James A. Merriman facts for kids
James A. Merriman (October 10, 1869 – December 14, 1946) was an important American doctor and newspaper publisher. He made history as the first African American doctor to practice medicine in Portland. He might even have been the first in the entire state of Oregon.
Dr. Merriman was asked to come to Portland in 1903. His job was to care for the Black workers of the Union Pacific Railroad. Besides being a doctor, he also helped start Portland's second Black newspaper, The Advocate. He later edited The Portland Times for many years. James Merriman was also a strong leader in civil rights. He was the first president of the Portland chapter of the NAACP.
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Early Life and Education
James A. Merriman was born on October 10, 1869. His hometown was Camden, Alabama. His father, John Merriman, was a farmer from Alabama. His mother, Georgia Burke, was from South Carolina.
James went to Talladega College and finished his studies there in 1891. He then went on to medical school. In 1902, he earned his M.D. degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago. He was the only Black student to graduate from Rush Medical College that year.
Becoming a Doctor in Oregon
Dr. Merriman arrived in Portland in 1903. He passed the medical exam in Oregon in June. By August, he began his medical practice in Portland. This made him the first African American doctor in the city. Many believe he was also the first Black doctor in all of Oregon.
He was invited to Portland by the Union Pacific Railroad. They needed a Black doctor to care for their Black employees. These workers often held jobs like porters, stewards, cooks, and barbers.
By 1910, Dr. Merriman joined his medical practice with another doctor, Dr. Stanley Lucas. Later, Dr. Merriman helped bring another Black doctor, DeNorval Unthank, to Portland. Dr. Unthank took over caring for the Union Pacific's Black workers.
In 1931, Dr. Merriman moved to Phoenix, Arizona. This left Dr. Unthank as the only Black doctor in Portland at that time. Dr. Merriman continued to practice medicine in Phoenix for fourteen years.
Newspaper Work and Publishing
Dr. Merriman was not only a doctor but also a newspaper man. In 1903, he joined with other local Black business owners. Together, they started Portland's second Black newspaper, The Advocate.
He also became the editor of The Portland Times. This was another important African American newspaper. Dr. Merriman also served as the Vice President of the Times Publishing Company. He worked as the editor of The Portland Times from its start in 1913 until 1926.
Fighting for Civil Rights
James Merriman was a key leader in the fight for civil rights. He was the first president of the Portland branch of the NAACP. This branch was started in 1914.
Under Dr. Merriman's leadership, the Portland NAACP achieved a big win in 1915. They convinced the Portland City Council to ban any film that promoted racial hatred. This happened after the council members watched the movie The Birth of a Nation.
During World War I, Dr. Merriman also helped his country. He was chosen as a Four Minute Man. These volunteers gave short speeches to support the war effort. He also joined the Volunteer Medical Service Corps.
While living in Portland, Dr. Merriman was very active in his community. He led local discussions and directed plays at his church. He was also the president of a literary society. He was a member of several important groups. These included the Mystic Shriners, the Knights of Pythias, and he was a thirty-second degree Mason. In Phoenix, he was the chairman of the trustee board for the William H. Patterson Elks Lodge. He helped plan the building of the Elks lodge, which was finished shortly before he passed away.
Personal Life and Passing
James Merriman was married to Mabel Jones. They had two children together: a son named Robert E. and a daughter named Louise (Coles).
Dr. Merriman was unwell during the last year of his life. In September 1946, he moved from his home in Phoenix. He went to live with his daughter in Chicago. He passed away at the Provident Hospital in Chicago on December 14, 1946.
