South Carolina’s Matilda Evans: A Medical Pioneer

Presented by Dr. Walter B. Curry  

Born four years after the end of slavery, Matilda Arabella Evans, who grew up on a family farm in eastern Aiken County, South Carolina, was the first African American and first woman in licensed to practice medicine in South Carolina and an advocate for improved health care for African Americans, including children. Matilda’s childhood experiences, educational background, religious faith, innovative practices, and her undying love for humanity, propelled her to become a remarkable figure in expanding healthcare access for African American and white families in South Carolina, especially during the era of racial segregation in the South. The presentation explores Matilda remarkable journey from childhood to medical practice.

Dr. Walter B. Curry, Jr., is a native of Orangeburg, South Carolina. Dr. Curry received a bachelor’s degree in political science from South Carolina State University, and has earned graduate degrees in education, which includes a doctorate degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Argosy University, Sarasota. Dr. Curry is the Author-In-Residence at the Aiken Center for the Arts.

This program is made possible with the support of SC Humanities.

 

 

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