Spotlight on Dr. Annie Alexander and Dr. JT Williams
In light of the current coronavirus crisis, healthcare workers have never been more needed and cherished. Around the world, communities are showing their support of doctors, nurses, and medical staff on the front lines of this emergency. Whether it is from clapping during shift changes or placing paper hearts in windows, people are eager to cheer on these heroes.
The Levine Museum of the New South would like to celebrate the healthcare industry by sharing the stories of two Charlotte trailblazers in the medical field.
Dr. Annie Lowrie Alexander, (1864-1929) born in Mecklenburg County during the final years of the Civil War, became the state’s first licensed female doctor. Dr. Annie as she was called was the first licensed woman physician to practice in North Carolina. She lived during a time when the idea of any woman becoming a doctor horrified many people. Nevertheless, she persevered and enjoyed a successful practice for over forty years, leaving behind a legacy of devotion to her patients, advocacy of better public health practices, and the professional respect of her colleagues.
Dr. John Taylor Williams (1859-1924) was a prominent figure in the history of African-Americans in Charlotte. Not only was he one of the first black doctors licensed in North Carolina, Williams also served as an educator and a businessman. J.T. Williams had a large practice, was a successful business man and real estate investor. He was also instrumental in forming the historical
To learn more about Dr. Alexander, click here. She is also featured in the core exhibit: Cottonfields to Skycrapers. Dr. Williams is featured in the Museum exhibit Brooklyn: Once a City Within a City and read about him here.
