Edith Irby Jones Interviews

Edith Irby Jones

Edith Mae Irby Jones was born in Mayflower, Faulkner County, Arkansas on December 23, 1927.

In 1948 she became the first African American admitted to the University of Arkansas College of Medicine and became the College of Medicine's first African American graduate in 1952. Following graduation, she practiced medicine in Hot Springs, Arkansas, for six years. In 1962 Jones established a private practice in internal medicine and gerontology in the inner city of Houston, Texas.

In 1985 Jones became the first woman to be elected president of the National Medical Association. In 1988 she was named American Society of Medicine’s Internist of the Year. She has served as the chief of the medical staff at Riverside General Hospital in Houston, Texas.

Jones passed away on July 15, 2019.

Video

Audio

AUDIO-JONES-Edith-Irby-20060403 - 4:19:26

Transcripts

TRANS-JONES-Edith-Irby-Memories-20060403

Composite image of early photo of Edith Irby Jones and still frame from Pryor Center video interview © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#1: Composite image of early photo of Edith Irby Jones and still frame from Pryor Center video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#2: Parents of Edith Irby Jones
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#3: Family of Edith Irby Jones, 1917
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#4: Family of Edith Irby Jones, 1917
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#5: Family of Edith Irby Jones, 1918
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#6: Family of Edith Irby Jones
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#7: Edith Irby Jones as a baby
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#8: Brother and sister of Edith Irby Jones
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#9: Mother of Edith Irby Jones
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#10: Edith Irby Jones in high school
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#11: Langston High School Diploma of Edith Irby Jones
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#12: Edith Irby Jones at Knoxville College
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#13: Senior class of Knoxville College, 1948
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Edith Irby Jones at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine with her friends, Betty and Mary © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#14: Edith Irby Jones at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine with her friends, Betty and Mary
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#15: Edith Irby Jones with a dinner group
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#16: Family of Edith Irby Jones
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#17: Edith Irby Jones at her wedding
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Edith Irby Jones at her graduation from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, 1952 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#18: Edith Irby Jones at her graduation from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, 1952
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Edith Irby Jones as a graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, 1952 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#19: Edith Irby Jones as a graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Medicine, 1952
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas School of Medicine graduating class of 1952 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#20: University of Arkansas School of Medicine graduating class of 1952
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Edith Irby Jones's grades during her senior year at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#21: Edith Irby Jones's grades during her senior year at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Edith Irby Jones taking the oath of office as medical advisor to Local Board No. 60, Houston Selective Service System, to which she was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#22: Edith Irby Jones taking the oath of office as medical advisor to Local Board No. 60, Houston Selective Service System, to which she was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#23: Edith Irby Jones with her residency class
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#24: Edith Irby Jones as part of the Freedom Four
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#25: Edith Irby Jones (right)
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#26: Edith Irby Jones (right) with her friend
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#27: Edith Irby Jones with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#28: Edith Irby Jones at the Barbara Jordan Ladies' Social
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#29: Edith Irby Jones at her wedding
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#30: Edith Irby Jones at her wedding
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#31: Edith Irby Jones at her wedding
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#32: Edith Irby Jones signing papers at Mercy Hospital
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#33: Mercy Hospital
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#34: Edith Irby Jones with a patient, 1972
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#35: Band at a surprise party for Edith Irby Jones
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#36: Edith Irby Jones with her husband
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Edith Irby Jones receives an award © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Edith Irby Jones © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Edith Irby Jones giving an acceptance speech when she was inducted as president of the National Medical Association, 1985 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#39: Edith Irby Jones giving an acceptance speech when she was inducted as president of the National Medical Association, 1985
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Edith Irby Jones during her induction as president of the National Medical Association, 1985 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#40: Edith Irby Jones during her induction as president of the National Medical Association, 1985
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Edith Irby Jones with her family © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Edith Irby Jones with Fidel Castro © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#45: Edith Irby Jones at Knoxville College
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#46: Edith Irby Jones at Knoxville College
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Edith Irby Jones in Haiti © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#48: Edith Irby Jones and a Haitian woman
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#49: Edith Irby Jones with her friends, Betty and Mary, 2005
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#51: Silas Hunt Legacy Award portrait of Edith Irby Jones, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Edith Irby Jones; Houston, Texas, 2006 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#52: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Edith Irby Jones; Houston, Texas, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#53: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Edith Irby Jones; Houston, Texas, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#54: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Edith Irby Jones; Houston, Texas, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#55: Clinic of Edith Irby Jones, Houston, Texas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas