Annie Lowrie Alexander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Annie Lowrie Alexander
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| Born | January 10, 1864 |
| Died | October 15, 1929 (aged 65) |
| Resting place | Elmwood Cemetery |
| Alma mater | Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania |
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| Known for | First licensed female physician in the Southern United States |
Annie Lowrie Alexander (born January 10, 1864 – died October 15, 1929) was an amazing American doctor and teacher. She made history as the very first woman to get a medical license in the Southern United States. This was a huge step for women in medicine!
Contents
A Pioneer in Medicine: The Life of Annie Lowrie Alexander
Early Life and Inspiration
Annie Lowrie Alexander was born on January 10, 1864. Her family lived near Cornelius in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. She was one of six children. Her parents were John Brevard Alexander and Ann Wall Lowrie.
Annie's father was also a doctor. He greatly inspired her to become a doctor too. He saw how important it was for women to have female doctors. This was because some women felt uncomfortable being treated by male doctors.
Education and Early Career
Annie was taught at home by a private tutor and her father. She then went to the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. She was a brilliant student and graduated with honors in 1884.
The next year, she took a test to get her medical license. She earned the highest score among 100 people! This showed how smart and dedicated she was.
She started her own medical practice. She also worked as an assistant teacher of anatomy. This was at the Women's Medical College of Baltimore.
Returning Home and Building a Practice
In 1887, Annie returned to Mecklenburg County. She began practicing medicine there. In 1889, she bought a home in Charlotte, North Carolina.
It took time to build her practice. She traveled to see patients using a horse-drawn buggy. Later, in 1911, she bought an automobile. This made it easier to reach her patients.
Being a female doctor in the late 1800s was very unusual. Some people found it surprising. Annie also continued her studies at New York Polyclinic.
Serving the Community
For 23 years, Dr. Alexander was the doctor for the Presbyterian College for Women. This school is now known as Queens University of Charlotte.
During her time in Charlotte, there were serious health challenges. There were outbreaks of diseases like malaria and typhoid fever. There was also a hookworm epidemic. Dr. Alexander worked hard to help people during these times.
World War I and the Flu Pandemic
During World War I, Dr. Alexander served as a first lieutenant in the Army. She worked at Camp Greene in Charlotte. She helped with medical inspections for school children.
She also faced the terrible 1918 flu pandemic. This global illness caused many people to get sick. Dr. Alexander worked tirelessly to care for patients during this difficult time.
Community Involvement and Legacy
Dr. Alexander was a respected member of her community. She served as president of the Mecklenburg Medical Society. She was also a member of several important groups. These included the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Charlotte Woman's Club, and the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Annie Lowrie Alexander passed away on October 15, 1929. She died in Charlotte from pneumonia. She had caught the illness from a patient she was caring for. Her life showed great dedication to helping others and breaking barriers for women in medicine.
