Still, James Thomas

James Thomas Still (1840-1895)

Son of James Still, grandson of Levin and Charity Still

One of the first black graduates of Harvard Medical School

Born in Medford, New Jersey, Dr. James Thomas Still was the first child of Dr. James Still and Henrietta Still. He was the nephew of William Still, the abolitionist.  His father, James Still, despite having no formal medical training, was a renowned herbalist in Medford Township, New Jersey, who gained a wide reputation for prescribing successful remedies to his patients.  James Thomas Still attended school in Mount Holly, New Jersey, before entering Harvard Medical School in 1867. Having presented his thesis on hay asthma and hay fever, Dr. Still graduated with honors in 1871.  Remaining in Boston after graduation, he began his medical practice at 166 Cambridge Street, where he treated sick people in the black community until his death at age 55 of Bright's Disease. In 1899, Dr. Still's pamphlet, "Don't Tell White Folks, or Light out of Darkness," was published.

By Aslaku Berhanu

References

Nercessian, Nora N. “Nineteenth-Century Black Graduates of Harvard Medical School. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education 47 (2005): 88-92. Ethnic NewsWatch (ENW), Proquest. Web, 30 Apr.2012.

Still, James Thomas. “Don’t Tell White Folks”: or Light out of Darkness. Boston: J. Still, 1889.