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ALBERT J. KERSHAW, Jr.
M.D.
(Florida)
In the congested business district of
Miami's "Colored Town" there dwells Dr. Albert J. Kershaw, an outstanding
physician who is seeking neither riches nor publicity, but who devotes his
time and energy to the welfare and uplift of his race. His main interest
is in the nation's fight against tuberculosis. He is in charge of the
anti-tuberculosis work in the schools for Negroes and does a great deal of
charity work connected with his interest in the battle against T. B.
Dr. Kershaw's office is at 1429 N.W. 3rd Avenue. Between two stores
occupied by Jewish people, a wooden stairway leads to the second floor of
the building. At the head of the stairway, to the left, I observe an open
door leading to a room which appears to be a waiting room. A tall black
Negro is busy dusting about the waiting room.
"Is this Dr. Kershaw's office?" I ask.
"Yas'm have a seat, please," the man replies, politely. "The doctah jus'
went out fo' breakfus' a few minutes ago, but he's expectin' yuh." I sit
down in the waiting room.
After a few minutes the man carefully locks a door of grilled iron work
which leads to the doctor's private office, and leaves the room, walking
down a long corridor which leads to the rear of the building.
As I wait I observe my surroundings. Directly across the hall is an open
door of what appears to be another apartment. A Negro is standing in front
of a mirror shaving.
The furnishings of the room in which I am sitting consist of a small dark
oak table (which stand against a wall) with rocker and arm chair to match.
The seats of the chairs are covered dark brown leather. An empty hat rack
stands in a corner. Four plain wooden chairs are placed against a wall.
There is worn blue and white check linoleum on the floor that shows signs
of recent scrubbing. On the table are magazines and a thick memo pad with
pencil tied to a piece of black string. Altho not elaborately furnished,
the room is very clean. Hanging on the wall just above the table, are two
framed diplomas belonging to Albert Julius Kershaw, Jr. The diploma on the
left reads "Universities Waldensis" and is printed in Latin. The one on
the right reads "Faculty and Graduates 1907 Meharry Medical Dental and
Pharmaceutical Colleges of Walden University. Pictures of the class are
also on this document.
A door of solid wood leads to another room. The door is open and I observe
the furnishings of this room are about the same as the average doctor's
examining room--examination table, cabinet with glass doors contains
instruments, many small bottles of medicine, and doctor's equipment; a
scale stands in a corner; an electric drop-light is near table. The floor
is bare.
Between the waiting room and the doctor's office is a divided partition;
the lower half is finished with solid wood; the upper half is made of
diagonal iron grill work; a door leading to the office is made entirely of
iron grill work. A hanging lock is on this door.
The office has two large windows, which have shades but no curtains. The
shades are not drawn. The furnishings consist of a roll-top desk and
swivel chair. The desk, which stands against a wall to the right, is
littered with papers and letters. On the top of it are some books and also
several photographs. Two of these are of fine looking young Negroes in
their 20's. In the center is a photograph of an elderly Negro woman in a
gold frame. On the other side of the room is a book case lined with books;
a small table contains an electric fan. A medicine table is well filled
with bottles. Near the desk is a telephone table containing a phone and
book. An arm chair somewhat like the one in the waiting room stands near
to the desk and faces the window.
Adjoining the office, to the right, an open door leads to a bed-room. A
neatly made mahogany bed with clean white spread is visible; mahogany
dresser and chair to match, and a window with a freshly starched white
curtain can be seen.
Within a short time I hear the sound of foot-steps coming up the stairs
and Dr. Kershaw enters the waiting room. Having made an appointment by
phone the previous day, he is expecting me.
"Good morning," he says pleasantly.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, come right in my office." He unlocks the door
between the two rooms and motions to an arm chair saying, "Have a chair."
He sits down in the swivel chair at his desk, facing me as we talk.
