Chesta Dillard Dean facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chesta Dillard Dean
Chesta Dean in 1912
Born	February 12, 1885 Danville, Virginia
Education	Temple College, 1911
Occupation	Pharmacist
Relatives	Bertha G. Higgins (sister)

Chesta Dillard Dean was a pioneering pharmacist. She was born on February 12, 1885. Chesta Dean made history in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the first Black woman to own and run her own pharmacy there. A pharmacy is a store where you can get medicines.

Early Life and Education

Chesta Dillard was the tenth child in her family. She was born near Danville, Virginia. Her parents were Barbara Stone Dillard and Horace Dillard.

After her father passed away, Chesta went to live with her older sister. Her sister, Bertha G. Higgins, lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. Chesta also lived with her sister in Providence, Rhode Island. She attended high school in Lawrenceville, Virginia.

Chesta Dean received training at St. Paul’s School. Then, she studied at Brown University for two years. In 1911, she earned a Pharmacy degree. She graduated from Temple College.

Her Amazing Career

After finishing her studies, Chesta Dean faced a challenge. She needed more practice hours to become a fully registered pharmacist. Instead of giving up, she found a different path. In 1911, she bought a pharmacy in Philadelphia.

This was a huge achievement! At that time, there were only three Black pharmacists practicing in Philadelphia. Chesta Dean became one of them. Even more impressively, she was the first and only woman of color to own and operate a pharmacy. Her success was so important that it was written about. Her accomplishments were shared in the "Who's Who in Philadelphia" book in 1912. This book highlighted important Black individuals in the city.