From getting out the vote to going green, Americans know how to move mountains one shovelful of dirt at a time.
Welcome to America Comes Alive!, a site I created to share little-known stories of America’s past.
These stories are about Americans—people just like you—who have made a difference and changed the course of history. Look around the site and find what inspires you.
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James Derham (ca. 1762-1802?), Physician
First African-American to Practice Medicine in the U.S.
James Derham was born into slavery in Philadelphia. He was owned by three doctors in the area. In one of the households he learned to read and write.
In 1788 he was sold to a prominent surgeon in New Orleans, and the surgeon encouraged Derham to learn medicine. He showed great aptitude at helping others, and he also quickly learned the art of surgery.
He either paid for or was given his freedom (reports vary) and was permitted to practice among the freemen and slaves of New Orleans. He was popular for his medical knowledge but also his fluency in speaking French, English, and Spanish. He would have been a godsend to African-Americans who would not have been allowed to visit a white doctor.
Dr. Benjamin 
Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and a well-respected physician of the day, visited New Orleans and was introduced to James Derham. He is quoted as saying about Derham: “I conversed with him on medicine and surgery and found him learned. I thought I could give him information concerning the treatment of disease, but I learned more from him than he could expect from me.” (From the Journal of the National Medical Association, Volume 4, No.1.)
Though James Derham’s skills were well-known and his practice flourished, New Orleans passed regulations in 1801 that prevented him from practicing medicine since he had no formal medical degree.
He disappeared after 1802.
What a loss.
Exhibit About Alcatraz Currently Open on Ellis Island
The very name, Alcatraz, stirs fear and a twinge of excitement at the thought of the stories of the men incarcerated there. From 1934 to 1963 Alcatraz Island served as the first maximum security federal prison in the United States. It was hoped that the location would make it escape-proof, and therefore, a good place to put the worst-of-the-worst.
How a Dog Breeder, a Blind Man, and a German Shepherd Changed the World in 1929
In the early twentieth century, those without sight were marginalized members of society. They had no job options and no mobility, and had to rely on the kindness of someone who might lead them or help them with whatever needed to be done.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner: A Postscript
In Washington, D.C. this weekend for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, I have three experiences to share with you, each of which has been changed by the news of the success of the daring plan to bring down Osama bin Laden.
NYC Fire Museum: A Hidden Gem
Walk west on Spring Street, through SoHo, past the enticing restaurants and the tempting clothing shops, and after you pass Varick Street, you will come to a fire house that still looks like a fire house, but this one welcomes you in to hear stories and see old fire trucks and other memorabilia from some 225 years of fire fighting in Manhattan. The museum itself is a gem that is worthy of visits from old and young.
