Mr. White comes of one of the oldest and best-known colored families in Pennsylvania. His maternal great grandfather, one of the Bustil family, which intermarried with Lenni Lenape Indians, was a baker in Washington's army. His grandparents were all Philadelphians, and his father was secretary of the very first organized society of the famous "Underground Railroad," which aided slaves to escape to Canada. Robert Purvis was president of the organization. As a lad young Jacob assisted in caring for the fugitives, who came here in a wretched condition, and he tells many an interesting story of those who sought escape from slavery, a score of whom would be hidden at one time in the garret of his father's house.
Mr. White has always been actively identified with movements for the betterment of the colored people. He is a member of the Teachers' Institute, Annuity and Aid Association, Educational Club and the Teachers' Beneficial Association.
DANIEL H. WILLIAMS, M.D.
Dr. Daniel H. Williams, one of the best physicians in this country, white or colored, of Chicago, Ill., now of Washington, D.C., was born January 18, 1858, at Hollidaysburg, Pa. He attended the Janesville, Wis., High School, and was graduated from Janesville Classical Academy in 1878. Commenced the study of medicine at Janesville in 1880, under Surgeon-General Henry Palmer; attended three courses of lectures at Chicago Medical College, from which he was graduated March 28, 1883, his education having been obtained through his own exertions, his parents being unable to render financial assistance. In May, 1883, he located permanently in the practice of medicine in Chicago.
DANIEL H. WILLIAMS, M. D.
Dr. Williams is a member of the American Medical Association; Illinois State Medical Society; Chicago Medical Society; Ninth International Medical Congress. He was a surgeon to South Side Dispensary, Chicago, 1884-92; surgeon to Provident Hospital, 1890-93; physician to Protestant Orphan Asylum, 1884-93; member of Illinois State Board of Health, 1889; reappointed in 1891. He is also a member of the Hamilton Club, of Chicago. Was appointed surgeon in charge to the Freedmen's Hospital, Washington, D. C., February 15, 1894.
Provident Hospital, Chicago, was instituted in January, 1891, by a few gentlemen of that city, who saw the need of an opening for colored physicians, as well as for colored women. At that time there was not a hospital in the United States that admitted colored men as resident physicians or internes. There was no place, in fact, that a colored man could get a good practical experience so necessary for the proper equipment of the young men in the practice of medicine and surgery; as well to colored women, there were no institutions where they could be admitted into the higher scientific work of nursing. There may have been one or two exceptions in which persons of very light color, who could not possibly be detected, were admitted into one or two of the Eastern institutions for the higher education of women as nurses.
Each year, Provident Hospital has graduated a class of ladies who have scattered themselves throughout the United States; and in every instance they are succeeding and doing commendable work, demonstrating at once the necessity of opening a field of usefulness to colored women who are debarred from every avenue of employment on account of color.