Biography Charles Richard Drew, born in Washington, D.C. on June 3, 1904, was the eldest of five children. His parents were Richard and Nora Drew. He had "modest" and well-respected family. Charles first imagined of becoming a doctor at age fifteen after watching his sister die of tuberculosis. He was a brilliant man and greatly benefitted man kind. Charles attended Stevens Elementary School, and later graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar High. There he excelled tremendously in athletics--he was awarded a partial scholarship to Amherst College. Getting to go to this school was a big deal. It was an all white school with a few exceptions-- including Charles. Here Charles was the star quaterback, a national high-hurdles champion, a valuable baseba;; player, and captain of the track team. He won the Mossman trophy because he contributed the most to athletics. Even after his accident (a metal cleat in his thigh) he was still voted captain of the football team. If it was not for this accident, he would have had a great career in sports. Now, his attention was turned to medicine. After college, Charles taught chemistry and biology, was the athletic director, and coached football at Morgan State College in Baltimore. He paid of undergraduate loans, and saved up money for medical school. He applied to Howard University for medical school, but was rejected-- he didn't have enough English credits and had been making B's and C's in everything except Biology and was unable to participate in sports. In 1928 he was, however, accepted to both Harvard University (a year later) and McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He didn't want to wait a year so he attended McGillUniversity where he though everyone was color-blind because there was no segregation. There he impressed his anatomy teacher, John Beattie, with his work on blood by reading everything he could on it and doing multiple experiments with Beattie--they became good friends. Charles became an Alpha Omega Alpha Scholar, won the J. Fancis Fellowship-- an examination given to the top five students in the graduating class,-- and receives his M.D. degree in 1933. He was also awarded the Master of Surgery and the degree of Medicine. In 1933 Charles worked as an intern for one year at the Royal Victoria Hospital and Montreal General Hospital (where he became a resident in 1934). There, he researched blood chemistry with Beattie. Between 1935 and 1936 Charles worked as a faculty instructor in pathology at Howard University-- the same medical school that had rejected him. He later worked at Freedom's Hospital as an instructor in surgery and taught at Columbia- Presbyterian Hospital-- while receiving his Doctorate from Columbia University. Charles also did his postgraduate work at Columbia University, receiving his Doctor of Science in Surgery degree-- he was the first African American to receive this degree. At Columbia Presbyterian Hospital Charles engaged in research with Dr. John Scudder and Dr. E. H. L. Corwin in procedures of long-term storage (not seven days) of blood as plasma (sans white or red blood cells) in blood bank. Blood types had already been established and Charles thought that if all the substances controlling this factor were taken out, plasma samples would not have to been seperated and labled- the blood of the donor would be the same as the receiver, even if they had different blood types.. This was definitly good for emergency situations where blood was needed, they would not have to look for a specific type of blood which may be hard to find. Instead the same blood plasma could be used for everyone. He thought the same way about "black" and "white" blood, scientifically they were both the same and could be mixed. In 1939 Charles then supervised a blood bank at the Columbia Medical Center and developed a way for blood to be shipped far away. Soon after, he supervised the blood-plasma division of New York City's Blood Transfusion Association-- which was involved in collecting blood for the British Army during World War II. In 1940, Charles was appointed the full-time Medical Director of the "Blood for Britain Project" wher he was told to collect 5,000 ampules of blood plasma (then do it again three weeks later). It was a violent war and information and procedures were needed for blood preservation because of all the violent injuries. To abtain all this blood, Charles created the "bloodmobiles" which are trucks with refrigerators carring blood. In February of 1941 Charles became the director of the American Red Cross Blood Bank-- in charge of collecting blood for U.S. Army and Navy. He later resigned from this position after the war department sent out a statement of policy stating that "blood of white donors should not be mixed with the blood of black donors." Charles said this was unscientific because race had nothing to do with blood type- it's all the same. This was later proven and African Americans were able to donate blood--in segregated facilities. IN 1977 this blood center was renamed the Charles R. Drew Blood Center. Then, when America went to war in 1941 he was named the director of