Wilson Daily Times, 9 April 1930.
public health
Malaria testing done in 23 schools.
Wilson Daily Times, 29 October 1945.
It’s startling to realize how relatively recently malaria was a health scourge in Wilson County.
Darden band kicks off public health campaign.
Wilson Daily Times, 18 November 1950.
Mass X-Ray campaigns encouraged the public to be screened for tuberculosis. In 1950, public health officials engaged the marching bands of Charles L. Coon and Charles H. Darden High Schools to draw participants.
Health campaign.
Wilson Daily Times, 16 February 1917.
The focus of the “health campaign” of February 1917 is not clear, but lectures were delivered at, among other places, two assemblies of “colored teachers” and New Vester, Lovers’ Lane, and Barnes Colored Schools.
The obituary of Herman O. Marshall, international public health officer.
MARSHALL, HERMAN OLIVER On Saturday, September 3, 2005, of Washington, DC. Born September 9, 1918, in Wilson, NC to John Marshall and Annie Perrington Marshall. Beloved husband of the late Catherine Powell Marshall (deceased December 1997). Survived by five children and two grandchildren.
He was an educator, public health officer who touched and enriched the lives of millions of people in Asia and Africa.
Educated at St. Augustine College in Raleigh, NC (BS, 1941) and Columbia University Teachers College (MA, Public Health, 1949). Postgraduate degrees from the School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley (1960) and University of Chicago (1970). Desk assistant, Columbia Medical Center and graduate research specialist, Health Council, Greater New York (1948-1950); staff member, Executive Secretariat, Mutual Security Administration, Washington, DC (1950-1952); health educator, Foreign Operations Administration, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos (1952-1953); regional health educator, Foreign Operations Administration/ International Cooperation Administration, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos (1953-1955); chief health educator, United States Overseas Mission/Agency for International Development, Vietnam, Nepal, Upper Volta, and Chad (1955-1968); public health/family planning advisor, Agency for International Development, Tunisia (1968-1971); health officer, Office of Central and West Africa Regional Affairs, Africa Bureau, Agency for International Development, Washington, DC (1971-1976); health development officer, Office of Regional Affairs, Africa Bureau, Agency for International Development, Washington, DC (1976-1977); assistant mission director Tunis, Tunisia, Agency for International Development (1977-1979); advisor, Office of Intragovernmental and International Affairs, United Nations Relations, Agency for International Development, Washington, DC (1979). Retired from federal government service in 1979.
A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 10, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1514 15th St., NW, Washington, DC.
The family wishes to thank Georgetown University Medical Center for the heartfelt care. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, Mr. Marshall’s memory be honored through individual efforts to respond to the health needs of those in exigent circumstances.
Published by The Washington Post on Sep. 8, 2005.
Wilson Daily Times, 3 October 1962.
Many thanks to La Verne Reid for sharing her uncle’s obituary.
Interest in health survey.
Wilson Daily Times, 8 January 1917.
The Negro and tuberculosis.
The Daily Times lauded the efforts of African-Americans to raise money to build a hospital and sanatorium, noting the potential benefit to white people, too. “When … it is considered that colored servants, nursemaids, laundresses, gardeners and cooks do the bulk of the menial tasks for the whites of the South, the danger of so large a floating population of ignorant, dangerous consumptives is intensified.”
Wilson Daily Times, 10 December 1912.
Darden band performs at mass X-ray survey.
Wilson Daily Times, 18 November 1950.
“Hundreds of Wilson county residents yesterday turned out for the opening of the mass x-ray survey which will last until December 23. Part of the crown which attended the opening in front of the county court house can be seen in the top photo. The Charles L. Coon High school band also is shown in the above picture. Colored citizens staged their own opening program at Nash and Pender streets. The Darden High school band can be seen in the bottom photo getting the mass x-ray started in that section of town. …”
Eye clinic held at Darden High School.
Wilson Daily Times, 10 October 1949.
Wilson Daily Times, 11 October 1949.
An appeal to vaccinate.
In 1920, a public health officer resorted to shaming to appeal to Wilson’s African-American community to (trust the white medical establishment enough to) be vaccinated against smallpox.
Wilson Daily Times, 29 January 1920.
Also, “Norfolk and Southern station”? This was not the iconic railroad station still standing at Nash Street and the Atlantic Coast Line railroad. Rather, it was a small depot at the corner of Barnes and Douglas (then Spring) Streets.
Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, N.C. (1922).
Long abandoned as a railroad station, here is the building now.
[Sidenote: I and my cohort were among the last children in Wilson to receive smallpox vaccinations. Since 1969, I have worn the “badge of honor” at the top of my left shoulder blade.]
Streetview photo courtesy of Google Maps.