Rebecca Lee Crumpler
Rebecca Lee Crumpler
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first African-American woman to recieve a M.D. degree.
She was born in 1831 in Delaware, to Absolum Davis and Matilda Webber. Crumpler’s main inspiration to become a doctor came from her Aunt who spent alot of her time caring for the sick in her community. In Crumpler’s book published in 1883, she stated “...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."
In 1852 she moved to Charlestown, Massachusetts, where she worked as a nurse for the next eight years. The first formal school for nursing only opened in 1873, therefore she was able to work as a nurse without any formal training.
Whilst working as a nurse, many of the doctors she assisted recommended that she trained at the New England Female Medical College in Boston. In 1859, she took their advice and began training as a physician there.
Although Crumpler was admitted to the college, she still had many other obstacles to overcome. At the outbreak of the civil war, Crumpler was forced to relocate to Virginia. She returned to college in 1863 however her financial aid had been forfeited. Fortunately, she won a tuition award from the Wade Scholarship Fund, which was established by the Ohio abolitionist, Benjamin Wade. As a result, she was able to complete her studies and earned her medical degree in 1864.
The New England Medical College was closed in 1873 meaning that Crumpler was actually the only African- American woman to ever graduate from there.
In her Book of Medical Discourses, published in 1883, she gives a brief summary of her career path: "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. Later in
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first African-American woman to recieve a M.D. degree.
She was born in 1831 in Delaware, to Absolum Davis and Matilda Webber. Crumpler’s main inspiration to become a doctor came from her Aunt who spent alot of her time caring for the sick in her community. In Crumpler’s book published in 1883, she stated “...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."
In 1852 she moved to Charlestown, Massachusetts, where she worked as a nurse for the next eight years. The first formal school for nursing only opened in 1873, therefore she was able to work as a nurse without any formal training.
Whilst working as a nurse, many of the doctors she assisted recommended that she trained at the New England Female Medical College in Boston. In 1859, she took their advice and began training as a physician there.
Although Crumpler was admitted to the college, she still had many other obstacles to overcome. At the outbreak of the civil war, Crumpler was forced to relocate to Virginia. She returned to college in 1863 however her financial aid had been forfeited. Fortunately, she won a tuition award from the Wade Scholarship Fund, which was established by the Ohio abolitionist, Benjamin Wade. As a result, she was able to complete her studies and earned her medical degree in 1864.
The New England Medical College was closed in 1873 meaning that Crumpler was actually the only African- American woman to ever graduate from there.
In her Book of Medical Discourses, published in 1883, she gives a brief summary of her career path: "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. Later in