Mildred Fay Jefferson
Mildred Fay Jefferson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | April 6, 1927 Pittsburg, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | October 15, 2010 (aged 83) Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Education | Texas College (BS) Tufts University (MS) Harvard University (MD) |
| Political party | Republican |
Mildred Fay Jefferson (April 6, 1927 – October 15, 2010)[1] was an American physician and anti-abortion political activist. The first black woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School, the first woman to graduate in surgery from Harvard Medical School and the first woman to become a member of the Boston Surgical Society, she is known for her opposition to the legalization of abortion and her work as president of the National Right to Life Committee.
Personal life and education
Born in
She earned her bachelor's degree in three years from Texas College.[2]: part 2 Since she was considered too young to attend medical school, she went to Tufts University where she received her master's degree in biology. She then went on to Harvard Medical School and graduated in 1951, becoming the first black woman to do so.[3][4]
Jefferson married in 1963 to Shane Cunningham, whom she met on a skiing trip, a real estate manager.[2]: part 2 As of 1976, the couple lived in Back Bay and had no children.[2]: part 2
Career
Jefferson achieved
Pro life work
One root of Jefferson's opposition to abortion was her dedication to the Hippocratic oath, which morally bound her to the preservation of life.[2] Her interest in abortion issues was triggered when she was asked to sign a petition opposing a resolution proposed by the American Medical Association supporting liberalization of abortion-related laws.[2]: part 2
It was around 1970 when Jefferson became one of the founders of
In 1975, Jefferson was the first witness for the prosecution in the manslaughter case levied against Kenneth Edelin for his performance of a legal abortion.[2]
It was in 1980 that Jefferson helped the
Jefferson is also noted for changing
Political activities and positions
Jefferson supported the one issue,
Jefferson was a self-described "Lincoln Republican" and served on the 1980
Jefferson opposed the
Death
Jefferson died in her Cambridge home on October 15, 2010, at the age of 83 years. She was divorced and had no children. She was buried in her hometown of Carthage, Texas.
See also
References
- ^ "Leading pro-life activist Mildred Jefferson dies at 83" The Patriot Ledger via The Associated Press, October 17, 2010[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o McManus, Otile (December 5, 1976). "Dr. Jefferson and her fight against abortion". Boston Sunday Globe. p. A9. Retrieved July 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com (Publisher Extra). Note, this is the first part of the article, which is continued on page A17.
- ^ a b Hevesi, Dennis (October 18, 2010). "Mildred Jefferson, 84, Anti-Abortion Activist, Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Williams, Edgar (March 2, 1984). "Abortion foe turns to politics". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 3–B. Retrieved July 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com (Publisher Extra).
- ^ Burge, Kathleen (October 18, 2010). "Pioneering Dr. Jefferson led, inspired abortion foes". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Richards, Becky (October 20, 1984). "Dr. Mildred Fay Jefferson, a surgeon at Boston University Medical School, touted Reagan's accomplishments Friday during a Women for Reagan-Bush '84 rally". Metro. The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved July 3, 2018 – via Newspapers.com (Publisher Extra). Note - this is the first section of the news article; part 2 appears on p. 2B.
- ^ YouTube
External links
- National Right to Life Committee website
- Harvard University page
- Papers of Mildred Jefferson, 1947-2010. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.
- Mildred Jefferson speaks on abortion
- Appearances on C-SPAN