Ida Gray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ida Gray
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Ida Gray Nelson, 1900
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| Born | March 4, 1867 |
| Died | May 3, 1953 (aged 86) |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Ida Gray Nelson, Ida Rollins |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Occupation | Dentist |
| Years active | 1875–1928 |
| Known for | first African-American dentist in the United States |
Ida Gray (also known as Ida Gray Nelson and Ida Rollins) was a truly special person. Born on March 4, 1867, she made history as the very first African-American woman to become a dentist in the United States!
Ida faced challenges early on, becoming an orphan when her parents passed away. Later, she became interested in dentistry while working in the office of Jonathan Taft. He was a dentist who strongly believed that women should also learn dentistry. After learning a lot from him, Ida was able to pass her entrance exams. She then attended the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. When she graduated, it was a huge deal! News spread that she was the first African-American woman dentist. She quickly became a role model for other women. Ida practiced dentistry in Ohio before moving to Chicago, where she worked for over thirty years.
Her Early Life
Ida Gray was born on March 4, 1867, in Clarksville, Tennessee. Sadly, her mother, Jenny Gray, died when Ida was just a baby. Her father, who was white, did not raise her.
Ida went to live with her aunt, Caroline Gray, in Cincinnati, Ohio. She and Caroline's three children—Howard, Susan, and Mary—went to public schools that were segregated. This meant Black and white students went to separate schools. Even though she started working as a seamstress at a young age, Ida kept going with her studies. She graduated from Gaines High School in 1887.
Her Amazing Career
While she was still in school, Ida Gray started working in the dental offices of William and Jonathan Taft. Jonathan Taft was a big supporter of women becoming dentists. He had been the dean of the Ohio College of Dentistry. The University of Michigan then asked him to help start their first dental school.
When he moved to Michigan, Taft still kept an office in Cincinnati with William Taft. Ida worked in this office for about three years. She learned enough to pass the tough entrance exams for the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. She started there on October 1, 1887. Ida graduated in June 1890, becoming the first African-American woman dentist in the United States!
Ida's amazing achievement was widely shared in newspapers. She opened her own dental office at 216 Ninth Street in Cincinnati. In her practice, she treated both white and Black patients. Black newspapers often wrote about her, calling her a role model for other women.
In 1895, she moved her practice to Chicago. This was after she married James Sanford Nelson in March of that year. James was a lawyer and worked for the Illinois National Guard. He later became an accountant for the city of Chicago.
Just like in Cincinnati, Ida Nelson treated both Black and white patients. She also treated both adults and children. She was known for being very gentle with children. She even inspired one of her patients, Olive M. Henderson, to become the second Black woman dentist in Chicago. Ida Nelson moved her office a few times but kept practicing until she retired in 1928. In 1929, after James died in 1926, Ida married William A. Rollins.
Besides her dental work, Ida Nelson was active in several clubs. Her social activities were often reported in the Black press. She was the vice president of the Professional Women's Club of Chicago. She was also the vice president of the Eighth Regiment Ladies' Auxiliary. Plus, she was a member of the Phyllis Wheatley Club. This group worked to support the only Black women’s shelter in Chicago.
A Lasting Legacy
Ida Rollins passed away on May 3, 1953, in Chicago. Although she was married, she never had children.
The School of Dentistry at the University of Michigan created an annual award in her name. This award celebrates diversity. Even though there isn't a full book written about her life, Ida Gray Nelson Rollins is often mentioned. She is seen as a great example of achievement and an inspiration for others. Her gravestone proudly says, "Dr. Ida Gray Nelson Rollins, 1st Negro Woman Dentist in America."