the blood bank for the National Research Council. He collected blood for the U.S. Navy and Army and set the ground work for the Red Cross blood banking procedures-- he created a model for blood and plasma storage that is still used by the Red Cross today. In 1942 when Charles returned to Washington, D.C., he became the head of Howard University's department of surgery. He also became the cheif surgeon at Freedom's Hospital. As well as the hospital chief of staff and medical director between 1944 and 1948. Charles received many awards and honors and participated in many organizations. Some awards such as a bachelor of Arts from Amherst University in 1926, the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP in 1944, the Doctor of Science in 1945 from Virginia State College and in 1947 from Amherst College, the Distinguished Service Medal from the National Medical Association in 1950, and the E.S. Jones award from Virginia State. He was also honored with a U.S. postage stamp issued in 1981, many schools and health clinics have been named after him, and all the blood banks in the world are living memorials dedicated to him. Some of his many memberships include being on the American-Soviet Committee on Science, a fellow of International Surgeons, on the National Society of Crippled Children, and the American Cancer Society. His biggest honor and award, however, is his marriage in 1939 to Lenora Robbins and children Bebe, Charlene, Rhea, and Charles. As they say, "the good must come with the bad," and this is just what happened to Dr. Charles Drew. His wonderful, beneficial life came to a tragic end at 8:00 am on April 1, 1950 when Charles and three medical colleagues were in a one-car automobile accident on their way to the annual meeting of the John A. Andrews Clinical Association at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Charles "dozed-off" at the wheel and the car hit the "soft shoulder of the street" and turned over. Charles was half thrown out of the car, and then was crushed by it as it flipped over. Charles was severely injured and was rushed to a nearby hospital in Burlington, North Carolina. Some say it was to late to save him, but doctors still tried. Others say that he would not be admitted in the "white only" hospital and was sent to another. By this time it was to late to save him, he died form blood loss-- he only needed a blood transfusion, but would not receive it because he was black and they did not want to mix white blood with black blood. We may never know. What we do know is that Dr. Drew was many things: a great surgeon, a devoted researcher, and wonderful teacher, but most of all a leader for people to follow. He achieved many things African Americans dreamed about but never thought they could have ( such as attending a good school, receiving a degree, winning many awards, and creating so many wonderful things. He truly deserves to be recognized as one of the major figures of the Harlem Renaissance. He contributed much to society, including his legacy of life saving techniques. His pioneering of research in long-term blood plasma preservation, the invention of transfusions, and what he thought was his most important contribution--teaching and helping to certify hundreds of black surgeons. He was very successful and beneficial to mankind (especially in the war). Dr. Charles Richard Drew was a genius and his name will live forever in medical history. |
Editorial After studying blood preservation techniques at McGill University School of Medicine in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Dr. Charles Richard Drew stated his doctoral thesis "Banked Blood: A Study in Blood Preservation." He further engaged in his research at Columbia Presbytarian Hopsital in New York. Dr. Drew's research was on storing blood as plasma instead of blood (because it "lives longer") and banked blood. During World War II he fulfilled his destiny in serving mankind-- he successfully established blood banks, collected blood, and stored blood plasma. Dr. Drew's contributions to medicine were greatly needed and appreciated. He was a very generous man, spending countless hours researching and experimenting, receiving little money but still proceeding with his work. He was however, awarded and honored with medals, memorials, and awards. His techniques are still used today, but because of a tragic automobile accident he could not live his full life to see how greatly he benefitted mankind. His importance to medicine can not be measured, and he definitely deserves to be remembered for his accomplishments during the Harlem Renaissance. |
