The 56th Annual Session of the Georgia State Medical Association of Physicians and Pharmacists
Date: 1949
Inventory Number: MUS-117-0008
Classification: Photograph
Subject:
Donor: Dr. Madelyn Chennault
User: Dr. Randolph H. Carter
Artist: Ms. Leonard Kelly
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
30.8 × 51.1 × 1.4 cm (12 1/8 × 20 1/8 × 9/16 in.)
Credit Line: Estate of Dr. Madelyn J. Chennault
Description:
Black and white photograph of fourty-four African American physicians and pharmists posing as attentees of The 56th Annual Session of the Georgia State Medical Association of Physicians and Pharmacists held in Atlanta, Georgia during May 3-5, 1949. Dr. R.H. Carter was recognized as president of the assocaition.
Photographer: Ms. Leonard Kelly
Photographer: Ms. Leonard Kelly
In Collection(s)
Signedinscription written by Madelyn Tasha Greer on January 19, 2020.
Inscribed"From the estate of Dr. Madelyn J. Chennault
donated by Bennell Mosby [daughter], Madelyn Tasha Greer [granddaughter], Wesley Greer [great grandson], Dr. Sasha Shackleford [great granddaughter] & Marlow Greer [great granddaughter] to Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado, CEO of Preserve Black Atlanta.
donated by Bennell Mosby [daughter], Madelyn Tasha Greer [granddaughter], Wesley Greer [great grandson], Dr. Sasha Shackleford [great granddaughter] & Marlow Greer [great granddaughter] to Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado, CEO of Preserve Black Atlanta.
Historical AttributesIn 1895, Booker T. Washington opened the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia, with his “Atlanta Compromise” speech espousing racial separatism. Speaking before an interracial audience, he immediately gained national prominence and support from white benefactors, but his political ideology caused him to become a polarizing figure amongst African Americans.
Hoping to capitalize on the three-month gathering of African Americans at the Exposition, Black institutions seize the opportunity to form civic and professional organizations that would address the racial problems that Washington failed to publicly challenge. Washington speech forecasted the nation’s direction of legalizing and normalizing racial discrimination within the public sphere.
The American Medical Association, established by white doctors, was one exemplar of professional institutions denying entry to African Americans medical professionals. During the Exposition, twelve African American physicians convened at First Congregational Church in Atlanta to create a professional medication organization for members of their race.
The National Medical Association (N.M.A.) was formed to focus on the health of African Americans, justice in medicine, and the elimination of health disparities. The following year, state chapters were quickly established as the nation became further divided along racial lines following the U. S. Supreme Court declaring “separate but equal” facilities as constitutional in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson. N.M.A. membership and the establishment of state branches rose quickly. By 1909, the medical organization created the peer-reviewed Journal of the National Medical Association, allowing for the publication of medical reports and articles performed by African American scientists and doctors. Today, the N.M.A. has more than 50,000 professional members.
State branches of the N.M.A. were held annually for medical professionals to convene, to address specific needs for medically underserved populations, and to celebrate medical advancements made by its growing numbers of African American physicians, dentists, and pharmacists.
In May 1949, dozens of its N.M.A. members in Georgia attended the 56th annual session of the Georgia State Medical Association of Physicians and Pharmacists (GSMAPP) in Atlanta, Georgia, and elected Dr. Randolph Holmes Carter as its president. Carter was a well-respected physician who attended Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Leonard Medical School at Shaw University, and Harvard University, where he completed post-graduate training specializing in ear, eyes, nose, and throat treatment in 1917. He served as one of 104 Black medical officers of the U.S. Army during World War I. Afterward, he served as a doctor at the U.S. Veteran Hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama, and returned to Atlanta, Georgia in 1929 to practice medicine until his death in 1976.
During the 56th annual convention, Carter was photographed, surrounded by an impressive body of forty-four doctors and pharmacists. In addition to working collectively to improve the quality of life of African Americans, the men pictured in “The 56th Annual Session of the Georgia State Medical Association of Physicians and Pharmacists” photograph were celebrated for establishing hospitals, advancing medical research, and serving as civil rights activists. They were lauded by African Americans as leaders of their race.
Unfortunately, women doctors, dentists, and pharmacists failed to be photographed alongside male healthcare professionals attending the 56th annual GSMAPP meeting. However, the men pictured were photographed by the most sought-after woman studio photographer in Atlanta, Ms. Leonard Kelly.
The original owner of the photograph belonged to Atlanta psychologist, Dr. Madelyn J. Chennault and her late husband, Dr. Mark Anthony Johnson, III (pictured fourth row, third from left). Dr. Chenault received significant research funding throughout her professional career for studying African Americans suffering from hypertension.
Hoping to capitalize on the three-month gathering of African Americans at the Exposition, Black institutions seize the opportunity to form civic and professional organizations that would address the racial problems that Washington failed to publicly challenge. Washington speech forecasted the nation’s direction of legalizing and normalizing racial discrimination within the public sphere.
The American Medical Association, established by white doctors, was one exemplar of professional institutions denying entry to African Americans medical professionals. During the Exposition, twelve African American physicians convened at First Congregational Church in Atlanta to create a professional medication organization for members of their race.
The National Medical Association (N.M.A.) was formed to focus on the health of African Americans, justice in medicine, and the elimination of health disparities. The following year, state chapters were quickly established as the nation became further divided along racial lines following the U. S. Supreme Court declaring “separate but equal” facilities as constitutional in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson. N.M.A. membership and the establishment of state branches rose quickly. By 1909, the medical organization created the peer-reviewed Journal of the National Medical Association, allowing for the publication of medical reports and articles performed by African American scientists and doctors. Today, the N.M.A. has more than 50,000 professional members.
