Howard E. Young (March 12, 1871 – October 3, 1945), was the first African American licensed as a pharmacist in Maryland. Young was born in Baltimore to Reverend Alfred and Emma J. Young.[1] He was educated at M Street High School in Washington, D.C., then he received a degree in pharmacy at Howard University.[2] After finishing postgraduate studies at Howard, Young returned to Baltimore in 1895, where he worked as a drug clerk at a pharmacy in the Seton Hill neighborhood. Shortly, Young opened his own pharmacy on the upper floors of a Y.M.C.A. building in the Madison Park neighborhood at 417 W. Hoffman Street using $100 of his own money.[3] He later expanded to larger corner store located at 1100 Druid Hill Avenue, which opened on May 26, 1900.[2] Five years later, Young married Estelle Hall. They had three children: Howard, Charles, and N. Louise Young.
Young held memberships and positions in various organizations throughout the city: in addition to a membership at the Baltimore branch of the NAACP and serving as president of the Y.M.C.A., Young held memberships in the Maryland Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association of Afro-American Physicists, as well as the Maryland Pharmacists Association, of which he was the only Black member.[3] In 1927, Mayor William Frederick Broening appointed Young to serve on the Baltimore City Jail Board.[4]
Young was also actively involved in politics and social causes. In 1913, Young attempted to test Baltimore's housing segregation laws in court by purchasing a home on a then-predominately White block in the Upton neighborhood. He lobbied for financial support of the potential court cases, but failed to garner support. The home was later rented.[5] In 1919, he was an unsuccessful Republican primary candidate for the 17th District council seat.[2]
Young continued to work at his pharmacy until late in his life. He died on October 3, 1945, at the age of 74 from a long, undisclosed illness.
References edit
- ^ "Dr. Young, Veteran Pharmacist, Dies at 70". The Baltimore Afro-American. October 13, 1945.
- ^ a b c "Marylanders Who Have Made Good". Afro American. May 23, 1921.
- ^ a b "Credits to their Profession: Success Achieved by Afro Americans in Pharmacy". Afro American. February 27, 1909.
- ^ "Mayor Names Dr. H. E. Young On Jail Board". Afro-American. December 3, 1927.
- ^ "Dr. Young Will Expect All to Help: His House Can Be Used For Test If Given Assurance of Support". Afro-American. December 6, 1913.