Ceramic Mug 11oz (Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler)

Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, born as Rebecca Davis, was the first Black woman to earn a medical degree in the United States12. She was born on February 8, 1831, in Christiana, Delaware.

Rebecca was raised by her aunt in Pennsylvania, who frequently cared for sick neighbors. This early exposure to healthcare may have influenced her career choice1. In 1852, she moved to Charlestown, Massachusetts, where she worked as a nurse before being admitted to the New England Female Medical College in Boston in 18602.

She graduated in 1864, becoming not only the first African American woman in the United States to earn a medical degree but also the only African American woman to graduate from the college12. In 1865, she married Arthur Crumpler and took his name1.

Dr. Crumpler first practiced medicine in Boston, primarily serving poor women and children. 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 work2. Despite facing intense racism and sexism while practicing medicine, she continued to treat women and children after moving back to Boston2.

In 1883, she published “A Book of Medical Discourses,” which was one of the first publications written by an African American on the subject of medicine2. The book, dedicated to nurses and mothers, focuses on maternal and pediatric medical care.

Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler’s contributions to medicine and her pioneering role in breaking racial and gender barriers in the field are truly remarkable. Her legacy continues to inspire many today.