Journal of Dr. Ionia Rollin Whipper, 1939

About the Project

Dr. Ionia Rollin Whipper (1872-1953), was a skilled physician specializing in obstetrics. One of the only African American female physicians of her time, Dr. Whipper not only practiced medicine, but was a passionate advocate and teacher of public health. This journal provides insight into Dr. Whipper’s spiritual and intellectual life. Dr. Whipper graduated from Howard Medical School in 1903, worked as an assistant medical officer for the Children's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor, and in 1929 started working as an obstetrician for the Maternity Ward of Freedmen's Hospital. She encountered many teenage mothers in her work, mentoring them through their pregnancies and caring for their infants. With the help of a small group of women from her church community, AME St. Luke's, Dr. Whipper raised money to open a home for unwed pregnant girls. In 1931, the Ionia R. Whipper Home for Unwed Mothers opened in Northeast Washington, D.C. and remained the only maternity home for African American women in the Washington area for decades. Help us transcribe this important journal that offers insight into Dr. Whipper’s daily life in the forefront of obstetrics medicine.

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Completed!

Project Progress (details)
64 pages completed
Difficulty
4 out of 5
(details)

62

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64

Total
pages