CHAPTER XXVI.
PROMINENT COLORED WOMEN.
As a splendid type of noble womanhood I know of no better subject than Dr. Hallie Tanner Johnson.
DR. HALLIE TANNER JOHNSON.
She is a daughter of Bishop B. T. Tanner, of the A. M. E. Church, who is justly proud of her.
Not only as teachers have colored women labored for the race, but they can be found in most of the professions also. The subject in question saw and felt the need of lady physicians, and, acting upon her feelings in the matter, she read medicine at the Women's Medical College in Philadelphia, and graduated with high honor. There being an opening at Tuskegee Institute for a resident physician, Dr. Johnson went to fill the place. But before she could practise medicine in the State of Alabama, she had to stand an examination before a State Board of Examiners. She has the distinction of being the first lady, white or colored, to receive a certificate to practise medicine in the State of Alabama. It is with the greatest regret that I call my readers' attention to the fact that since the first edition of my book came out Dr. Johnson has passed away. She died at her home in Nashville, Tenn.
There are other interesting characters among colored ladies who have read and are now engaged in the practice of medicine, one of whom is Dr. Caroline V. Anderson, of Philadelphia. Her experience has been very interesting and useful, for her practice has been about evenly divided between white and colored people, and among the whites she has been called into some of the very best families. I regard Mrs. Anderson as one of the most intellectual women I have ever met. She is a daughter of Mr. William Still, who wrote that most interesting book, "The Underground Railroad."
Among the earliest to graduate as lady physicians from the Women's Medical College, of New York, is Dr. Susan McKinney.