She attended William Penn High School with excellent grades and won several scholarships to the University of Pennsylvania.
After graduating from Penn, she attended the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania.
Humble Beginnings
Virginia Alexander’s life began on February 4, 1899 with racial and economic hardships.
After losing his business, her father sent his children to live with their relatives.
There, Virginia would meet Reverend E.W. Moore, who taught her the importance of religion in confronting racial injustice.
"William Penn High School for Girls (1917),". U.S, School Yearbooks, 1880-2012. AncestryClassroom.com. [Farthest Left: Virginia Alexander]
"Portraits, incl. college graduation,". Virginia Margaret Alexander Papers. University of Pennsylvania Archives.
"University of Pennsylvania School of Education, Offical Transcript of the Records of Virginia M.Alexander,". Virginia Margaret Alexander Papers. University of Pennsylvania Archives. [Transcript: D-Distriguished, G-Good, P-Passed, N-Not Passed, F-Failure, I-Incomplete ]
There, she was the only Black student in her class in her freshman year.
In 1924, she led three Black students in a protest against racism at WMCP, marking the start of her activism.
Due to the racism and sexism of hospitals, Alexander struggled to find an internship, a requirement needed to obtain a medical license.
She eventually obtained an internship at Wheatley Provident Hospital in Kansas City, becoming the first Black physician there.
"House Staff and interns, Kansas City; Virginia Alexander thrid from left (1926),". Virginia Margaret Alexander Papers. University of Pennsylvania Archives.
Haley Lau and Tania Wasim
Senior Division
Group Website
Student Composed Words: 1200
Process Paper Words: 450
Media Length: 0:47