Samuel E. Courtney
African American physician (1865–1941)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samuel Edward Courtney (c. 1860 – June 1, 1941), also known as S. E. Courtney, was an American physician, teacher, and politician in Boston.[1][2] He was a founding member of the National Negro Business League.
c. 1860
Westfield Normal School,
Harvard Medical School (MD)
Samuel E. Courtney | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | Samuel Edward Courtney c. 1860 Malden, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | June 1, 1941 (aged 80–81) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Other name | S. E. Courtney |
| Education | Hampton Institute (BA), Westfield Normal School, Harvard Medical School (MD) |
| Occupations | Physician, politician, teacher |
Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lilla Virginia Davis (m. 1896–1941; his death) |
| Children | 6 |
Early life and education
Samuel Edward Courtney was born enslaved in c. 1860, in Malden, West Virginia.[3][4] His father was a wealthy white planter, and his mother was an enslaved biracial servant.[1] In day school in West Virginia, Courtney studied under Booker T. Washington, who had encouraged him to continue his education.[1][5] He was one of the pupils colloquially known as "Booker Washington's boys", students who Washington paid special attention to and he considered to have promise.[1]
Courtney attended Hampton Institute (B.A. 1879, now Hampton University) in Hampton, Virginia;[6] the Westfield Normal School (1880–1882, now Westfield State University) in Westfield, Massachusetts; and Harvard Medical School (M.D. 1892, or 1894).[1][3][7][8] He was an early Black graduate of Harvard Medical School.[1]
Career
Courtney taught mathematics and drawing at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Tuskegee, Alabama from 1885 until 1888.[1][9] He enrolled in Harvard Medical School in 1888.[1][8]
In 1896, Courtney married Lilia Virginia Davis, an educator.[10] She was one of the founders and first teacher of the Cotton Valley School in Fort Davis, Alabama.[10] Together they had 6 children. Two of their sons Samuel E. Courtney Jr. (1897–1929) and Roger Davis Courtney (1901–1930) were tarred and feathered on April 19, 1919 during the Red Summer by a white mob at the University of Maine's Hannibal Hamlin Hall, and survived.[11][12][13][14] The university President Robert J. Aley claimed the incident was hazing related, and not race related; both brothers transferred to other universities.[13][15]
In 1895, Courtney became a licensed physician in Massachusetts.[16] He interned at Boston City Hospital, and followed by work as a House Physician at the Boston Lying-In Hospital (now Brigham and Women's Hospital).[1] His medical office was in the South End neighborhood at 98 West Springfield Street in Boston.[17]
Courtney attended the 1896 Republican National Convention in St. Louis, Missouri as an alternate delegate-at-large and represented Massachusetts in the 8th congressional district.[3][18][19] He served two terms on the Boston School Committee.[19]
Courtney was a founding member of the National Negro Business League, and the first meeting in 1900 was held at his home.[19] He also served as one of the member of the executive committee.[10]
In 1932, Courtney was assaulted by three men in his medical office.[17]
Courtney had been a trustee of the Tuskegee Institute.[20] He was a member of the Bay State Medical Association, and the South End Medical Society.[20] He also active on various Republican Party committees.[9][20]
Death and legacy
Courtney died on June 1, 1941, at Boston City Hospital.[20] He had surgery days prior to his death.[20]
In 1989, he was honored by Westfield State College (now Westfield State University) in Westfield, Massachusetts when a new residence hall was named for him.[3][21]
