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Ethelene Crockett

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Ethelene Jones Crockett
Crockett in 1972
Born(1914-09-26)September 26, 1914
St. Joseph, Michigan
DiedDecember 28, 1978(1978-12-28) (aged 64)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materJackson College(1934)
University of Michigan
Howard University College of Medicine
Occupationphysician
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1934)​
Children3, including George Crockett III

Ethelene Jones Crockett (1914–1978) was an American physician and activist from Detroit. She was Michigan's first African-American female board certified OB/GYN,[1] and the first woman to be president of the American Lung Association.[2] In 1988, Crockett was inducted posthumously into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.[3]

Early life and education

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Ethelene Jones was born in 1914. She attended Jackson High School in Jackson, Michigan, and then attended Jackson Junior College (now Jackson College), where she graduated in 1934.[4] She attended the University of Michigan, where she met and married George Crockett Jr. In 1942, Crockett began medical school at Howard University, when she was 28 years old, married and mother to three children.[5] No hospital in Detroit would accept her in a residency program because she was African American and a woman.[6][7] Crockett completed her obstetrics/gynecology residency at Sydenham Hospital in New York,[8] where she joined her husband, George Crockett, who was a member of the legal team defending 11 Communist Party leaders accused of teaching the overthrow of the Federal government, a violation of the Smith Act.[9] The trial was in New York and became known as the Foley Square Trial.

Medical career

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After medical school, Crockett became Michigan's first African-American woman to be board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, and went on to practice medicine in Detroit for decades.[10]

In 1960, Crockett spent a month touring Europe and the Soviet Union with 16 other African-American medical doctors, on a study trip sponsored by the National Medical Association (NMA).[11] The trip was led by Dr. Edward C. Mazique, the president of the NMA, with the purpose of assessing medical advances in other countries and exchanging best practices; it was also considered a goodwill mission to the Soviet Union.[12]

Crockett directed the Detroit Maternal Infant Care Project from 1967 to 1970. She also helped design the Detroit Model Neighborhood Comprehensive Health Center. In the 1970s, Crockett was a gynecologist at Grace and Harper Hospital in Detroit.[13]

Activism

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Crockett was active in a wide variety of organizations that dealt with health and social issues.[14] She was an advocate for public daycare centers for working women as well as family planning, and she often lectured on these and other topics. In 1972 she led the fight to liberalize Michigan's abortion laws.[15][16]

In 1977, shortly before her death, she was named president of the American Lung Association. She was the first woman to attain this position in the organization, which was by then more than seven decades old. Crockett met with President Jimmy Carter at the White House on behalf of the American Lung Association in November 1978.[17] She spoke about the need for funding to combat tuberculosis. Crockett, appearing with ventriloquist Shari Lewis and puppet Lamb Chop, presented Carter with a sheet of the association's Christmas Seals.[18]

Awards and legacy

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In 1971, the Detroit Free Press named Crockett one of nine “Detroit’s Most Successful Women.”

In 1972, Crockett received the “Woman of the Year” award from the Zeta Phi Beta sorority, Beta Omicron Zeta chapter, Detroit, MI. Michigan Supreme Court Justice G. Mennen Williams was the keynote speaker.[19]

In 1978, the Detroit Medical Society named Crockett “Physician of the Year.”[20]

Crockett was the keynote speaker at the Jackson College commencement 1972 ceremony. After her death in 1978, the college established a yearly award in her honor, the Dr. Ethelene Jones Crockett Distinguished Alumni Award, which goes to alumni who display “positive personal involvement for the betterment of mankind with his/her community, state, nation or world.”[21] Recipients have included Jon Lake, in 2018, and Laura Stanton, in 2017.[22]

In 1980, the first Detroit Public School Vocational-Technical Center was dedicated in Crockett's honor as a training center for health occupations. The Ethelene Jones Crockett Technical High School for Allied Health, Visual Communications and Cosmetology opened at 571 Mack Avenue in Detroit, MI. In August 1992 the name was changed to the Crockett Technical High School. The school was later renamed for Ben Carson.

