Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler: The First Black Woman Doctor in America and Her Mission to Mothers
In 1864, Rebecca Lee Crumpler became the first African American woman in the US to earn a medical degree. She went south after the Civil War to care for freed people, called it real missionary work, and wrote a book for mothers. Her mission still matters, because Black mothers today die at nearly 3.5 times the rate of white mothers.
- Born
- 1831, Delaware
- Trained at
- New England Female Medical College
- Degree
- Doctress of Medicine, 1864
- Known for
- First Black woman in the US to earn a medical degree
- Book
- A Book of Medical Discourses, 1883
- Died
- 1895, Hyde Park, Boston
A calling that started at home
Rebecca Davis was born in Delaware in 1831 and raised by an aunt in Pennsylvania. Her aunt often cared for sick neighbors, and young Rebecca watched closely. Those years gave her a desire, in her own words, to "relieve the suffering of others"1.
I early conceived a liking for, and sought every opportunity to relieve the suffering of others.
In the early 1850s she moved to Massachusetts and worked as a nurse for several years1. It was a time when most medical schools would not admit Black students of any gender, and many people argued that women were too delicate or not smart enough to be doctors1.
Breaking through
In 1860, she was admitted to the New England Female Medical College in Boston, the first school in the US to train women as medical doctors1. She graduated in 1864, in the middle of the Civil War, with the title Doctress of Medicine. She was the first African American woman in the country to earn a medical degree1.
- 1831BornBorn Rebecca Davis in Delaware, raised by an aunt in Pennsylvania.
- 1850sNurseMoves to Massachusetts and works as a nurse.
- 1860Medical schoolAdmitted to the New England Female Medical College.
- 1864Doctress of MedicineBecomes the first Black woman in the US to earn a medical degree.
- After the warRichmondCares for freed African Americans after the Civil War.
- Late 1860sBostonPractices from her home on Beacon Hill, treating patients who could not pay.
- 1883Her bookPublishes A Book of Medical Discourses.
- 1895DeathDies in Hyde Park, Boston.
Real missionary work
When the war ended, Dr. Crumpler went to Richmond, Virginia. She worked with the Freedmen's Bureau and missionary and charity groups, caring for newly freed African Americans, many of them very poor and with little access to a doctor. She called it a "proper field for real missionary work"1.
She later returned to Boston and practiced from her home on Joy Street in Beacon Hill, then a mostly Black neighborhood. She treated patients whether or not they could pay1.
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
A book for mothers
In 1883, she published A Book of Medical Discourses. It shared her experiences as a doctor and gave practical guidance on caring for infants, young children and women of childbearing age1. It was written for ordinary families, not just doctors.
Her mission is not finished
Dr. Crumpler cared deeply about mothers. More than a century later, mothers in America, and Black mothers most of all, still face serious risks.
The CDC has reported that about 4 in 5 pregnancy related deaths are preventable3. Many happen in the weeks and months after birth, not just during delivery3. Knowing the warning signs can save a life.
- A headache that will not go away, gets worse or is sudden and severe
- Dizziness or fainting
- Changes in vision, like flashing lights or blurred vision
- A fever of 100.4 F or higher
- Severe swelling of the hands or face
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
- Trouble breathing, chest pain or a racing heartbeat
- Severe belly pain, or severe nausea and vomiting
- Baby moving less or not at all during pregnancy
- Heavy bleeding or fluid leaking, or very heavy bleeding after birth
- Severe pain, swelling or redness in one leg or arm
- Overwhelming tiredness or deep sadness after birth
If you have any of these signs, the CDC says to get care immediately and to tell the doctor or nurse that you are pregnant or were pregnant in the past year4. If something feels wrong, speak up, and keep speaking up until someone listens.
How the church can carry on her work
Dr. Crumpler saw caring for the sick and the poor as missionary work. Churches can carry that mission forward today.
- Check in on new mothers for the whole first year, not just the first week
- Share the CDC warning signs with expectant parents and their families
- Offer rides to prenatal and postpartum appointments
- Bring meals, and listen for signs a mother is struggling
- Encourage mothers to trust their bodies and speak up to their doctors
Frequently asked questions
Who was the first Black woman doctor in the US?
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, who earned her medical degree from the New England Female Medical College in 18641.
What did Rebecca Lee Crumpler do after medical school?
She cared for freed African Americans in Richmond, Virginia, after the Civil War, then practiced in Boston, treating patients regardless of their ability to pay1.
What book did Rebecca Lee Crumpler write?
A Book of Medical Discourses, published in 1883, with guidance on caring for infants, young children and women1.
What are the warning signs after giving birth?
The CDC lists signs like a severe headache, fever of 100.4 F or higher, trouble breathing, chest pain, heavy bleeding and thoughts of self harm. Get care right away if you have any of them4.
Meet more Forgotten Healers, like Ignaz Semmelweis, who fought to protect mothers in childbirth, or read about finding counseling you can afford.
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