The collaborative work of Orangeburg, South Carolina native, Dr. Walter B. Curry, Jr., Beverly Aiken Muhammad, and Anusha Ghosh has garnered national recognition, receiving the prestigious International African American Historical & Genealogical Society (AAHGS) Book Award. Their book, South Carolina’s Matilda Evans: A Medical Pioneer, was honored in the historical non-fiction category—biography, during the 46th Annual AAHGS Conference held in North Charleston, South Carolina. The award celebrates excellence in preserving and interpreting African American history and genealogy.
South Carolina’s Matilda Evans: A Medical Pioneer chronicles the life of Dr. Matilda A. Evans, the first African American woman in South Carolina to obtain a medical license, whose dedication revolutionized healthcare for African Americans, particularly children, in the segregated South. Dr. Evans’s trailblazing career saw her establish hospitals, a public health initiative that led to a statewide school examination program, and numerous clinics, all while advocating
fiercely for health equity.??
The book’s authors brought unique and complementary perspectives to the project. Dr. Walter B. Curry, Jr., founder of Renaissance Publications & Educational Programs, is a historian and educator focused on illuminating African American history through ancestry.
Co-author Beverly Aiken Muhammad, the eldest granddaughter of Dr. Matilda Evans, is a key figure in preserving her grandmother’s legacy, serving as the Founder, Executive Director, and CEO of the Dr. Matilda A. Evans Educational Foundation, LLC. Muhammad provides an intimate, familial perspective that enriches the historical narrative with personal insights into the life of the pioneering physician.
Anusha Ghosh, the third co-author, is currently pursuing her MD at the University of South Carolina-Columbia. Ghosh’s dedication lies in enhancing the healthcare system, especially for marginalized and stigmatized populations. Her academic work and interest in public health history, including her undergraduate thesis focusing on the legacies of Black healthcare workers like Dr. Evans,
provided a vital framework for analyzing Dr. Evans’s profound impact on public health and community wellness.
The AAHGS Book Award recognizes not only the quality of the scholarship but also the significance of the subject. Dr. Evans’s life—from her birth just four years after the abolition of slavery to her lifelong commitment to medicine, public health, and advocacy, an enduring testament to resilience, innovative medical practice, and unwavering community service.
The authors hope this biography will inspire future generations of medical professionals and advocates to continue the fight for equitable healthcare, a cause championed by Dr. Evans over a century ago.
Autographed copies of South Carolina’s Matilda Evans: A Medical Pioneer are available for order by visiting the following websites: www.renaissancepubllc.com or https://drmatildaevansfoundation.org/ To contact the authors directly, email Dr. Curry at renpubed@gmail.com, Mrs. Muhammad at nianotes19@yahoo.com, or Ms. Ghosh at Anusha.Ghosh@uscmed.sc.edu”>Anusha.Ghosh@uscmed.sc.edu.
