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George Williamson Cabaniss The eldest of ten children born to free African-American "mulatto" farmers Isaac and Rose Cabaniss from Virginia, G. W. Cabaniss was born and raised in Black Walnut (Hyco Parish), Halifax County, Virginia in 1857. George was a graduate of Virginia Union University in Richmond, Class of 1886 followed by matriculation at the Howard University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, Class of 1890.[1]
The following was excerpted from the 1920 edition of The Crisis Magazine:
"For the past thirty years the late Dr. George Williamson Cabaniss was a practicing physician in Washington, D.C. He was educated at Virginia Union University and the Howard University Medical School, and pursued post graduate work at Belleview Hospital, New York City, and in Paris and London. During the war he served as a Y. M. C. A. worker at Fort Meade for twenty-five months and was a most valued influence for good. He was a life member of the International Congress on Tuberculosis, a member of the board of directors of the Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis of the District of Columbia, a member of executive board and ex-president of the National Medical Association, treasurer and ex-president of the Medico-Chirurgical Society, a director of the 12th Street Branch of the Y.M.C.A. and of the Alley Improvement Association. He was a Mason and an Odd Fellow and a deacon of Berean Baptist Church.
Dr. Cabaniss was born in Halifax County, Virginia, in 1857. He leaves an estate of $50,000 with his wife as executrix." [2]
The following directory listing was retrieved by a descendant of Dr. Cabaniss, and Howard University Alumnus (class of '91) C. M. Cabaniss, Jr, from the personal library of Paul Phillips Cooke - distinguished scholar, author, statesman, and former president of the District of Columbia Teachers College:[3]
"THE MEDICO-CHIRURGICAL SOCIETY OF D.C., Organized 1894; 70 members. Meet 2[n]d and 4th Thursday, 2111 Pa. avenue northwest. President Dr. A. W. Tancil, 2111 Pa. Ave., northwest; vice president, Dr. J. R. Wilder, 412 B southeast. Treasurer, Dr. George W. Cabaniss, 1906 K [Street] northwest. Secretary, Dr. John W. Mitchell, 411 E [Street] southeast. Corresponding Secretary, Dr. A. B. Cole, 1505 M [Street] northwest." [4]
"Hours. 8 to 10 am - 2 to 4 & 7-8 pm Dr. Geo. W. Cabaniss, Office and Residence, 1906 K St. N.W. Phone 331." [5]
The following is a synopsis of American Lung Association of the District of Columbia (ALADC) history, including Dr. Cabaniss' contributions to the Association and the community at large - compiled by staff of the former ALADC before merging with the national headquarters of the American Lung Association, also in Washington, DC:
"The history of the American Lung Association of DC (ALADC) began in the midst of the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic of the early 20th century. The year was 1902, and African Americans in the District of Columbia were dying from TB at a rate of three times that of whites.
Thanks to three prominent African Americans, W.S. Duffield, a social worker, Reverend Daniel E. Wiseman (pictured above), Pastor of the Church of Our Redeemer, and Dr. George W. Cabaniss (pictured above), member of the Medico-Chirurgical Society, the fight began to conquer the tuberculosis epidemic.
Mr. Duffield, Rev. Wiseman, and Dr. Cabaniss served on the original Board of Directors of the Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis. Cabaniss and Wiseman were instrumental in formulating the goals and objectives of the Association.
One hundred years later, in 2002, the ALADC is starting the DCW Giving Society to honor these three incredible men, expand its life-saving services to DC residents, and celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the American Lung Association of the District of Columbia. The letters, "DCW" are in honor of the ALADC's founding fathers, W.S. Duffield, Dr. George W. Cabaniss, and Reverend Daniel E. Wiseman..."
The date of George's death is March 7, 1920, and that of his wife Louisa R., July 26, 1940 (tombstone, Falls Church, VA). Additionally, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), April 20, 1920, section entitled simply "Deaths" has the following listing: George Williamson Cabaniss, Washington, D.C.; Howard University, Washington, D.C, 1890; aged 62; a colored practitioner; once president of the Medico-Chirurgical Society and visiting physician to the Freedmen's Hospital; died, March 7, from acute gastritis. [6] Many of Dr. G. W. Cabaniss' siblings, nieces and nephews, and extended family members were also healthcare professionals, from Richmond, Virginia to Harlem, NYC. This would include several notable individuals such as younger brothers James Edward Cabaniss (Dentist, NYC), Joseph David Cabaniss, Sr. (Pharmacist, DC & Columbus, OH), and sister Martha Cabaniss MacGhee (RN, Freedman's Hosp. DC); and nephew Charles MacGhee Cabaniss, Sr., MD (Washington, DC). [7] [8]
References
edit- ^ United States Federal Census, 1870
- ^ "The Crisis" W. E. B. DuBois, March 1920, pp. 92 & 93, The Moorland Spingarn Research Center, Howard University Washington, DC.
- ^ Biography: Learning Resources Division, University of the District of Columbia, 2010-2011.
- ^ "The Twentieth Century Union League Directory, Colored Washington" January 1901, p. 150.
- ^ "The Twentieth Century Union League Directory, Colored Washington" January 1901, p. 81.
- ^ "The Journal of the American Medical Association", April 20, 1920
- ^ Nercessian, Nora N. "Against All Odds, The Legacy of Students of African Descent at Harvard Medical School before Affirmative Action 1850-1968." Hollis, New Hamphshire: Puritan Press, 2004, pp 117, 118 and 252, 253.
- ^ Weisenfeld, Judith. "Saunders, Cecelia Cabaniss." In Hine, Darlene Clark, ed. Black Women in America: Religion and Community, Encyclopedia of Black Women in America. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 1997. African-American History Online. Facts On File.
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