The distinguished historian and professor Dr. Margaret Humphreys will be leading a lecture titled “African Americans in Civil War Medicine”. Many histories have been written about medical care during the Civil War, but the participation and contributions of African Americans as nurses, surgeons, and hospital workers has often been overlooked. The event will be held on May 10, 2017 at 5:30 PM at the Knowledge Center located at 701 West 168 Street (Fort Washington Avenue).  
 

Agenda

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm            Welcome, Refreshments, & Exploring the Exhibit
 

6:00pm – 7:00pm              African Americans in Civil War Medicine

                                            Dr. Margaret Humphreys 

                                            Josiah Charles Trent Professor in the History of Medicine Professor of History Professor of Medicine - Duke University
 

7:00pm – 7:30pm              Discussion & Closing

Objectives
 

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the professionalization of physicians and nurses in this era, including the role of education, licensing, and public recognition in determining who had the right and opportunity to claim expertise in these fields.
   
• Illustrate how African Americans “leveraged” their medical roles in order to gain greater respect and civil rights in the maelstrom of the Civil War, abolitionism, and reconstruction (and the limitations of their success in this endeavor).
   
• Identify the ways in which historical stories can buttress group identity and pride, and explore the challenges to objectivity that such usage can create.
   

There will be a discussion regarding the relevance of this content in the modern world today.