Dr. Josephine English
Community leader and gynecologist Dr. Josephine English was born on December 17, 1920 in Ontario, Virginia to Whittie, Sr. and Jennie English. She grew up in Englewood, New Jersey and received her B.A. degree from New York City’s Hunter College in 1939. English went on to earn her M.A. degree in psychology from New York University. She attended Meharry Medical School in Nashville, Tennessee and while there, became interested in obstetrics and gynecology. English graduated from medical school in 1949 and began working at a hospital in Manhattan.
In 1956, English moved to Brooklyn, and in 1958, she opened a women’s clinic in Bushwick. Over the years, she has delivered thousands of babies, including the daughter of former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and the six daughters of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz. In 1979, English established the Adelphi Medical Center to provide better medical care to both men and women. She soon added a senior citizens' center. In 1981, she started the Up the Ladder Day Care Center and After School Program and a summer youth camp. Her work continued in 1982 when, in an effort to bring more of the arts to the community, she purchased a deserted church next to the Adelphi Medical Center and converted it into Brooklyn’s Paul Robeson Theater. In 1986, English became the first minority and the first woman to be awarded a license from the New York State Department of Health to develop a free-standing ambulatory surgical center.
Due to budget issues English self-funded many of her programs and has had to continuously fight foreclosure. The Brooklyn community stood behind English, and she has been honored with several awards, including the African Community Contribution Award and a Lucille Mason Rose Community Activist Award. In 1996, Brooklynites formed the Dr. Josephine English Foundation in order to honor English and to carry on her health and welfare initiatives.
Dr. English passed away on December 18, 2011 at the age of 91.
Dr. Josephine English was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on August 8, 2007.
A2007.227
Female
8/8/2007
English
Married
Lincoln Early School
New York University
Hunter College
Meharry Medical College
Dwight Morrow High School
Josephine
Ontario
ENG01
Summer
Virginia
U.S. Virgin Islands
None

New York
12/17/1920
New York
United States
Chicken
12/18/2011
Community leader and gynecologist Dr. Josephine English (1920 - 2011 ) delivered thousands of babies, including the daughter of former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown and the six daughters of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz. She established the Adelphi Medical Center and Brooklyn's Paul Robeson Theatre.
Harlem Hospital Center
Adephi Medical Center
Paul Robeson Theater
Interfaith Medical Center
Blue
Tape: 1 Story: 1 - Slating of Dr. Josephine English's interview
Tape: 1 Story: 2 - Dr. Josephine English lists her favorites
Tape: 1 Story: 3 - Dr. Josephine English describes her mother's family background
Tape: 1 Story: 4 - Dr. Josephine English describes her father's family background
Tape: 1 Story: 5 - Dr. Josephine English remembers her community in Englewood, New Jersey
Tape: 1 Story: 6 - Dr. Josephine English describes her schooling in Englewood, New Jersey
Tape: 1 Story: 7 - Dr. Josephine English remembers her early activities
Tape: 1 Story: 8 - Dr. Josephine English recalls discrimination at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, New Jersey
Tape: 1 Story: 9 - Dr. Josephine English recalls developing an interest in psychiatry while in college
Tape: 1 Story: 10 - Dr. Josephine English remembers Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee
Tape: 1 Story: 11 - Dr. Josephine English recalls her medical internship at the Harlem Hospital in New York City
Tape: 2 Story: 1 - Dr. Josephine English recalls working at the Harlem Hospital in New York City
Tape: 2 Story: 2 - Dr. Josephine English talks about New York City's Harlem community
Tape: 2 Story: 3 - Dr. Josephine English recalls the health problems in the Harlem community
Tape: 2 Story: 4 - Dr. Josephine English describes her gynecological practice
Tape: 2 Story: 5 - Dr. Josephine English talks about practicing medicine in Brooklyn, New York
Tape: 2 Story: 6 - Dr. Josephine English describes the Adelphi Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York
Tape: 2 Story: 7 - Dr. Josephine English describes her community service in Brooklyn, New York
Tape: 2 Story: 8 - Dr. Josephine English recalls founding the Paul Robeson Theatre in Brooklyn, New York
Tape: 3 Story: 1 - Dr. Josephine English describes the history of the Paul Robeson Theatre
Tape: 3 Story: 2 - Dr. Josephine English describes New York City's black medical community
Tape: 3 Story: 3 - Dr. Josephine English talks about New York City's black theater community
Tape: 3 Story: 4 - Dr. Josephine English describes the Dr. Josephine English Foundation, Inc.
Tape: 3 Story: 5 - Dr. Josephine English reflects upon the importance of the theater
Tape: 3 Story: 6 - Dr. Josephine English reflects upon her life
Tape: 3 Story: 7 - Dr. Josephine English talks about the closure of the Adelphi Medical Center
Tape: 3 Story: 8 - Dr. Josephine English reflects upon her legacy
Tape: 3 Story: 9 - Dr. Josephine English narrates her photographs
1$1
2$2
1$8