Ella P. Stewart
Encyclopedia
Ella Nora Phillips Stewart (born March 6, 1893, in Stringtown, West Virginia
) was one of the first African-American female pharmacists in the United States
.
After the death of her child, Stewart began working in a local pharmacy.
Working in the pharmacy sparked an interest in being a pharmacist for Stewart. She desegregated
the University of Pittsburgh
by being the first black student admitted in 1914. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1916 with her Ph.D. In the same year, Stewart passed the state examination becoming the first African American female pharmacist in the state of Pennsylvania
and one the first African American female pharmacists in the country.
, but was later able to open several of her own pharmacies. Her pharmacies were left under the management of peers from the University of Pittsburgh.
In 1920, Stewart was remarried, to a fellow pharmacist, and moved to Youngstown, Ohio
. There, she was hired as a pharmacist at St. Elizabeth's Hospital. After some time, Stewart resigned from the position and moved with her husband to Detroit. Their life in Detroit was short-lived. Ella Stewart and her husband moved to Toledo, Ohio
, to open a pharmacy. Stewart became one of the first black professionals in the Northwestern Ohio area and the first African-American pharmacist in the region.
and her impact in the community. Stewart was involved in many community organizations, including the Enterprise Charity Club, the Ohio Association of Colored Women, the National Association of Colored Women
. Her involvement in these organizations and the obstacles that she has overcome has led to many awards in the Northwest Ohio area and at the University of Pittsburgh that bear her name.
Stringtown, West Virginia
Stringtown is the name of several unincorporated communities in the U.S. state of West Virginia.*Stringtown, Barbour County, West Virginia*Stringtown, Marion County, West Virginia*Stringtown, Roane County, West Virginia...
) was one of the first African-American female pharmacists in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Early life
Stewart was an ambitious child and did exceptionally in the classroom throughout her years in school. She loved music. At the age of twelve, Stewart began attending high school and had the dreams of being an educator. However, she didn’t finish her training as a teacher because she was married and started a family. She liked to read and talk to boys too.After the death of her child, Stewart began working in a local pharmacy.
Working in the pharmacy sparked an interest in being a pharmacist for Stewart. She desegregated
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
by being the first black student admitted in 1914. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1916 with her Ph.D. In the same year, Stewart passed the state examination becoming the first African American female pharmacist in the state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and one the first African American female pharmacists in the country.
Career
Upon graduing and passing the state exam worked throughout Pennsylvania. She initially worked the General Hospital in Braddock, PennsylvaniaBraddock, Pennsylvania
Braddock is a borough located in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 10 miles upstream from the mouth of the Monongahela River. The population was 2,159 at the 2010 census...
, but was later able to open several of her own pharmacies. Her pharmacies were left under the management of peers from the University of Pittsburgh.
In 1920, Stewart was remarried, to a fellow pharmacist, and moved to Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
. There, she was hired as a pharmacist at St. Elizabeth's Hospital. After some time, Stewart resigned from the position and moved with her husband to Detroit. Their life in Detroit was short-lived. Ella Stewart and her husband moved to Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, to open a pharmacy. Stewart became one of the first black professionals in the Northwestern Ohio area and the first African-American pharmacist in the region.
Legacy
Ella Nora Phillips Stewart not only known for becoming one of the first African American female pharmacists, but also for her struggles against discriminationDiscrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
and her impact in the community. Stewart was involved in many community organizations, including the Enterprise Charity Club, the Ohio Association of Colored Women, the National Association of Colored Women
National Association of Colored Women
The National Association of Colored Women Clubs was established in Washington, D.C., USA, by the merger in 1896 of the National Federation of Afro-American Women, the Women's Era Club of Boston, and the National League of Colored Women of Washington, DC, as well as smaller organizations that had...
. Her involvement in these organizations and the obstacles that she has overcome has led to many awards in the Northwest Ohio area and at the University of Pittsburgh that bear her name.