Johnnie Ruth Clarke facts for kids

Johnnie Ruth Clarke (born July 28, 1919 – died May 15, 1978) was an important American activist, teacher, and humanitarian. She was involved in many groups and is known for being the first African American to earn a doctorate degree from the University of Florida's College of Education.

She also served as a dean at Gibbs Junior College and as an assistant dean at St. Petersburg Junior College. Today, St. Petersburg College offers a scholarship named after her. The Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center was also named in her honor.

Her Early Life and Learning

Johnnie Ruth Clarke was born on July 28, 1919. Her parents both worked at the Sorento Hotel. Her father was the head bellman, and her mother was the head housekeeper.

Johnnie Ruth Clarke earned her first degree in Social Science from Florida A&M University. Later, she received a master's degree from Fisk University. In 1966, she made history by earning her doctorate from the University of Florida College of Education. This made her the first African American to get a doctorate from any public university in Florida.

Honoring Her Legacy

Many places and programs have been named after Dr. Johnnie Ruth Clarke to remember her important work.

The Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center

The Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center is located in St. Petersburg, Florida. It officially opened in 2004. This center grew from Mercy Hospital, which is now a historical landmark.

The health center is famous for helping African American communities in St. Petersburg. These communities were segregated and often could not afford medical care or insurance. Until 1966, Mercy Hospital was the only place that offered affordable healthcare for non-insured African American residents. Today, the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center helps between 130 to 150 patients every day, whether they have health insurance or not.

The Johnnie Ruth Clarke Scholarship

St. Petersburg College honors Dr. Johnnie Ruth Clarke's amazing achievements with a special scholarship. This scholarship is given to students graduating from high schools in Pinellas County.

The scholarship helps students who need financial support and meet certain requirements. It supports each student for two years while they attend St. Petersburg College. During their college years, these students also get to work with mentors from the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Chapter of the National Council on Black American Affairs.

Helping with Sickle Cell Disease

In 1972, Dr. Clarke started the Florida State Sickle Cell Foundation. She did this while she was an assistant director for the Florida Regional Medical Program. The foundation was created to help with all parts of sickle-cell disease. This included making people more aware of the disease, finding ways to treat it, and supporting research.