Dr Kershaw is a fine looking Negro, well mannered and very pleasant; tall
and stout, a picture of good health. His hair is partly gray; his features
are not negroid in type. His face is stout and the color of a mulatto. He
is in his 50's, but looks younger. Immaculately dressed in a white palm
beach suit, colored handkerchief in coat pocket, tan silk shirt with small
embroidered figures in red and white silk; red tie with diamond stick pin;
white shoes and grey and white socks. He is wearing a heavy gold signet
ring on the third finger of his left hand.
"My paramount interest lies in the fight against tuberculosis. I have
several physicians who work with me and I supervise the tuberculin tests,
which are administered by the nurses. Each child in the schools is tested,
and where there is an infection, treatment is given, parents are advised,
and instructed. All cases are followed closely. I also do a great deal of
charity work among my T. B. patients. The lack of food among the colored
people is appalling. I also conduct an ambulatory clinic. 99% of my
patients are not able to pay the fees but none of them are refused
treatment. Altho I am late in getting into the field, I can see a marked
decrease in the disease.
Dr. Kershaw's anti-tuberculosis work is well organized. Altho it has never
been given much publicity, the work is being steadily carried on by him
and his professional helpers, who are using their influence as well as
their knowledge to overcome the conditions that have weakened the physical
constitutions of the residents of colored town. There is a co-operative
work going on among fifteen medical men, both physicians and dentists, and
they have a small hospital of their own in addition to the colored ward at
the City Hospital. He speaks with much appreciation of the co-operation of
the Dade County Medical Association, in its organized work for Negro
physicians, and says that every medical man in colored town is making the
most of the opportunity to take the modern courses offered by the medical
association.
"Negro doctors and dentists should be allowed to practice regardless of
race, and I see no reason why any white woman should hesitate to call a
colored doctor or patronize a colored dentist.
"I believe that eventually there will be no colored race, for the world's
history shows that all submerged or minority races have finally been
absorbed by their stronger surrounding neighbors, and I believe that the
white and colored races in the United States will merge into one
'American' race." Asked about the Indians, he thinks they, too, will be
absorbed. "But it won't be for hundreds of years, and none of us will live
to see it," he says.
He is particularly interested in children, and from the day of his arrival
in Miami has been a devoted friend of the colored schools. "Athletic work
interests me immensely. At the Booker T. Washington school, I organized
the athletic work, acted as coach of the ball teams and generally
supervised all athletics. At the present time, I am medical advisor and
part time financier. I just received a letter from a high official
commending my work along these lines," points to an opened letter lying on
his desk. "I consider that athletics makes a student self-reliant, teaches
him to give and take, to develop self-control and temperance." He has a
kindly way with the girls and boys and they show plainly that they
consider him their friend.
The sanitary conditions of colored town have engaged much of Dr. Kershaw's
attention. He is a right hand helper of the faculty of the schools and
takes a keen interest in the classes where girls are learning the home
arts and domestic science. That the mothers of the future become good home
makers is most essential to the welfare of the race.
"You would like to hear a little about my family history?" he asks as he
took a cigar out of his pocket and smoked leisurely. "Well, my ancestors
were slaves on the Kershaw family for whom the county of Kershaw, South
Carolina was named. My father used to speak of our ancestors and how most
of their time was spent picking cotton. At the time of emancipation, my
parents lived in West Florida. They were born in Jefferson County and also
were married there. They had three sons and two daughters all of whom are
graduates of the A & M University.
"My father was the first student of the A & M Tallahassee and was a member
of the first football and base ball teams. That was is the 80's. He was
very proud of the fact that his brothers and sisters, sons and daughters
and grandchildren were graduates of his Alma Mater. He always was a good
student, did a great deal of writing, especially articles for magazines;
he also did some farming. He became a Methodist preacher and travelled in
many parts of Carolina, Georgia and Florida. He died in 1917.
"My mother is still living. This is a picture of her," he says as he takes
the gold framed picture from the top of his desk and hands it to me. "She
is 77 years old and lives in Tallahassee.
