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https://www.nps.gov/people/dr-rebecca-lee-crumpler.htm
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/celebrating-rebecca-lee-crumpler-first-african-american-physician

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Dr. Crumpler passed away on March 9, 1895 in Hyde Park

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Dr. Crumpler passed away on March 9, 1895 in Hyde Park

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Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was a woman who incited a monumental change in the United States. During a time of severe racial discrimination, she defied all common thinking and became the first African American woman to receive a Doctress in Medicine degree.
Her successes in the medical field and the care she provided for the poor, sick and powerless are things that will continuously encourage men and women of all ages and races to do seemingly "impossible" things that go against the grain of the society they live in.

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Dr. Crumpler continued her work and treated patients near her home in a predominantly black neighborhood in Boston. Some patients were unable to pay, but financial hardships did not sway Dr. Crumpler away from treating the very sick.

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"A book of Medical Discourses" Written by Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler. Published in 1883. 

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In 1869, Dr. Crumpler goes back to Boston and later on writes and publishes a book.
In her book, Dr. Crumpler writes about medical problems she has encountered in infants, children and young women. She offers insight to different diseases and how to treat them based on her knowledge and experience.

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Dr. Crumpler had decided she would move to Virginia from Boston because she believed that there she would find "the proper field for real missionary work, and one that would present ample opportunities to become acquainted with the diseases of women and children".

Under the support of the Assistant Commissioner of the Freedman's Bureau of Virginia, General Orlando Brown, Dr. Crumpler cared for a population of over 30,000 out of the 4,000,000 African American slaves freed.

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Dr. Crumpler graduated from New England Female Medical College (NEFMC) in 1864 - now known as Boston University School of Medicine

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During her time, it was viewed by society that females were not capable of becoming doctors. Additionally, black students, both men and women were blocked from attending  most medical schools.

At the time, out of the 54,543 white physicians practicing in the United States, only 300 were female.
Then in 1864, Dr. Crumpler became the first female African American physician!
She graduated from NEFMC with a degree called "Doctress of Medicine".

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She then moved to Massachusetts - There she worked as a Nurse (1852)

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She then moved to Massachusetts - There she worked as a Nurse (1852)

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Dr. Crumpler went to the West-Newton English and Classical School in Massachusetts

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Dr. Crumpler went to the West-Newton English and Classical School in Massachusetts

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This was a special school that offered a kindergarten program. The founder, Nathaniel Allen had advocated for a racially inclusive and co-ed school environment. The school also included physical education as part of the curriculum, which at the time was being newly added to the educational system in the United States.

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https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/bessie-blount
https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/bessie-blount-griffin-1914-2009/

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Blessie passed away on December 20, 2009 in Newfield, NJ

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Blessie passed away on December 20, 2009 in Newfield, NJ

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Most often we don't think so deeply about things like deciding what we want to wear each day, what we want to eat or drink and what time we decide to do certain things. If these things were suddenly impossible to do for a person, it drastically changes their life. By creating the portable receptacle support, Blessie created a new possibility for disabled people. Giving them the choice to decide when they want to put food in their mouth and being able to do it themselves was very important. Before all of the technology created today to make eating possible for those unable to eat normally, there was a time were there were no options for these people. Blessie was truly an admirable innovator and person.

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Career Change and Back to School - Forensics and Law

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Career Change and Back to School - Forensics and Law

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She began a separate line of work as a Chief Examiner for police departments in Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia in 1969.

Then in 1977, Blessie was the first American woman to be admitted and attend the Document Division of the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory in London, England.

Sometime after that, Blessie began a private practice working with law enforcement. She continued this until 1983.

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An invention still used in Belgium to this day

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Invention #3 - Disposable Cardboard Emesis Basin

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Invention #3 - Disposable Cardboard Emesis Basin

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What is it?
A very ingenious invention. This invention is similar to the plastic emesis basins found in hospitals in the United States. This is a little cardboard container used to catch vomit or used to spit into if a person needs to brush their teeth in bed or in their chair.

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Translation: The French government did what?

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The rights to Blessie's Portable Receptacle Support patent was bought by the French Government in 1952.

As a result, more military hospitals were able to easily have access to its use for recovering veterans.

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After three years upon filing for a patent, Blessie received the patent for the Portable Receptacle Support on April 24, 1951

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Inventions #1 and #2 - Feeding Tube System and Portable Receptacle Support

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Inventions #1 and #2 - Feeding Tube System and Portable Receptacle Support

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During her time working with wounded Veterans, Blessie noted that there was a need to give back some form of independence to the soldiers who became unable to feed themselves as a result of the lost of the use of their arms.

Blessie first created a device that resembles a feeding tube system commonly used today in healthcare to deliver nutrition to those who are physically in need of nutrition and are either unable to feed themselves or need alternative methods of receiving nutrition.

Blessie's feeding tube system consists of a feeding tube, a food receptacle and a motor to push the food to the mouth. The device was simple to use as the person using it just has to bite down on the tube inserted in their mouth and the food is propelled into their mouth.

The Portable Receptacle Support that Blessie later on patented was easier to use. It consisted of a neck brace that held a bowl, cup or a dish - This device is seen in the picture of the schematic above.

Although technology and medicine continue to evolve, it truly is admirable to learn about the inventions Blessie has created during WWII to help those who have paid the price for the freedom of our country.

Unfortunately, Blessie received some pushback when she tried to share her invention with the Americans Veteran's Association.

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She taught arm amputees how to use their feet to do simple every day tasks

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She taught arm amputees how to use their feet to do simple every day tasks

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There were many injured soldiers who returned to the United States in need of help restoring as much physical function as possible.
Blessie spent a lot of her time working with soldiers in different Veterans Hospitals helping the wounded regain physical function.

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She received her certification of Physical Therapy at Union County College

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She received her certification of Physical Therapy at Union County College

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She studied Nursing at Community Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Newark, NJ

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She studied Nursing at Community Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Newark, NJ

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During her time here, she began cultivating interest in the developing field of Physical Therapy

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Blessie Attended Montclair State University 

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Blessie Attended Montclair State University 

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Born in Chesapeake, Virginia (1914-2009)