State branches of the N.M.A. were held annually for medical professionals to convene, to address specific needs for medically underserved populations, and to celebrate medical advancements made by its growing numbers of African American physicians, dentists, and pharmacists.
In May 1949, dozens of its N.M.A. members in Georgia attended the 56th annual session of the Georgia State Medical Association of Physicians and Pharmacists (GSMAPP) in Atlanta, Georgia, and elected Dr. Randolph Holmes Carter as its president. Carter was a well-respected physician who attended Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Leonard Medical School at Shaw University, and Harvard University, where he completed post-graduate training specializing in ear, eyes, nose, and throat treatment in 1917. He served as one of 104 Black medical officers of the U.S. Army during World War I. Afterward, he served as a doctor at the U.S. Veteran Hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama, and returned to Atlanta, Georgia in 1929 to practice medicine until his death in 1976.
During the 56th annual convention, Carter was photographed, surrounded by an impressive body of forty-four doctors and pharmacists. In addition to working collectively to improve the quality of life of African Americans, the men pictured in “The 56th Annual Session of the Georgia State Medical Association of Physicians and Pharmacists” photograph were celebrated for establishing hospitals, advancing medical research, and serving as civil rights activists. They were lauded by African Americans as leaders of their race.
Unfortunately, women doctors, dentists, and pharmacists failed to be photographed alongside male healthcare professionals attending the 56th annual GSMAPP meeting. However, the men pictured were photographed by the most sought-after woman studio photographer in Atlanta, Ms. Leonard Kelly.
The original owner of the photograph belonged to Atlanta psychologist, Dr. Madelyn J. Chennault and her late husband, Dr. Mark Anthony Johnson, III (pictured fourth row, third from left). Dr. Chenault received significant research funding throughout her professional career for studying African Americans suffering from hypertension.
Curatorial RemarksFounded in 1895, the Georgia State Med Association, the oldest and largest national organization representing African American physicians, dentists, and pharmacists.
The GSMA comprises of African American physicians committed to improving African American health, advancing medical research, seeking justice in medicine and eliminating heath disparities.
Dr. Raymond Holmes Carter (1881-1976) was elected as President of the GSMA in 1949.
The GSMA comprises of African American physicians committed to improving African American health, advancing medical research, seeking justice in medicine and eliminating heath disparities.
Dr. Raymond Holmes Carter (1881-1976) was elected as President of the GSMA in 1949.
Primary SourcesCardwell, A.D, editor. History of the American Negro and His Institutions: Georgia Edition. Atlanta, Georgia: A B. Caldwell Publishing, Inc., 1917. Housed in Special Collections. Harvard College Library.
“Archive of ‘Journal of the National Medical Association’.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Accessed July 8, 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/journals/655/.
Negro Progress in Atlanta, Georgia, 1961-1970:
A Selective Bibliography on Race and Human Relations from Four Atlanta Newspapers. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, 1972. Anne L. McPheeters Special Collection, Robery Woodruff Library.
“Archive of ‘Journal of the National Medical Association’.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Accessed July 8, 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/journals/655/.
Negro Progress in Atlanta, Georgia, 1961-1970:
A Selective Bibliography on Race and Human Relations from Four Atlanta Newspapers. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, 1972. Anne L. McPheeters Special Collection, Robery Woodruff Library.
ProvenanceFrom the estate of Dr. Madelyn J. Chennault
donated by Bennell Mosby [daughter], Madelyn Tasha Greer [granddaughter], Wesley Greer [great grandson], Dr. Sasha Shackleford [great granddaughter] & Marlow Greer [great granddaughter] to Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado, CEO of Preserve Black Atlanta on January 10, 2019.
donated by Bennell Mosby [daughter], Madelyn Tasha Greer [granddaughter], Wesley Greer [great grandson], Dr. Sasha Shackleford [great granddaughter] & Marlow Greer [great granddaughter] to Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado, CEO of Preserve Black Atlanta on January 10, 2019.
Published ReferencesAbout Us - National Medical Association. Accessed July 7, 2020. https://www.nmanet.org/page/About_Us.
“Archive of ‘Journal of the National Medical Association’.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Accessed July 8, 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/journals/655/.
Boyer, Paul S., ed. The Oxford Companion to United States History. New York, New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.
Caldwell, A. B. History of the American Negro and His Institutions. Atlanta, Georgia: A.B. Caldwell Publishing Co., 1917.
Fisher, W. Douglas, and Joann H. Buckley. African American Doctors of World War I: The Lives of 104 Volunteers. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2016.
“Fort Valley Psychologist to Study Rural High Blood.” Jet, March 3, 1975.
“In the Beginning.” Atlanta Medical Association, January 1, 1890. https://atlantamedicalassociation.org/our-history/.
“Medical History.” Journal of the National Medical Association 88, no. 1 (1996): 59. https://doi.org/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Journal_of_the_National_Medical_Associat/KbZLAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=journal+of+national+medical+association++first+congregational+church+1895&dq=journal+of+national+medical+association++first+congregational+church+1895&printsec=frontcover.
“N.M.A. Communications.” Journal of the National Medical Association 15, no. 1 (1923): 53–67. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Journal_of_the_National_Medical_Associat/U-QaAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=national+medical+association+history&pg=PA53&printsec=frontcover.
Smith, Jessie Carney. Encyclopedia of African American Culture. 4. Vol. 4. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, 2011.
Teal, Harvey S. Partners with the Sun: South Carolina Photographers, 1840-1940. Columbia, South Carolina: Published by the University of South Carolina Press, 2001.