Alfreda Johnson Webb facts for kids

Alfreda Johnson Webb (born February 21, 1923) was an amazing American scientist and politician. She was a professor of biology and a veterinarian. Dr. Webb was the first Black woman in the United States to be licensed as a veterinarian. She also became the first Black woman to serve in the North Carolina General Assembly.

Early Life and Learning

Alfreda Johnson Webb was born on February 21, 1923, in Mobile, Alabama. Her parents were Cattie Lee Avant Johnson and Bibb Garden Johnson. She loved learning and went to Tuskegee University.

In 1943, she earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Science (BS). Then, in 1949, she made history by earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Tuskegee. She was one of the first two African-American women to graduate from a veterinary school in the U.S. She continued her studies and earned a master's degree in Anatomy from Michigan State University in 1950.

Helping Animals and Teaching Science

Dr. Webb started her career at Tuskegee University in 1950. She taught anatomy, which is the study of how bodies are put together. She became an associate professor before leaving in 1959.

She then moved to Greensboro, North Carolina. There, she became a biology professor at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T). She taught there from 1959 to 1978. Later, she also became a coordinator for Laboratory Animal Science. Her research looked at tiny parts of living things, like cells and tissues.

In the late 1970s, Dr. Webb helped plan a new veterinary school for North Carolina. This school opened at North Carolina State University in 1981.

Making a Difference in Politics

Dr. Webb was also very active in politics. She was a member of the Democratic Party in North Carolina. In 1971, she made history again. Governor Robert W. Scott appointed her to the North Carolina General Assembly. This made her the first African-American woman to serve in that group.

She worked hard for her community. She was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1976. She also led the Democratic Women of North Carolina. Dr. Webb served on important committees, like the North Carolina Council on Sickle Cell Syndrome.

Family Life and Legacy

Alfreda Webb was married to Dr. Burleigh Webb, who was an expert in farming. They had three children together. Dr. Webb passed away on October 14, 1992, at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Dr. Alfreda Johnson Webb received many honors for her work.

• In 1949, she became the first Black member of the Women's Veterinary Association.
• She was a member of several important science groups, like the American Association of Veterinary Anatomists.
• She received an award for political excellence from the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
• In 1972, she received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Tuskegee University.
• She was added to the NC A&T Agriculture Hall of Fame in 1999.

To honor her, North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine created a special scholarship in 2016. It's called the Dr. Alfreda Johnson Webb Scholarship Award. It helps students from groups that are not often seen in veterinary medicine. The college also named one of its student houses after her. House Webb has a dog on its crest and believes in "fairness, equity, and justice."