Today, April 26th, marks the anniversary of the Salk polio vaccine field trials, a medical breakthrough that changed the world. But did you know a historically Black university played a pivotal role in this achievement? To Raise Up the Man Farthest Down: Tuskegee University’s Advancements in Human Health 1881–1987 by Dana R. Chandler and Edith Powell sheds light on this often-overlooked chapter in medical history.
While Tuskegee University is known for figures like Booker T. Washington and the Tuskegee Airmen, its contributions to healthcare deserve equal recognition. Chandler and Powell meticulously document this journey, drawing on extensive archival data and previously unseen photographs.
The book goes beyond the headlines to reveal a rich tapestry of achievements. From establishing Alabama’s first hospital for African Americans to pioneering the state’s first baccalaureate nursing program, Tuskegee University was a beacon of healthcare advancement for underserved communities.
One particularly fascinating aspect is the university’s crucial role in the fight against polio. Tuskegee’s microbiology lab held a unique distinction: it was the sole source of HeLa cell cultures used in national trials for the Salk and Sabin polio vaccines. This unsung contribution played a vital role in eradicating a debilitating disease.
Get your copy of To Raise Up the Farthest Down: Tuskegee University’s Advancements in Human Health 1881–1987 today!
“. . .the authors succeed at highlighting a lesser-known aspect of the institution’s history. As they suggest, our collective understanding of Tuskegee’s medical past must transcend an immediate connection to the infamous Syphilis Study. The instances brought to light in this work should supplant that background and help us to place Tuskegee as a more central player in some of the larger medical discoveries of the twentieth century.”
—Agricultural History
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