Posted February 2, 2011 in honor of Black History Month
This historical blog is in recognition of the 150th anniversary
of the American Veterinary Medical Association (1863-2013).
Never underestimate the power of determined research! Jennifer Morrissey, second-year veterinary student at Cornell University, had a suspicion that the previously-accepted university reports failed to accurately identify some of the African-American students who graduated in the early years. After following leads that included searching class photos, scouring the available literature on African-American veterinarians, corresponding with experts in the field, and spending many hours in Cornell’s Kroch Library, she was eventually able to identify seven Black graduates between 1910 and 1920.
This historical blog is in recognition of the 150th anniversary
of the American Veterinary Medical Association (1863-2013).
Never underestimate the power of determined research! Jennifer Morrissey, second-year veterinary student at Cornell University, had a suspicion that the previously-accepted university reports failed to accurately identify some of the African-American students who graduated in the early years. After following leads that included searching class photos, scouring the available literature on African-American veterinarians, corresponding with experts in the field, and spending many hours in Cornell’s Kroch Library, she was eventually able to identify seven Black graduates between 1910 and 1920.
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| Dr. Kirksey Curd, First African-American veterinary graduate from Cornell (1912) Cornell University photo |
The next graduate, Garret Singleton, '14 was an Ithaca native whose mother was famous for creating a haven for Black students in her house at 411 East State St. near the Ithaca campus. After graduation, he had several jobs in regulatory medicine, including working for the Department of Health in Los Angeles. He eventually opened a small animal clinic in Venice, CA, and was also an Assistant Humane Officer in the area. A musician, he was a member of a local symphony orchestra.
The Waller Brothers: Owen M. Waller, Sr., M.D., and his wife raised their family in Brooklyn, NY, where he was one of the founders of the NAACP. Two of their sons, Ray and Owen, Jr., attended Cornell and became veterinarians. Dr. Ray Benson Potter Waller ’17 practiced veterinary medicine in Harlem, NY, and also worked at the New York City Department of Health.
Owen Waller, Jr. entered Cornell with two other veterinary students. The three represented the largest number of male African-American veterinary students ever to graduate from Cornell in a single year (1918). Owen was a staunch supporter of the right of Black students to participate in varsity athletics. One of his influential essays was entitled, “The Colored Man as an Athlete”.
One of the reasons Owen was so interested in athletics was that his classmates, W. H. Seabrook (an Ithaca native) and Abram J. Jackson, Jr., were stars in baseball and track. All three men had successful veterinary careers, Drs. Waller and Seabrook in private practices in Brooklyn, and Dr. Jackson with the federal meat inspection service.
The last African-American to enter Cornell’s veterinary college between 1910 and 1920 was Aubrey E. Robinson, who became a large animal practitioner in New Jersey. http://veterinarylegacy.blogspot.com/2011/01/notable-african-american-veterinarians.html
Ms. Jennifer K. Morrissey was a 2010 research assistant for the Veterinary Legacy Project. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/legacy/. This portion of her research will be presented at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine on Thursday, February 10rd, in honor of Black History Month.
Dr. Smith invites comments at dfs6@cornell.edu