Dr. Matilda Arabella Evans

(1872-1935)

Matilda Arabella Evans graduated from the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1897, going on to become the first African American woman licensed to practice medicine in South Carolina. She was founder of the Columbia Clinic Association which provided health services and education to families. Then extended the program by establishing the Negro Health Association of South Carolina. After getting her degree Evans came back to Columbia and established the Taylor Lane Hospital, which was the first black hospital in Columbia. She founded The Negro Health Journal of South Carolina, was elected president of the Palmetto State Medical Society, Vice President of the National Medical Association and was appointed to the Volunteer Medical Service Corps in World War I.

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