Rebecca Lee Crumpler (MED 1864) was a trailblazer, the first Black woman to graduate from a US medical school. Born in Delaware in 1831, she moved to Charlestown, Mass., in 1852, and after the Civil War, moved to Virginia to tend to former slaves who … She had seen her work as a mission, and had endured the dual scourges of racism and sexism while caring for her patients. She was born in 1833 and raised by her aunt in Pennsylvania. It appears in the feature article about him previously cited. On March 9, 125 years ago, Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler passed away at the age of sixty-four. -Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler . Dedicated “to mothers, nurses, and all who may desire to mitigate the afflictions of the human race,” Medical Discourses is the masterwork of Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler… Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler died on March 9, 1895. Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first Black woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. Dr. Crumpler is 59 or 60 years of age, tall and straight, with light brown skin and gray hair.“ A drawing of Arthur Crumpler, however, has survived. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first African-American woman in the United States to earn an M.D. She fought against racism, prejudice, and other difficult obstacles to obtain a medical degree. In her lifetime, she inspired many as a role model for breaking barriers, and for dedicating oneself to improving the lives of others. In 1864, Rebecca became the New England Female Medical College’s only [Black] graduate (the school closed its doors in 1873.) No photos or other images of Dr. Crumpler survive from her lifetime. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first black woman in the US to obtain a medical degree. After earning her degree in Boston, she spent time in Richmond, Virginia after the Civil War, caring for formerly enslaved people. Though her story was not known for many years, today she is recognized for her groundbreaking achievements. When did Rebecca Davis Lee Crumpler die? While the fact has been disputed, Dr. Crumpler’s contributions to medicine and her will to challenge racial and sexist barriers has solidified her rightful place in history. She is known to be a diligent and persistent woman. Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first African American woman who became a doctor in 1864. As the first Black woman physician in the United States, she had served communities at times of enormous upheaval: the Civil War and the end of slavery. Ms. Crumpler was born in 1831 in the state of Delaware. There is very little information about Crumpler (1831-1895). The little we know about her comes from the introduction to her book. Now imagine if it was a Black woman making a name for herself in the 1800s as a medical doctor. degree. In 1860, there were only 300 women out of 54,543 physicians in the United States and none of them were [Black]. What little is known about her life, comes from the introduction of her work, "Book of Medical Discourses," published in 1883. A few statistics help put her remarkable achievement in perspective. Rebecca Lee Crumpler is widely considered by historians as the first African-American woman to become a physician in the states. You’d be accurate if you were imagining Rebecca Lee Crumpler— the first Black physician in America and the first Black woman to earn a medical degree. Rebecca Crumpler died on March 9, 1895 and is buried at the Fairview Cemetery near her residence in Hyde Park. Her aunt was an important caregiver in the community, known for providing medical assistance to sick neighbors. Her Early Life. Dr. Rebecca Davis Lee Crumpler died in 1895 in Fairview, Massachusetts. A true pioneer, she battled deep-seated prejudice against women and African Americans in medicine.