-
MARTIN R. DELANY AND THE HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
- NYU Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
MARTIN R. DELANY AND THE HARVARD MEDICA L SCHOOL Medical Intelligenc e Trouble among the Medical Students of Harvard University—The fol lowing facts have been collected respecting some unhappy proceedings last week a t th e Massachusetts Medica l Colleg e i n this city. Amon g the student s attendin g th e medica l lectures , ar e three colored young men. On e o f the m i s from Pittsburgh , Pa. ; on e belong s i n thi s city , and w e believ e i s a native , a so n o f th e lat e Rev . Mr . Snowden , a colored preache r of much eminence for many years; the locale of th e other i s unknow n t o us . The y ar e all , a s we hav e understoo d [no t Delany, however] , unde r th e immediat e auspice s o f th e America n Colonization Society, and by them are to be educated as physicians fo r the colon y a t Liberia . I t wa s understoo d b y the student s las t wee k that a lady was also to be adde d t o the class. Thes e departure s fro m established rul e gav e offenc e t o a portio n o f th e members . O n Tuesday morning the class held a meeting, and appointed a committee to draf t a se t o f resolutions . Th e meetin g wa s adjourne d t o th e afternoon, whe n th e student s agai n assembled . Th e resolutions , respectfully remonstratin g agains t th e admissio n o f colored me n an d white women, were the n take n u p seriatim, an d passe d by a majorit y of the students present. W e should here state, that the class attending the meetin g i n th e mornin g showe d a majorit y fo r sustainin g th e faculty in the course of admitting whom they pleased to their lectures; but no t supposing an y such resolution s would b e presented , man y of them di d no t atten d th e afternoo n meeting . Thos e presen t wh o disapproved of the resolutions, immediately appointed a committee to 20 Martin R Delany present a minority report, sustaining the faculty, to be presented to the clas s a t a futur e meeting . W e regre t exceedingl y thi s littl e disturbance, an d the cours e adopte d b y the class. W e cannot but think that if they had any real grievances, it would have been better to have approached the faculty in some other way. I t may be considered a n innovation t o admi t colored me n into our colleges; but when it is remembered for what purpose these were admitted, there really cannot be so much objection after all. Bu t as to the propriety of admitting females to medical colleges in common with males, it is a matter in which there is a great diversity of opinion. W e should most decidedly object to the adoption of the practice, preferring to have all females who wish to become disciples of the healing art, or otherwise assume the masculine professions, attend separate institutions for their education. Since writing the above, we learn that the faculty have announced to th e class, that the lady in question, on hearing that there was a feeling against her being admitted to the college, has withdrawn her application. Respectin g the colored men, they declined to reject them from the college, unde r the circumstances—as the y have purchased tickets and thereby acquired a right of attendance during the present year. Boston Medical and Surgical Journal (1850) [3.145.156.46] Project MUSE (2024-04-17 20:33 GMT) Martin R Delany 21 Petition To the Medical Faculty of Harvard University; Gentlemen, The undersigned, members of the medical class, would respectfully submit to the Medical Facult y their desire to be informed whether colored persons are to be admitted as students at another course of lectures. Thi s request is offered not with the view of influencing any action o f th e Faculty , bu t simpl y tha t th e undersigne d ma y hav e opportunity to make such arrangements for the...