Rebecca Lee Crumpler
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.
The book has two parts that cover the prevention and cure of infantile bowel complaints, and the life and growth of human beings.
Dedicated to nurses and mothers, it focuses on maternal and pediatric medical care and was among the first publications written by an African American on the subject of medicine.
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.
[1][2] Her aunt acted as the doctor in her community and had a huge influence on Crumpler's decision to pursue a career in medicine.
[8] Crumpler 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 American Civil War veterans,[11] opportunities increased for women physicians and doctors.
[9][c] Crumpler graduated from New England Female Medical College in 1864[13][d] after having completed three years of coursework, a thesis, and final oral examinations in February 1864.
[2] After the end of the American Civil War (1861–1865), she moved to Richmond, Virginia, believing it to be an ideal way to provide missionary service, as well as to gain more experience learning about diseases that affected women and children.
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."
[15] In 1860, bearing letters of recommendation from her physician-employers, Crumpler was accepted into the elite West Newton English and Classical School in Massachusetts,[2][7][16] where she was a "special student in mathematics".
[18] Therefore, she recommended that women should study the mechanisms of human structure before becoming a nurse in order to better enable themselves to protect life.
[13] Her medical book is divided into two sections: in the first part she focuses on preventing and mitigating intestinal problems that can occur around the teething period until the child is about five years of age;[9] the second part mainly focused on the following areas: "life and growth of beings", the beginning of womanhood and the prevention and cure of most of the "distressing complaints" of both sexes.
[19] Although the book was focused on medical advice, Crumpler also ties in autobiographical details that contain political, social, and moral commentary.
[20] Specifically in the first chapter, Crumpler gave non-medical advice concerning what age and how a woman should enter into marriage.
[21] 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.
[6] Their daughter Lizzie Sinclair Crumpler was born in mid-December 1870,[31] but as no other records have been found, it is believed the child did not survive infancy.
[6] Although no photographs or other images of Crumpler survive,[34][35] a Boston Globe article described her as "a very pleasant and intellectual woman and an indefatigable church worker.
[37][38] Rebecca and Arthur Crumpler were buried in unmarked graves for 125 years, until July 16, 2020, when granite headstones were donated for their gravesite.
[42] February 8, 2021, was declared "Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler Day" in Boston as part of the 190th anniversary of her birth.
