Grace Marilynn James facts for kids
Grace Marilyn James (1923 – 1989) was an amazing American doctor who cared for children, called a pediatrician. She lived and worked in Louisville, Kentucky. When she started her medical practice in 1953, hospitals in Louisville were separated by race due to unfair laws. This was called racial segregation.
Dr. James made history at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She was the very first African-American doctor to teach there. She was also one of the first two African-American women to teach at any medical school in the southern United States. On top of that, she was the first African-American woman to be a main doctor, or attending physician, at Louisville's Kosair Children's Hospital.
Early Life and Education
Grace Marilyn James was born in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1923. Her father, Edward L. James, owned a company that sold fresh food. Her mother, Stella Grace Shaw James, managed the local post office.
Grace went to West Virginia State College. She continued her studies there and also at the University of Chicago. She earned her medical degree, an M.D., in 1950 from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee.
After medical school, Dr. James moved to New York City. She completed her special training in pediatrics at Harlem Hospital. She also studied child psychiatry, which is about children's mental health, at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center. Later, she became a special expert, or fellow, at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
A Career Helping Children
In 1953, Dr. James moved to Louisville to open her own pediatrics office. She also started a special clinic for children in the poorer "West End" part of Louisville. This clinic allowed children to get medical help without an appointment.
She also worked for the Louisville city and Jefferson County Health Department. She was a pediatrician for the West End Day Care Center, helping many young children stay healthy. Dr. James joined the University of Louisville School of Medicine as a teacher in child health.
Over time, she worked at eight different hospitals in the Louisville area. She was the first African-American woman to work at Louisville Children's Hospital. She was also one of only two black women teaching at any medical school in the southern United States. Dr. James was the first African-American woman to become a member of the Jefferson County Medical Society.
Legacy and Recognition
Grace Marilyn James was honored as a "Kentucky Woman Remembered." Her picture was added to a special exhibit in the Kentucky State Capital Rotunda. This honor celebrates women who have made important contributions to Kentucky.
