent time in Richmond, Virginia after the Civil War, caring for formerly enslaved people. in 1864. He went to Massachusetts in 1862 and was taken in by Nathaniel Allen, founder of the West Newton English and Classical School, called the Allen School. Rebecca Lee Crumpler: Doctress of Medicine. Recinos further wrote of Davis Lee's experience in medical school: The curriculum included classes in chemistry, anatomy, physiology, hygiene, medical jurisprudence, therapeutics, and theory, Recinos explained in her book, noting that Davis Lee "encountered racism throughout her studies.". Boston Globe, July 18, 2020, p. B1. She was subject to "intense racism" and sexism while practicing medicine. Crumpler worked for the Freedmen's Bureau to provide medical care to freed slaves who were denied care by white physicians. MacQuarrie, Brian. Later in life I devoted my time, when best I could, to nursing as a business, serving under different doctors for a period of eight years; most of the time at my adopted home in Charlestown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. A true pioneer, she battled deep-seated prejudice against women and African Americans in medicine. Dedicated to nurses and mothers, it focuses on maternal and pediatric medical care and was among the first publications written by an African American about medicine. While the fact has been disputed, Dr. Crumpler’s contributions to medicine and her will to challenge racial and sexist barriers has solidified her rightful place in history. Water Bear Press, 2020. The purpose of the organization was to provide support and promote the successes of Black women physicians. Also, Crumpler’s home on Joy Street has been included on the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail. Source: Kate Kelly, americacomesalive.com. Dr. Lee Crumpler, née Rebecca Davis, was born on February 8, 1831, in Delaware to Absolum Davis and Matilda Webber. Except for one sister, he never found out the whereabouts of the people who purchased his family members. Her Early Life. A true pioneer, she battled deep-seated prejudice against women and African Americans in medicine. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, born Rebecca Davis, (February 8, 1831 – March 9, 1895), was an American physician, nurse and author. -Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler . Crumpler moved to 67 Joy Street in Boston,[13] a predominantly African-American community street in Beacon Hill. In Charlestown and nearby communities, Davis Lee worked for several doctors, whom she greatly impressed. "Biography of Rebecca Lee Crumpler, First Black Female Physician in U.S." ThoughtCo. The chapter also contained advice for both men and women on how to ensure a happy marriage. During this time, many men believed that a man's brain was 10 percent bigger than a woman's brain on average, and that a woman's job was to act submissively and be beautiful. [28] She and her husband Arthur are both buried at the nearby Fairview Cemetery. Crumpler worked for the Freedmen's Bureau to provide medical care for freed slaves. Rebecca was still a medical student when her husband died of tuberculosis on April 18, 1863. During her eight years as a nurse, she impressed many of the doctors that she worked with. Dr. Crumpler is known, in part, for Formal training was not required until nursing schools were established, which did not occur until 1873. Rebecca Davis was born on February 8, 1831, in Christiana, Delaware, to Matilda Webber and Absolum Davis. That same year, she was also hired as a nurse. He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Boston. [35] She and her husband were buried in unmarked graves for 125 years, until July 16, 2020. Born in 1824, he was the son of Samuel Crumpler, a slave of Benjamin Crumpler. Black charitable organizations and white missionary organizations provided funding for the first black medical schools. She was probably Crumpler's greatest inspiration for becoming a doctor. Rebecca Lee Crumpler (Feb. 8, 1831—March 9, 1895) is the first Black woman to earn a medical degree and practice medicine as a physician in the United States. However, Davis was actually raised in Pennsylvania by an aunt who provided care for sick people. … As the first Black woman physician in the United States, she had served communities at times of enormous upheaval: the Civil War and the end of slavery. In this Special Feature, we celebrate the life and achievements of one of these Black pioneers: Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler.Share on PinterestPictured is a group of formerly enslaved individuals in 1861. Marriage Intentions, 1849-1858; Vol. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first African American woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. Biography of Rebecca Lee Crumpler, First Black Female Physician in U.S. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/rebecca-lee-crumpler-biography-45294. After studying at the New England Female Medical College, in 1864 she became the first African-American woman to become a doctor of medicine in the United States. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, Albert Lee, Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915, Brian MacQuarrie, "Gravestone dedicated to the first Black female medical doctor in the US. She was the country's first African-American woman to become a formally-trained physician. After the American Civil War ended in 1865, she moved to Richmond, Virginia, believing treating women and children was an ideal way to perform missionary work. [37], In 2019, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam declared March 30 (National Doctors Day) the Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler Day.[4]. Her Joy Street house is a stop on the Boston Women's Heritage Trail. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our. Still, Rebecca Lee Crumpler persevered and worked passionately. