Sign Text for North Carolina Landmark #H-111:
Nation’s first four-year medical school. Trained 400 African American physicians. Operated here from 1882 to 1918.
More about the Leonard Medical School:
In 1881, Shaw University founder, Henry Martin Tupper, successfully convinced his brother-in-law, philanthropist Judson Wade Leonard, to help fund a school for Black physicians on campus! At the time, the closest such schools were either in Washington, DC or New Orleans, and there was definitely a need in North Carolina!
The Leonard Medical School opened its doors on November 1, 1881 with a faculty of two white physicians (Dr. James McKee and Dr. F.A. Spafford), and a class of 6 who all graduated and passed their boards! To get there, they had to take four full years of classes, which set the standard for medical training for the whole country!
Funding the Leonard Medical School ended up being the greatest challenge, though. The endowment was small, and many of the students had to work part-time in building maintenance to be able to afford tuition. Working in the rural South meant there weren’t a lot of big alumni gifts rolling in either! Ultimately, funding went to other Black medical schools like Meharry Medical College in Nashville and Howard Medical College in Washington, DC. By the time the Leonard Medical School held its last class in 1919, though, it had successfully trained 400 Black physicians and standardized 4-year degrees for medical professionals of all backgrounds!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer with the North Carolina Division of State Historic Sites!
- Donate to Shaw University!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
816 S Wilmington St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
What’s now Leonard Hall is only open to students of Shaw University, but you can enjoy the Romanesque Revival architecture at any time!
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