Evening star., 1952-09-25
Board E|ectsFiye
groDoctorst 10
Medical Society
Are First to Be
. Admitted by Group
Founded in 1877
BY John McKelwoy

BY John McKelwoy
Five Negro physicians have been
elected to membership in the Dis
trict Medical Society by the Or
ganization's Executive Board.
The doctors are: DR.. Edward G.
Mazique. 1907 Monroe street NV;
DR.. c. Herbert Marshall. 2712 p
street NV; DR.. Reginald G.
James, 5506 Central avenue Sc:
DR.. John Sinclair Perry. 302 Vir-
ginia avenue Sc, and DR.. Arthur
Hugh Simmons. 1923 Quincy street
NV.
An official of the society said the
Executive Board elected the physi-
clans after acting on recommends
tions from the society's Board Of
Censors. which considers member
ship applications.
The doctors thus become the
first Negro physicians to become
members of the society since 1t
was founded in 1917. One had
been proposed for membership in
1891 and came within two votes
of being elected.
No Formal Barrier.
There has never been anything
in the society's constitution or by
laws barring the election of Negro
physicians to membership.
In a straw vote taken In the
spring of 1851, the membership
Of the society voted, to /, in
favor Of admitting Negro mem
bers. 1t was made clear, at that
time, that the results were to be
taken only as IAN indication Of
sentiment"
In March Of this year, four
applications were received from
Negro physicians. According to
a spokesman of the society, the
Board Of Censors asked for an
other vote on the question and
recommended that the result, in
effect, be mandate.
These votes were not counted
because the turnout was light. A
mail vote was then decided on,
and the membership was polled on
the controversial question.
Year for Confirmation.
In June. by an almost 3-to-1
majority, the society voted to
admit qualified Negro physicians.
Five applications for membership
from Negro doctors were on file
at that time.
DIR. Mazique, Al, is president
Of the Medico- -Chirurgical Society.
Recently he was named to the
District Commissioners Citizens
Advisory Council and is clinical
assistant in internal medicine at
Howard University. He is on the
Board of Management Of the
YMCA, Twelfth street branch and
Ia member Of the Executive Com
mittee Of the National Association
for the Advancement Of Colored
People. He also is on the Exec
utive Public Health Committee Of
the National Medical Association.
He has been active in Community
Chest work.
DR.. Mazique was born in Nat
chez, Miss. He came to Washing.
ton in 1887. He received a BACH
elor's degree at Morehouse College
in Atlanta, Ca, and a. masters
degree in education from Atlanta
University. He received his med
ical degree at Howard University
in 1941.
DR.. Marshall, 81, a general prac-
titioner, has been practicing medi-
cine in Washington for q years.
He is a leader in the Negro COM
munity here and is past president
OF the National Medical Associa-
ton.
Graduate Of Dartmouth.
DR.. Marshall. a native of WASH
ington, is a graduate Of Dart
mouth College and the Howard
University Medical School. He en-
tered practice at his residence
next door to the residence of his
father. the late DR.. Charles w.
Marshall, who practiced medicine
here for 40 years.
DR.. Marshall is a former chair
man OF the NINA Trustee Board
and a former president of the Dis
trict Medico- Chirurgical Society.
He has also been president of the
Rock Creek Civic Association and
is a past president of the WASH
ington branch of the National
Association for the Advancement
of Colored People.
DR.. James, 43, is a member of
the dermatology staff of Freed
mems Hospital. He was born in
Richmond and attended the Vir-
ginia Union University there. He
was graduated from the Howard
University School of Medicine in
1887 and received his internship at
Freedmen's Hospital. He served
with the United States Public
Health Service from 1943 to l946,
after which he started his practice
In Washington. He is q member
OF the Medico- Chirurgical So
ciety and the Johns Hopkins Uni
versity Alumni Club.
Perry q Psychiatrist.
DIR. Perry, SO, is a neuro-psy-
,hiatrist and a past president Of
'he Medico-C Chirurgical Society.
He is a former member of the
osychiatric Division Of the Fort
Myer Examination Board and is
/ member Of the Civil Defense
Medical Advisory Committee. He
s chairman Of the military af-
airs Of the National Medical As
ociation.
Born in Fayetteville, N. c., he
eceived his medical education at
shaw University In North Caro-
ina and served as an intern at
'reedmen's Hospital.
DR.. Simmons, 43, is an associate