OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

In 1864, Rebecca made history by becoming the very first African American woman to earn a medical degree and become a doctor! She spent her life taking care of women and children, especially those who were very poor and did not have anyone else to help them. She even wrote one of the first medical books by an African American to share her knowledge about keeping children healthy!

• Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first African American woman to become a doctor in the United States!
• She wrote a medical book called “A Book of Medical Discourses” to help families take care of their children.
• After the Civil War, Rebecca moved to Virginia to help newly freed people who needed medical care.