Louise Celia Fleming
Louise Celia Fleming (January 28, 1862 – March 20, 1899) was an African-American physician and missionary who made significant contributions to the medical field and missionary work in the late 19th century. She is notable for being one of the first African-American women to graduate from medical school and for her work in Liberia.
Early Life[edit | edit source]
Louise Celia Fleming was born on January 28, 1862, in Fleming Island, Florida. She was born into slavery but gained her freedom following the American Civil War. Fleming pursued her early education in local schools and later attended the Cookman Institute in Jacksonville, Florida, one of the first institutions of higher learning for African Americans in the state.
Education[edit | edit source]
Fleming's dedication to education led her to enroll at the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, one of the few medical schools at the time that accepted women and African Americans. She graduated in 1895, becoming one of the first African-American women to earn a medical degree.
Missionary Work[edit | edit source]
After completing her medical education, Fleming joined the Women's American Baptist Foreign Missionary Society. She was sent to Liberia as a missionary and physician, where she provided medical care and education to the local population. Her work in Liberia was instrumental in improving healthcare and living conditions in the region.
Legacy[edit | edit source]
Louise Celia Fleming's contributions to medicine and missionary work have left a lasting impact. She is remembered for her pioneering spirit and dedication to serving others, particularly in underserved communities. Her legacy continues to inspire future generations of African-American women in medicine and missionary work.
Death[edit | edit source]
Louise Celia Fleming passed away on March 20, 1899, in Monrovia, Liberia, due to complications from tuberculosis. Her work and dedication to improving the lives of others remain a significant part of her legacy.
See Also[edit | edit source]
- African-American women in medicine
- Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania
- Missionary work in Africa
- History of Liberia
References[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
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Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.- 1862 births
- 1899 deaths
- African-American physicians
- American women physicians
- American medical missionaries
- People from Clay County, Florida
- Women medical missionaries
- 19th-century American physicians
- 19th-century African-American women
- 19th-century African-American people
- 19th-century American women
- Medicine stubs
- Encyclopedia
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