"Those pictures are of my sons," he proudly points to two larger
photographs. "I have two sons and a daughter . . all graduates of the A &
M. My sons were not interested in the medical profession . . they studied
the liberal arts.
"My wife was born in Florida also; we were married in Jefferson County.
She teaches at the A & M at Tallahassee now; she is 50 years old.
"Why I chose the medical profession? While a young boy I came under the
influence of an elderly physician and I greatly admired this man. He
encouraged me in my desire to study medicine. My father also was pleased,
because he felt that it would be an avenue of helpfulness to our race. He
helped me with my expenses in college to a certain extent, then too, I
worked at different jobs during the summer. In those days it was much
easier for a medical student to work his way through college than it is
today . . and cost much less too. Roughly speaking, a college course cost
about $1,500 tuition in those days but it couldn't be done for that amount
today.
"I first practiced medicine in West Florida; Suwanee County. I came to
Miami 15 years ago, because there was a more fertile field for service
among my people; also the financial inducement, there being better
prospects in Miami for a man in the medical profession.
"Regarding the schools, my frank opinion is that the schools of the south
cannot compare with the schools of the north and the same applies to the
colleges. I believe in calling a spade a spade," he continues emphatically
as he puts down his cigar and goes into great length on the subject,
motioning with his hands.
"The reason for this condition is the lack of funds here in the south and
I believe that Uncle Sam should appropriate funds for education. Parts of
the west, also, should have assistance with their schools. It is a well
known fact that the endowment funds of Yale, Harvard and Cornell equal or
excel the total funds of all the colleges in the south put together. Among
the list of names of the 15 colleges given the highest rating in the
United States, not one of these is a college of the south; it just can't
be done with the funds they have here. I believe the children of the South
should be given the same opportunity to obtain a high education as the
children of the north.
"Of course," he continues, "I am of the opinion Miami High is a fine
school, but it cannot compare with the High Schools of the North and I say
the same for the grade schools.
"Politics? Yes, they interest me a great deal and I always vote. I keep up
with politics thru reading and other sources. Regarding the mess we have
at City Hall, I think the mayor and two of his commissioners should be
ousted.
"Methodist is my religion, I contribute towards the support of the
Methodist church which I attend. I should go more regular tho. I believe
everyone should go to some church because religion has a good influence on
the morals of the people. It helps them to lead the right kind of life.
"I spend most of my spare time reading. I enjoy ball games of all kinds,
also boxing. Occasionally I go to the movies. I never tire of my work, but
I am a firm believer that we all need a certain amount of relaxation.
"The question of diet is, of course, a very important matter. The lack of
money for the proper food is the root of the trouble among my people. They
are instructed as to proper food, but it is difficult for them to live up
to those instructions when their funds are so limited. I do not believe
people should own a car when they haven't proper food and shelter. In my
opinion shelter comes first, food next, and car last.
"Some day, when I am of no further use to my people here, I am looking
forward to having a cozy home in the country . . perhaps a farm too. While
I can be of service to my race, I'll remain right here with them. At
present, due to my activity in my profession, I find it practical to live
right here in the city, altho it would be more to my taste to have a
little home in the suburbs to go after my days work is over. However, I
have had these rooms renovated to suit me for office and living quarters
combined and it does very well for the present. I have some property here
in this section, which I rent out. The income from this enables me to do
much charity work and helps with my T. B. interest."
I thank Dr. Kershaw for his co-operation and prepare to take leave.
"If, at any time you care to visit the schools and see our anti-tuberculin
work in action, I will be glad to have you do so," he says as we walk to
the door.
"I may take advantage of the opportunity with the near future, Doctor
Kershaw, and thanks so much," I reply appreciatively.
FEDERAL WRITERS' PROJECT
Miami, Florida
2,400 Words
February 20, 1939
Albert J. Kershaw (Negro)
1429 N.W.3rd Ave.
Miami, Florida
Doctor
Elvira E. Burnell,
Writer
Text from: Library of
Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection
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