African American Firsts

 African American Women of Distinction

7 Men of Distinction

Sadie M. Alexander

First to earn a Ph.D. in Economics. She received it from the University of Pennsylvania in 1921.

Charee Harvey

Mary McLeod Bethune

First Black woman to establish a four-year accredited college and eventually established Bethune-Cookman College in 1904.

Charee Harvey

Charee Harvey

Dorothy Brown

In 1957, she became the first Black female member of the American College of Surgeons. She was originally from Nashville, TN.

Charee Harvey

Dr. Alexa Canady

In 1975 she became the first Black female Neurosurgeon to complete her medical degree specializing in Pediatric Neurosurgery.

Charee Harvey

Rebecca Crumpher

First Black woman to receive a medical degree. She received it at New England Female Medical College in Boston on March 1, 1864.

Charee Harvey

Dr. Jocelyn Elders

In 1993, she was confirmed by the Senate as the first Black Surgeon General of the United States. 

Charee Harvey

Emeline Roberts Jones

Of Connecticut was the first Black woman to professionally practice Dentistry. She assisted her husband. Upon his death she went on to develop a sucessful Practice.

Charee Harvey

Congresswoman

Barbara Jordan

In 1976 she became the first Black to deliver a keynote address at a Democratic National Convention.

Charee Harvey

Charee Harvey

Elizabeth Duncan Koontz

First Black president of a "Seven Sister School" after being installed as president of Smith College in 1995.

Charee Harvey

Mary Elizabeth Mahoney

In 1879 Ms. Mahoney became the first Black female to graduate from nursing school when she graduated from the New England Hospital for Women and Children in Boston.

Charee Harvey

Mayor Carrie Saxon Perry

The first Black woman Mayor of a large city; Hartford Conneticut.

Charee Harvey

Ida Gray Nelson Rollins

Ms. Rollins was the first Black woman to recieve a degree in Denistry. She was a graduate of the University of Michigan Dental School in 1887.

Charee Harvey