Samuel E. Courtney

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Samuel E. Courtney
Born
Samuel Edward Courtney

c. 1860
Malden, West Virginia, U.S.
DiedJune 1, 1941(1941-06-01) (aged 80–81)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Other namesS. E. Courtney
EducationHampton Institute (BA),
Westfield Normal School,
Harvard Medical School (MD)
Occupation(s)Physician, politician, teacher
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLilla Virginia Davis (m. 1896–1941; his death)
Children6

Samuel Edward Courtney (c. 1860 – June 1, 1941), also known as S. E. Courtney, was an American physician, teacher, and politician in Boston.[1][2] He was a founding member of the National Negro Business League.

Early life and education

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Samuel Edward Courtney was born enslaved in c. 1860, in Malden, West Virginia.[3][4] His father was a wealthy white planter, and his mother was an enslaved biracial servant.[1] In day school in West Virginia, Courtney studied under Booker T. Washington, who had encouraged him to continue his education.[1][5] He was one of the pupils colloquially known as "Booker Washington's boys", students who Washington paid special attention to and he considered to have promise.[1]

Courtney attended Hampton Institute (B.A. 1879, now Hampton University) in Hampton, Virginia;[6] the Westfield Normal School (1880–1882, now Westfield State University) in Westfield, Massachusetts; and Harvard Medical School (M.D. 1892, or 1894).[1][3][7][8] He was an early Black graduate of Harvard Medical School.[1]

Career

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Courtney taught mathematics and drawing at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Tuskegee, Alabama from 1885 until 1888.[1][9] He enrolled in Harvard Medical School in 1888.[1][8]

In 1896, Courtney married Lilia Virginia Davis, an educator.[10] She was one of the founders and first teacher of the Cotton Valley School in Fort Davis, Alabama.[10] Together they had 6 children. Two of their sons Samuel E. Courtney Jr. (1897–1929) and Roger Davis Courtney (1901–1930) were tarred and feathered on April 19, 1919 during the Red Summer by a white mob at the University of Maine's Hannibal Hamlin Hall, and survived.[11][12][13][14] The university President Robert J. Aley claimed the incident was hazing related, and not race related; both brothers transferred to other universities.[13][15]

In 1895, Courtney became a licensed physician in Massachusetts.[16] He interned at Boston City Hospital, and followed by work as a House Physician at the Boston Lying-In Hospital (now Brigham and Women's Hospital).[1] His medical office was in the South End neighborhood at 98 West Springfield Street in Boston.[17]

Courtney attended the 1896 Republican National Convention in St. Louis, Missouri as an alternate delegate-at-large and represented Massachusetts in the 8th congressional district.[3][18][19] He served two terms on the Boston School Committee.[19]

Courtney was a founding member of the National Negro Business League, and the first meeting in 1900 was held at his home.[19] He also served as one of the member of the executive committee.[10]

In 1932, Courtney was assaulted by three men in his medical office.[17]

Courtney had been a trustee of the Tuskegee Institute.[20] He was a member of the Bay State Medical Association, and the South End Medical Society.[20] He also active on various Republican Party committees.[9][20]

Death and legacy

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Courtney died on June 1, 1941, at Boston City Hospital.[20] He had surgery days prior to his death.[20]

In 1989, he was honored by Westfield State College (now Westfield State University) in Westfield, Massachusetts when a new residence hall was named for him.[3][21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Staples, Cynthia (July 9, 2024). "From the Historian: Samuel E. Courtney". Trinity Church. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  2. ^ "Will Go Unpledged". The News and Advance. April 11, 1908. p. 5. Retrieved September 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d Andreoni, Phyllis (August 25, 1989). "Courtney honored at WSC". The Republican. p. 18. Retrieved September 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Thompson, Linda (January 27, 2022). "Higher education bridges gaps, creates opportunity". The Republican. pp. C1. Retrieved September 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Miletsky, Zebulon Vance (November 29, 2022). Before Busing: A History of Boston's Long Black Freedom Struggle. University of North Carolina Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-4696-6278-7.
  6. ^ The Southern Workman. Hampton Institute. 1916. pp. 572–573.
  7. ^ Harvard Alumni Directory. Harvard Alumni Association. 1948. p. 729.
  8. ^ a b Nercessian, Nora Nouritza (2004). "Samuel E. Courtney". Against All Odds: The Legacy of Students of African Descent at Harvard Medical School Before Affirmative Action, 1850–1968. Harvard Medical School. p. 86.
  9. ^ a b "Dr. Samuel Courtney Dies in City Hospital". The Boston Globe (Obituary). June 2, 1941. p. 13. Retrieved September 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b c Hartshorn, W. N.; Penniman, George W. (1910). An Era of Progress and Promise: 1863–1910. Boston, MA: Priscilla Publishing Co. p. 416.
  11. ^ Sieber, Karen (February 7, 2022). "In 1919, a Mob in Maine Tarred and Feathered Two Black College Students". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  12. ^ Sieber, Karen (February 8, 2021). "The hidden story of when two Black college students were tarred and feathered". The Conversation. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Courtney Brothers Hazing Incident". Kennebec Journal. May 3, 1919. p. 10. Retrieved September 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Near Race Riot Follows Hazing Univ. of Maine". Evening Express. May 1, 1919. p. 17. Retrieved September 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Statement by President Aley". Commercial. May 3, 1919. p. 3. Retrieved September 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "United States, Deceased Physician File (AMA), 1864–1968, Couch, John Albert-Craig, William Gibson image 578 of 3047; American Medical Association, Chicago". FamilySearch. June 1, 1941.
  17. ^ a b "Doctor Assaulted In Office By Gang". The Springfield Daily Republican. April 25, 1932. p. 7. Retrieved September 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Courtney and Ruffin". The Boston Globe. June 10, 1896. p. 7. Retrieved September 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b c "Courtney, Samuel E.". Who's Who in Colored America. Who's Who in Colored America Corporation. 1927. pp. 238–239.
  20. ^ a b c d e "Dr. Samuel Courtney Prominent Physician of Boston, Passes". The New York Age (Obituary). June 14, 1941. p. 1. Retrieved September 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Desrochers, Dan (April 15, 2017). "A historical figure hiding in plain sight | The Westfield News". The Westfield News. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
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