Dr rebecca davis crumpler 18311895 find a grave memorial. Her publication of a book of medical discourses in 1883 was also one of the first written by an african american about medicine. Book pdf ocr text metadata dublin core national library of medicine 8600 rockville pike. Doctress of medicine women leaders in medicine series book 1 kindle edition by sheryl recinos. Rebecca lee crumpler was raised by her aunt who was known as the community nurse, caring for the sick and shutin of the neighborhood. Rebecca davis lee crumpler february 8,1831 march 9, 1895 was an american physician. She was also the first africanamerican to publish a text concerning medical discourse. Rebecca lee crumpler, who made history as the first black woman in the united states to earn an m.
In 1883, she published a book of medical discourses to advise women on health care for themselves and their children. Rebecca crumpler devoted her life to improving health in the black community through research and clinical work. She was probably crumpler s greatest inspiration for becoming a doctor. She was also one of the first african americans to write a medical book. When rebecca lee crumpler wrote this sentence in her book in 1883, most doctors were male, and few were men of color. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading dr. The text was one of the first written by an africanamerican concerning medicine. Towards the end of her career, crumpler also composed a book written from her studies titled book of medical discourses. Rebecca lee crumpler was the first african american female physician in the united states. Rebecca davis lee crumpler, nee davis, february 8, 1831 march 9, 1895 was the first africanamerican woman to become a physician in the united states. Born in christiana, delaware to matilda webber and absolum davis, she was raised in pennsylvania by an. Crumpler was born in 1831 and raised by an aunt who spent much of her time caring for infirm neighbors. She established a practice and focused on studying the illnesses affecting poor women and children.
Her publication of a book of medical discourses in 1883 was one of the first by an african american about. What makes this woman so important to history, and so important to me, is that rebecca lee crumpler was the first african. She penned the oldest medical book known to have been written by a woman. So wrote rebecca lee crumpler in a book of medical discourses in two parts. Rebecca lee crumpler, md, graduated from the new england female medical college in 1864. Rebecca lee crumpler was born in delaware on february 8, 1831, to absolum davis and matilda webber and raised by her aunt, who provided care to the sick. To repeat, rebecca lee crumpler was the most important african american doctor, paving the way for both women and people of color in the medical field. The book is a biography of rebecca lee crumpler, the first african american woman to become a doctor. Rebecca lee crumpler, md scholarship application the association of black women physicians abwp provides rebecca lee crumpler, md scholarships to female medical students who are permanent residents of southern california or enrolled in southern california medical schools.
I early conceived a liking for, and sought every opportunity to be in a position to relieve the sufferings of others. Rebecca lee crumpler changing the face of medicine. Rebecca lee crumpler was born in 1833 in richmond, virginia. R ebecca davis lee crumpler, was the first africanamerican woman to become a physician in the united states. Rebecca lee crumpler kids britannica kids homework help. A book of medical discourses, rebecca lee crumpler. Rebecca graduated medical college and published a reference book, a book. Now, two nonprofits are looking to bring rebecca lee crumpler, md. Celebrating rebecca lee crumpler, first africanamerican woman. However, in 1883, 63 years before spocks book, americas first africanamerican woman medical doctor published her book of medical discourse, offering medical advice for women and children. Crumpler was born in 1831 as rebecca davis in delaware. Rebecca lee crumpler, a medical milestone black history. Rebecca lee crumpler was the first african american woman to earn a medical degree in the united states.
Benjamin spock published his famous baby and child care in 1946, eventually outselling all other nonfiction books other than the bible. Rebecca crumplers book of medical discourses is one of the very first medical publications by an african american. The awards are based on financial need and academic merit. Changing the face of medicine rebecca lee crumpler. Rebecca lee crumpler, nee davis february 8, 1831 march 9, 1895, was an american physician and author. Crumpler was raised in pennsylvania by an aunt who provided care for sick people. Crumpler, rebecca davis lee 08 february 183109 march 1895, physician, was born in delaware, the daughter of absolum davis and matilda webber. In 1883, she published a book of medical discourses. Black history month rebecca davis lee crumpler, md the. Fundraising effort underway in hyde park to honor dr. Crumpler was the first female africanamerican doctor, earning her m. Today we celebrate the life of rebecca lee crumpler, the first africanamerican woman physician in the united states. Rebecca lee crumpler is a woman that history knows little of other than her degree and the little she wrote about herself in the beginning of a book. 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.
