Greetings, fellow historio-medico aficionados. Kevin here, with another article on a thought-provoking topic from the history of medicine.
The College of Physicians of Philadelphia is committed to elevating the voices of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in the history of medicine. To that end, we have put together articles both addressing the innovations of BIPOC physicians and critically examining the ways medicine has been used to reinforce and perpetuate racism, injustice, and exploitation. This includes the roles people affiliated with The College played in these regards. Past articles in this vein include our look at , College Fellow Albert Kligman’s , Fellow William S. Forbes’ scandal involving , and the monumental contributions of .
In honor of Black History Month, this month’s article answers an important historical question: who was the first Black Fellow of The College?
Before we answer this question, let’s answer another related question: what exactly is a College Fellow? The College of Physicians of Philadelphia is not a “college” in the common use of the word: it is not a degree granting institution. Rather, The College of Physicians of Philadelphia was founded in 1787 as a professional organization for physicians. The 24 original founding members of The College became its first “Fellows,” the title for members of The College.
Individuals must to become a Fellow. Most importantly, Fellows must represent the medical field in some way, either as a person with a medical or medical-related degree or someone who or exhibits “work that contributes to the advancement or understanding of medicine.” Prospective Fellows must be nominated by two existing Fellows. Their qualifications are then assessed by the “Committee on Admissions,” who determine whether the candidate will be accepted for Fellowship. New Fellows are admitted in a special ceremony held twice a year called "College Night." Today there are over 800 active Fellows who represent a wide array of skills and professional backgrounds, including physicians, nurses, scientists, teachers, and public health advocates.
For a while, we thought the first, or perhaps one of the earliest, Black Fellows was (1856-1946), a prominent physician, hospital administrator, and civil rights activist (a past article written by me ). The College owns a portrait of Mossell, as well as another groundbreaking Black physician, (1870-1946), leading us to assume he and Dr. Minton were Fellows (both portraits are currently on display in the ). Mossell was also a student of , who was President of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia for a time, lending credence to the idea that Mossell was a Fellow himself. However, upon deeper research, we have learned that neither Dr. Mossell nor Dr. Minton were Fellows of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
However, thanks to some diligent research, we have successfully identified the first two Black Fellows. Dr. Edward E. Holloway and Dr. DeHaven Hinkson were each admitted to The College Fellowship on October 7, 1952. Both were prominent Philadelphia physicians who made substantial contributions to health and medicine while breaking through racial barriers.
DeHaven Hinkson (1891-1975) was a graduate of Central High School. In 1915, he graduated from the and studied surgery, gynecology, and obstetrics at the University of Pennsylvania and Austria’s University of Vienna. Along with (1906-1947), Hinkson was the first Black physician to join the staff of Philadelphia General Hospital. He was later a staff member at Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital, where he served as the head of the gynecology department, and Mercy-Douglass Hospital. He was also the first Black medical examiner of Philadelphia Municipal Court. A longtime member of the U.S. Army Reserve, Hinkson served in both World War I and World War II, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel; he was also the first Black person to run a U.S. Army station hospital. In addition to his College Fellowship, he was a member of the American Medical Association, the State Medical Society of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia County Medical Society, the NAACP, and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. He was also president of the Urban League.
Edward E. Holloway (1908-1993) also graduated from Central High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Howard University, and in 1946, despite never attending medical school, he passed his certification exam to practice medicine. Dr. Holloway went on to have an accomplished career as a cardiologist and hospital administrator and practiced medicine for over 50 years. In 1950, he became one of the first Black people elected to the American College of Physicians. (Accounts differ on whether he was the first or second. His paperwork submitted to The College archives lists him as the first, while his April 10, 1993, obituary in the Philadelphia Inquirer describes him as the second.) In 1953, he was elected Philadelphia County coroner. In 1955, he became the first Black person to join the American Board of Cardiovascular Diseases. He also served as the chief of medical staff for Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital and Mercy-Douglass Hospital, Philadelphia’s first and second Black hospitals, respectively.
We hope you check back for more articles revealing the contributions of people from marginalized communities to our collective understanding of medicine. Next month, in honor of Women’s History Month, we will examine Helen O. Dickens, the first Black woman to become a Fellow.
Until next time!
Sources:
"D. Hinkson, Physician, Civil Rights Leader." Philadelphia Inquirer. December 1, 1975.
Deceased Fellows files. Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
Journal of the National Medical Association 66, No. 4 (1974): 339-342. Accessed February 17, 2021.
Philadelphia Area Archives Research Portal. Accessed February 17, 2021.
Wikipedia. Accessed February 17, 2021.
Simmons, Rose. "E.E. Holloway, cardiologist, practiced in city for 53 years." Philadelphia Inquirer. April 10, 1993.