A SERIES ON THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS
Black History Month — Part 1
A Doctor, An Entrepreneur, An Inventor
Black History Month is set aside to honor the contributions of African Americans that for years were not recognized in our history books. Part 1 will introduce you to contributions from the fields of medicine, specialized hair care, and inventions that changed our lives.
Dr. Daniel Hale-Williams
(Born January 18, 1858. He died August 4, 1931)
Dr. Williams graduated from Chicago Medical College in 1883.
Considered to be thoughtful and skilled, his medical practice grew. In 1889 he was appointed to the Illinois State Board of Health.
Dr. Williams worked during an era of racism and discrimination which prohibited African Americans from being admitted to major hospitals and black doctors from employment on hospital staff.
In 1891, Dr. Williams founded the first interracial hospital, Provident Hospital and Training School for Nurses, in Chicago. He founded his hospital in response to the lack of opportunity for African Americans in the medical profession.
In 1893, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams became the first surgeon to perform successful…