Little is known of her early life, except that she was raised in pennsylvania by an aunt who was often sought out by sick neighbors and whose kind attention to the sufferings of others had a great impact on her appreciative and impressionable niece. Crumpler, rebecca davis lee 08 february 183109 march 1895, physician, was. This book is likely to be the first medical textbook written by an african american, let along an african american woman. Rebecca lee crumpler 18311895, physician first african american woman to earn a medical degree at a time when advanced education for women was rare.
A book of medical discourses, rebecca lee crumpler onview. Rebecca lee society of women in medicine networking. Rebecca was born free not into slavery in delaware in about 1833 to absolum and matilda davis. Rebecca davis lee crumpler is the first africanamerican woman to earn a medical degree. The trailblazing black female doctor that american history.
Crumpler had moved to massachusetts, where she worked as a nurse for the next eight years. Crumpler became aware that newlyfreed poor blacks needed medical services in the south. Doctress of medicine women leaders in medicine series book 1. An analysis of rebecca lee crumpler s book of medical. She was the first black woman to earn a medical degree in the. In her book, a book of medical discourses, she wrote, i really conceived a liking for, and sought.
Rebecca crumpler faced many challenges in her career, because she was an african american and a woman. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Dedicated to nurses and mothers, it focused on maternal and. Rebecca davis lee crumpler, md was the first africanamerican woman to earn the doctor of medicine degree in the united states. Rebecca lee crumpler, the first african american woman to receive a medical degree in the u. Challenges rebecca crumpler faced as an africanamerican female physician. The first black woman to become a medical doctor in the u. Given the often slow way in which systems of oppressionin this case, both white supremacy and the patriarchyare broken down, its relatively surprising to discover that one woman, dr. Rebecca lee crumpler prioritized the most vulnerable. Against great odds, she earned her medical degree in 1864 and began treating newly freed slaves in richmond, virginia. Rebecca lee was the first african american woman to become a physician in the united states.
Honoring rebecca lee crumpler, the first black female. Rebecca lee crumpler challenged both the prevailing prejudice against the place of women and systemic prejudice against african americans by becoming the first african american woman in the u. Wrote book of medical discourses about medical care for women and children. In 1852, she began an eightyear nursing apprenticeship, as there were no nursing schools in the united states at the time. Rebecca davis lee crumpler was born free on february 8, 1831 to absolum and matilda davis in delaware. Copies are held at the national library of medicine in washington, d. In two parts 1883, addresses women and childrens health. When it was published in 1883, it was one of the few medical texts written by an african american. Celebrating rebecca lee crumpler, first africanamerican. Rebecca lee crumpler interesting stories about famous. Books by rebecca lee all formats kindle edition paperback hardcover sort by. She completed medical school at the new england female medical college and received her m. She married arthur crumpler who had served with the union army during the american civil war.
According to the article celebrating rebecca lee crumpler, first africanamerican woman physician by dr. Crumpler, rebecca davis lee 18311895, physician american. Rebecca davis lee crumpler was the first african american woman doctor in the united states. Rebecca davis lee crumpler md, first african american. The text, a book of medical discourses was published in 1883. Whereas, in 1860, with recommendations by physicians with whom she had worked, dr. Rebecca lee crumpler, managed to to so much in her 64 years on this earth.
Dedicated to mothers, nurses, and all who may desire to mitigate the afflictions of the human race, medical discourses is the masterwork of dr. In 1852, crumpler moved into a boston, massachusetts neighborhood, charlestown, and worked as a nurse with no. Nudged by her desire to ease their suffering, she moved to virginia where she worked with the freedmens bureau. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. She later set up an office in boston and wrote a book offering simply stated medical advice for women and children. Rebecca lee crumpler, nee davis february 8, 1831 march 9, 1895, was an. After a full career of helping patients, she published a book designed to help a. Her aunt spent a great deal of time caring for the sick in her community.
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