Edyth K. Thomas Memorial Hospital

Identifier

DBB-BUS-00074

Name

Type

Business

Activity

hospital

Year Established

1937

Description

The Edyth K. Thomas Memorial Hospital was a private hospital established in June 1937 by Dr. Alfred E. Thomas Sr. His wife L. F. Thomas served as the Superintendent for this hospital. The hospital was named in memory of their daughter Edyth K. Thomas (1910-1915). The hospital had two buildings and was located at 556 Garfield Ave East. It stood next door to its sister institution, the Bethesda Hospital, which had been established in 1931 under the same ownership.

See the 1938 Bethesda Hospital and Edyth K. Thomas Memorial Hospital pamphlet for background and full staff listing of both hospitals. Transcription from the inside front cover of the 1938 pamphlet:

"The Largest Privately Owned Negro Hospital in the U.S.

Edyth K. Thomas Memorial Hospital and its sister institution, Bethesda Hospital, being both under one ownership, constitute one of the largest privately owned Negro businesses in America. These hospitals distribute many thousands of dollars annually to their ninety-two employees and to the various Negro business houses which supply them with food products, fuel, linen supply service, and other commodities. Edyth K. Thomas Memorial Hospital and Bethesda Hospital are assets to the Race in Detroit economically as well as scientifically."

Location

556 Garfield Ave

Affiliates

Babb, C. Brindley
Role: Staff

Bennett, Robert C.
Role: Staff

Burnstine, Perry
Role: Staff

Burton, D. T.
Role: Staff

Carter, E. A.
Role: Staff

Edwards, Gilbert
Role: Staff

Edwards, Helen (Miss)
Role: Staff (Assistant Supervisor of Nurses)

Morris, Cassie Anderson (Miss)
Role: Staff (Supervisor of Nurses)

Robinson, Remus Grant
Role: Staff