In 1988, Crockett was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.[23]

Crockett continues to be remembered as an influential figure in post-war Detroit, and was featured in Herb Boyd's 2017 publication “Black Detroit,” a people's history of self-determination.[24]

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References

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  1. ^ Wright, Charles H (1995). The National Medical Association demands equal opportunity: nothing more, nothing less. Charro Book Co. p. 273. OCLC 607128751. Lewis F. Boddie, MD was cert. obg, 1949; William Goins, MD was cert. obg, 1950; Authur D. Harris, MD was cert. obg in 1952; Charles H. Wright MD was cert. obg in 1955; Ethelene Crockett, MD was cert. obg in 1955.
  2. ^ "American Lung Association* Board Presidents/Chairs". American Lung Association. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  3. ^ "Ethelene Crockett" (PDF). michiganwomenshalloffame.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  4. ^ "90th Anniversary | Ethelene Jones Crockett". Jackson College. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  5. ^ Flint, Jerry (1 April 1969). "Controversial Judge: George W. Crockett, Jr". timesmachine.nytimes.com. p. 18. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  6. ^ May, Helen (27 Feb 1972). "Dr. Crockett at the Peak". Detroit Free Press. p. 44. Retrieved 31 December 2018. Article includes two photographs of Dr. Crockett.
  7. ^ Morris, Julie (30 Dec 1978). "Dr. Ethelene Crockett dies; gifted physician; civic leader". Detroit Free Press at Newspapers.com. p. 3A. Retrieved 31 December 2018. Includes photo of Crockett.
  8. ^ "CITY TO CARRY ON SYDENHAM POLICY; Commissioner Says Services of the Inter-racial Private Hospital Will Continue". New York Times. 5 March 1949. p. 15. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  9. ^ Berman, Laura (28 Nov 1978). "Retirement's a hard job for Ethelene Crockett". Detroit Free Press. p. 4C.
  10. ^ Wright, Charles H (1995). The National Medical Association demands equal opportunity: nothing more, nothing less. Charro Book Co. p. 273. OCLC 607128751.
  11. ^ "17 Doctors, Party Tour Europe, Russia". Boston Globe. 16 August 1960. p. A9.
  12. ^ "17 Doctors, Party Tour Europe, Russia". Boston Globe. 16 August 1960. p. A9.
  13. ^ "Ethelene Crockett" (PDF). michiganwomenshalloffame.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  14. ^ "Obituaries". New York Times. No. 30 December 1978. p. 24.
  15. ^ Ain't I A Woman: An Exhibition Catalog. Detroit, MI: Museum of African American History. 1989. pp. 25–26. Exhibit featured 12 prominent Black Women of Michigan. Catalog includes portraits by Detroit artist Telitha Cumi Bowens.
  16. ^ "Doctor urges controlled abortion". The Windsor Star at Newspapers.com. 2 Nov 1972. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  17. ^ "Obituaries". New York Times. No. 30 December 1978. p. 24.
  18. ^ "White House Ceremonies Mark 72nd Campaign". American Lung Association Bulletin. American Lung Association: 16. 1979. Retrieved 31 December 2018. Article includes photo of Crockett, Lewis and President Carter in the Oval Office.
  19. ^ May, Helen (27 Feb 1972). "Dr. Crockett at the Peak". Detroit Free Press. p. 1C. Retrieved 31 December 2018. Article includes two photographs of Dr. Crockett.
  20. ^ Davis, Sandra (4 September 1988). "Women's Hall of Fame to induct 8 new members". Detroit Free Press. p. 3D.
  21. ^ "Alumni | Crockett Distinguished Alumni Award". Jackson College. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  22. ^ "Alumni | Crockett Distinguished Alumni Award Past Recipients". Jackson College. Retrieved 31 December 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  23. ^ Davis, Sandra (4 September 1988). "Women's Hall of Fame to induct 8 new members". Detroit Free Press. p. 3D.
  24. ^ Sugrue, Thomas J. (6 September 2017). "In Praise of the Black Men and Women Who Built Detroit". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  25. ^ "Oliver Lagrone standing, Ethelene Crockett at piano-organ?". Library of Congress. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
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