Jersey City Women’s History: Dr. Lena Frances Edwards
Dr. Lena Frances Edwards left behind a legacy of hard work, compassion, and dedication to serving others through her work in maternal healthcare - and she was one of the first African American women to do so.
Dr. Lena Frances Edwards was the first African American woman to become a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist. She was also admitted to the prestigious International College of Surgeons. Her career was centered around serving the poor. She advocated for providing quality healthcare for all, regardless of one’s ability to afford it. Her work in Jersey City was immensely beneficial to its residents, and her legacy in the city continues to this day.
Jersey City Woman & Black History: Lena Edwards Early Life
Born in 1900 to an oral surgeon father and a devout Catholic mother, Dr. Edwards had her personal philosophy, “life as you climb,” instilled in her by her family from a young age. Dr. Edwards later attended Howard University for her undergraduate degree and graduated from the university’s College of Medicine in 1924. She then moved to Jersey City, New Jersey with her husband (fellow doctor and Howard alum) to establish their medical practices.
Lena Edwards, a Jersey City Woman Making Black history
During her early years in Jersey City, Dr. Edwards dedicated herself to delivering babies in her home clinic. Along with her husband, she served top-notch medical care to the residents of the Lafayette neighborhood, including the newly arrived immigrants from Eastern Europe and Italy. Additionally, she spoke regularly at the Young Women’s Christian Association as well as local churches on topics like public health and other related social issues in the community. Later on, she was offered a position to work at Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital. However, during her time there, she experienced racism and sexism that hindered her career’s advancement. Despite the many obstacles in her path, Dr. Edwards persevered through it all. She was able to gain her residency at the hospital in 1945. She focused much of her efforts on helping low-income mothers who had previously only received low-quality healthcare.
Later Work
Afterwards, Dr. Edwards moved back to Washington D.C. to teach her practice to students at Howard University. There, she worked on behalf of the poor through the Urban League, the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, the Social Work Advisory Committee, and the Catholic International Council. She also spent her time serving on the boards of a home for unwed mothers as well as a local maternal welfare organization.
In the late 1940s, Dr. Edwards moved to Hereford, Texas to serve a community of migrant workers that had been living in old barracks. There, she assisted in setting up a fifteen bed maternity hospital. Her work there helped to drastically decrease the infant mortality rate in the area. Her efforts earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Lyndon Johnson in 1964, the United States government’s highest civilian honor. It was the cap to a lifetime of service by Dr. Edwards for those in need.
Dr. Lena Edwards School Academic Charter School in Jersey City
Dr. Edwards set an example of dedication, hard work, and compassion that is channeled through the Dr. Lena Edwards Academic Charter School in Jersey City for grades K-8. The school’s mission is to cultivate both learning and empathy in their students in the footsteps of Dr. Edwards.
