An African American Family of Doctors

Q-4-8

Here, in the late 1800s, Charles and Maria Fairfax Brown raised six children who became doctors of medicine or pharmacy based in Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh, PA. Sara, a physician, was the first female graduate of Howard University named to its board of trustees. John, also a physician, was a founder of the Pittsburgh NAACP. Edward co-founded one of the first Black-owned pharmacies in PA. At Williams College, an organization for Black pre-med students was named for Harrison, an internist. Nancy earned a Phar. D. and co-founded the National Association of University Women. James, a urologist, was an instructor at the University of Pittsburgh. The siblings were noted for their philanthropy.

Department of Historic Resources, 2022

See a problem? Report it to HighwayMarkers@dhr.virginia.gov.

DHR could use your help! We don't have a recent image of this marker. If you have one that you'd like to submit for inclusion on this site, please send it to HighwayMarkers@dhr.virginia.gov.

References/Bibliographic Citation:

Winchester City Deed Book, 22: 149-150. Washington Star, Winchester Evening Star, Washington Herald, newspaper clippings all ca. 15 April 1948. Chicago Defender, 15 March 1924. Washington Post, 8 June 1924, 13 Nov. 1948. “John Brown’s Humanitarian Spirit a Family Tradition,” Lincoln Bulletin, n.d. Norfolk Journal and Guide, 25 March 1950. Winchester Evening Star, 6 Jan. 1951. Pittsburgh Courier, 2 Nov. 1935, 24 April 1937, 28 Jan. 1939, 11 Nov. 1950, 20 Dec. 1958, 10, 17 Jan. 1959, 24 Feb. 1962. Pittsburgh Press, 14 Feb. 1915. “Black Williams: A Written History” (Williams College Black Student Union, ca. 2003). Washington Evening Star, 8 April 1958. Washington Times, 24 March 1924. “A Family of Doctors,” Southern Workman, vol. 52 (1923): 368. U.S. Census, 1870, 1880, 1900.