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first Black woman M.D. Presumed portrait of Rebecca Lee Crumpler as a nurse | Source: Wikimedia … Despite all the difficulties, Davis graduated from medical school after four years, becoming the first Black woman to earn a Doctor of Medicine degree in the United States. Her aunt was a huge influence due to her being a doctor figure in her community. In this Special Feature, we celebrate the life and achievements of one of these Black pioneers: Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler. In the introduction to the book she later wrote — A Book of Medical Discourse: In Two Parts (1883) — Dr. Lee Crumpler recalls that it was the … The doctors whom Crumpler worked with while in medical school helped persuade the faculty to pass her. [13], In the early 1870s, Crumpler attended the elite West Newton English and Classical School in Massachusetts,[5][14] where she was a "special student in mathematics". There, she became the first Black woman to receive the … [5] Crumpler taught in Wilmington beginning in 1874 and in New Castle, Delaware beginning in 1876.[5]. Because of this, many male physicians did not respect Rebecca Lee Crumpler, and would not approve her prescriptions for patients or listen to her medical opinions. "Female Medical College of 100 Years Ago Had Two Professors and Not Even a Skeleton", "Trailblazing BU Alum Gets a Gravestone 130 Years after Her Death", "Celebrating Rebecca Lee Crumpler, first African-American woman physician", "Rebecca Lee Crumpler becomes First Black Woman to Receive M.D. It chronicles her … On March 9, 125 years ago, Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler passed away at the age of sixty-four. [25], Dr. Rebecca Lee married Arthur Crumpler in Saint John, New Brunswick on May 24, 1865. In 1831, Crumpler, was born in Christiana, Delaware to Matilda Webber and Absolum Davis. Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first African-American woman to receive a Doctor of Medicine degree in the U.S. After her groundbreaking career choice, Crumpler went on to make some very important contributions to medicine. Black American History and Women Timeline: 1800–1859, Black History and Women's Timeline: 1900–1919, Black History and Women's Timeline: 1920-1929, 16 Black Americans in Astronomy and Space, Biography of Angela Davis, Political Activist and Academic, Daniel Hale Williams, Heart Surgery Pioneer, Black Women Who Have Run for President of the United States, Biography of Elizabeth Blackwell: First Woman Physician in America, Biography of Maria W. Stewart, Groundbreaking Lecturer and Activist, Shirley Chisholm: First Black Woman to Run For President, 10 of the Most Important Black Women in U.S. History, Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler (U.S. National Park Service), Celebrating Rebecca Lee Crumpler, First African-American Woman Physician, Celebrating Black Excellence: Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Gravestone Dedicated to the First Black Female Medical Doctor in the US - The Boston Globe, M.S.Ed, Secondary Education, St. John's University, M.F.A., Creative Writing, City College of New York. 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. The text was a compilation of the notes she had taken during her medical career and gave advice on treating illnesses in infants and young children and women of childbearing age—but it also included a few brief autobiographical notes about Crumpler's life, some of which are quoted in previous sections of this article. However, Crumpler stated that most nurses did not agree with this and tended to forget that for every ailment, there was a cause and it was within their power to remove it. Joshi, Deepika. ", Soon after her arrival in Richmond, Crumpler began working for the Freedmen’s Bureau as well as other missionary and community groups. During my stay there nearly every hour was improved in that sphere of labor. Arthur lived on the neighboring estate of a large landowner, Robert Adams, with his mother and siblings. In her 1883 publication, she stated, "...having been reared by a kind aunt in Pennsylavania, whose usefulness with the sick was continually sought, I early … Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first Black woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. A Book of Medical Discourses: in Two Parts. Crumpler experienced racism and sexism. She found herself a widow and short on funds to continue her education. She completed medical school at the New England Female Medical College and received her M.D. After graduating in 1864, Davis Lee established a medical practice in Boston for poor women and children. Dr. Lee Crumpler, née Rebecca Davis, was born on February 8, 1831, in Delaware to Absolum Davis and Matilda Webber. Born in Delaware in 1831 , Crumpler’s parents were Absolum Davis … Pioneer Institute Public Policy Research In this Special Feature, we celebrate the life and achievements of one of these Black pioneers: Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler. Degree", "Crumpler, Rebecca Davis Lee (1831–1895), physician", 10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1201058, "Women's History Month Honors Rebecca Lee Crumpler, M.D. [2] Her home on Joy Street is a stop on the Boston Women's Heritage Trail. She was born in 1833 and raised by her aunt in Pennsylvania. When the Civil War ended in 1865, Davis Lee—now known as Rebecca Lee Crumpler after her marriage in May of that year—relocated to Richmond, Virginia. She was also the first Black woman to author a medical text, "A Book of Medical Discourses," which was published in 1883. Rebecca Lee Crumpler challenged the prejudice that prevented African Americans from pursuing careers in medicine. She was a young girl when she was inspired to care for people who were sick or injured. In 1989, physicians Saundra Maass-Robinson and Patricia Whitley established the Rebecca Lee Society. “Celebrating Black Excellence: Rebecca Lee Crumpler.” Centreville Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2019. behind her name stood for nothing more than 'Mule Driver.'". [19] Crumpler describes the progression of experiences that led her to study and practice medicine in her book: It may be well to state here that, having been reared by a kind aunt in Pennsylvania, whose usefulness with the sick was continually sought, I early conceived a liking for, and sought every opportunity to relieve the sufferings of others.

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