Dunbar Memorial Hospital’s medical staff, trustee board and corps of nurses standing on the steps of hospital. Handwritten on front: “Medical Staff, Trustee Board and Corps of Nurses, Dunbar Memorial Hospital, Detroit, Mich., Sept. 14, 1930, [Jackson Photo].” Handwritten on back: “1. Henderson, 2. Dr. John Thomas, 2. Cleage O. [two people identified as #2], 3. Greene, 4. Henry Owen, 6. Greenridge, 7. Burton, 7. Osby.” Top left corner cut off. Stamped on photo back: “Harvey C. Jackson, photographer, 2614 Beaubien St., Detroit, Mich. OLIF 1431 J.” – See more at: http://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora:162372#sthash.GhieIUUZ.dpuf Note: My grandfather, identified as 2. Cleage O. is not in the picture. Do not know what the O. stands for.
My cousin Jan recently sent me a copy of the speech below. It was given by my grandfather, Dr. Albert B. Cleage, Sr on the occasion of the graduation of the first class of nurses from Dunbar Hospital. Dunbar was founded by a group of 30 black doctors in 1918 because they were not allowed to treat their patients at white hospitals in Detroit without special permission, and sometimes not even then. The hospital also served as a training school for nurses. My grandfather isn’t pictured in the 1930 photo of staff above, but you can see him in the header photo which was taken in 1922. He is seated on the steps of Dunbar Hospital – first row, far right.
Click on the pages below to enlarge.
Sign on side of former Dunbar Hosptial. Photo by Paul Lee, Sept 2014.
7 thoughts on “Dr. Albert B. Cleage – A Speech for Dunbar Hospital Nurses”
Man! Am I glad I went through all that stuff! 🙂
Me too! Now, when are you going to be able to get together with Anna and do hers? I know there are gems among that stuff too.
I sometimes think that one of the great achievements of the internet in General and blogging in particular is its ability to bring important documents to a wider audience. This speech us a perfect example of this, now preserved and now available to an audience, the size of which your grandfather would never have dreamt of. A very happy New Year Kristin
Greetings all, I would like to post a copy of this letter in The Dr. Albert B. Cleage, Sr. Memorial Health Center in the NTC on Seward.
I don’t think any of the assisting Cleage family members have visited out clinic, but I know you would be proud.
Respectfully,
Rev. Imani Roby, CEO, Executive Director.
Imani,
I wrote you an email several days ago about this. Let me know when you get it. When I was closer to Detroit the Clinic was in the Center up the street.
Hi Kristin,
We have been inside of the National Training Center (NTC) since the Akwaaba Center on Second. I look forward to seeing you on your next opportunity. Thank-you so much for allowing me to receive a copy of this letter. Have you approved our posting it in the clinic?
Warmest Regards,
Rev. Imani
It obviously spoke to the keeper, for it to be preserved for so long.
Man! Am I glad I went through all that stuff! 🙂
Me too! Now, when are you going to be able to get together with Anna and do hers? I know there are gems among that stuff too.
I sometimes think that one of the great achievements of the internet in General and blogging in particular is its ability to bring important documents to a wider audience. This speech us a perfect example of this, now preserved and now available to an audience, the size of which your grandfather would never have dreamt of. A very happy New Year Kristin
Greetings all, I would like to post a copy of this letter in The Dr. Albert B. Cleage, Sr. Memorial Health Center in the NTC on Seward.
I don’t think any of the assisting Cleage family members have visited out clinic, but I know you would be proud.
Respectfully,
Rev. Imani Roby, CEO, Executive Director.
Imani,
I wrote you an email several days ago about this. Let me know when you get it. When I was closer to Detroit the Clinic was in the Center up the street.
Hi Kristin,
We have been inside of the National Training Center (NTC) since the Akwaaba Center on Second. I look forward to seeing you on your next opportunity. Thank-you so much for allowing me to receive a copy of this letter. Have you approved our posting it in the clinic?
Warmest Regards,
Rev. Imani
It obviously spoke to the keeper, for it to be preserved for so long.