Historiography Did Dr. Charles Richard Drew die because of prejudice in southern hospitals or because of fatal injuries? Dr. Charles Richard Drew died at 8:00 am April 1, 1950 in a hospital in Burlington, North Carolina. He and three colleagues were driving to an annual meeting of the John J. Andrews Clinical Association in Tuskagee, Alabama when the car "struck a soft shoulder in the road and overturned." The four doctors were soon rushed to the hospital, where Dr. Drew later died. Some say that if he had received immediate medical attention, a blood transfusion, his life would have been saved. They say it wasn't given to him because of racial issues in the south. A writer form the McGill University student newspaper writes, 'Drew's life ended tragically in the forties after a car accident in the southern United States. He died of blood loss at the doors of a hospital which would not admit him because of the color of his skin. Ironically, his own invention could have saved his life.' Spencie Love believes that the legend is also true, because at that time African Americans were rejected from hospitals because of their color. On the other hand, eyewitnesses-- colleague doctors in car with Dr. Drew, and a former student of his-- say that the "turned away, bleed to death" story is completely false. According to Charles E. Waynes' biography of Dr. Charles Richard Drew entitled "Charles Richard Drew: the man and the myth," the eyewitnessess said the treatment he received was perfectly adequate. Dr. Drew's injuries were just too massive-- "a broken neck and complete blockage of the blood flow back to the heart," says Dr. Ford, another doctor that was with Dr. Drew. Dr. Ford also said that Dr. Drew was "half thrown out of the car, and actually crushed to death by the car as it turned over" the other doctors in the car ran to help him but could see that it was hopeless. Doctors say although nothing could really be done, they did everything they could to save him--including at least one blood transfusion. Dr. Drew's daughter said that, "'doctors did everything they could to save his life. An attempt was made to ship him to another hospital, but only because they had better facilities." Many say that the myths of Dr. Drew's death were simply mutations of a myth concerning Bessie Smith's death in 1937. She too, supposedly died from a fatal car accident because she was prohibited from entering a "white" hospital. The ambulance driver took her to a nearby hospital where she then died from internal injuries. |
News Atricles |
Political Cartoon ^From another room: Nurse 1: "Oh good! Now we have some blood to give to Dr. Drew." Nurse 2: "Oh no, we can't give him that blood." Dr. Charles Richard Drew died April 1, 1950 at 8:00 a.m. from a fatal automobile accident. He died form blood loss, because they would not mix "white" blood with "black" blood. He died from not receiving something he invented-- blood transfusions from stored blood plasma. Even with all his contributing to medical science, Dr. Charles Drew was still treated with disrespect. Although his body did not live a full life, his research and contributions will. He is a major figure from the Harlem Renaissance and will not be forgotten. |
1904-1950 |
Dr. Charles Richard Drew Called For A Military Emergency In need of a blood preservation procedure and corresponding information, the British Army called upon Dr. Charles Richard Drew to save the day. Dr. Drew is a genius researching the method of storing blood as plasma( sans white and red blood cells). He is now supervising the Blood Plasma Division of New York Ctiy's Blood Transfusion Association- involved with collecting Blood for Britain army. Dr. Drew was also selected to become the Medical Director of the Blood for Britain Project -- a full-time job. He plans to organize a blood bank in London to collect as much blood as possible. The NAACP says, "On October 1, 1940, Dr. Drew was appointed full-time medical director of the plasma project for great Britain with the job of solving many technical problems which had arisen in the first great experiment in gross production of human plasma." With this, they Dr. Drew could be a possible nominee for the Spingarn Medal. Dr. Drew contribution to mankind during the war could be his most beneficial of all time. Journalist --Sarah Klaiber |
Dr. Charles Richard Drew Resigns From The American Red Cross Association.. In 1940, Dr. Charles Richard Drew was selected to help out Britain by collecting blood and preserving it. He became the Medical Director of Blood For Britain Project. Last year, in February of 1941 when the U.S. went to war, he was named the director of Blood Bank for National Research Council collecting blood for the U.S. Army and Navy at a blood donor station he set up. Dr. Drew was also appointed Assistant Director of the first American Red Cross Blood Bank three months ago. Here he was charge of preserving blood for the U.S. Army and Navy and setting the groundwork for the Red Cross. However, yesterday he resigned his position because of a statement of policy sent out by the War Department stating, "blood taken form White donors should not be mixed with that of Black donors. In response, Dr. Drew called this directive a "stupid blunder." Now Dr. Drew will return to Washington, D.C. to become the head of Howard University's department of surgery and chief Surgeon at Freedom's Hospital. Journalist --Sarah Klaiber |
Web Page available thanks to Vanessa Bird Author: Sarah Klaiber Last Revision Date: October 9, 2001 |
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Pictures |
A soldier is given plasma after he is wounded by Shrapnel. Sicily, 1943 (National Archives & Records) |