Dr. George H. Evans Papers

NOTE: The numbers cited in parentheses, e.g. 1:5, refer the researcher to the Series#: Folder# in which that name/topic will be found.

INTRODUCTION

Dr. George H. Evans was an African American doctor who worked at the L. Richardson Memorial Hospital in Greensboro for over 45 years. This small collection consists primarily of photographs and printed materials highlighting his contributions to the local community, including during the Civil Rights era. While it does not contain much depth about Dr. Evans himself, researchers interested in the history of L. Richardson Hospital and the integration of medicine in Greensboro will find useful secondary sources.

Arrangement: This collection is organized into three series and arranged within series by document type or subject. The series are: Correspondence, 2005; Photographs, 1940s-2000s; and Printed Material, 1969-2011.

Provenance: This collection was donated by Margueritte Evans in December 2011 and assigned the accession number 2011.36.1.

Processing: This collection was organized by Archivist Elise Allison in early 2017, and the finding aid was prepared by intern Hannah Hemphill in May 2017.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

George Harrison Evans M.D. (1907-2011) was born in Milan, Tennessee, to James Royal Evans and Lillie Carmichael Evans. He married Margueritte Webster in 1934, and the couple had one son, James Webster Evans.

Dr. Evans attended Roger Williams University in Nashville, Tennessee, and graduated from Meharry Medical College in 1933 before continuing his hospital training in St. Louis and New York City. Between 1935 and 1981, Dr. Evans worked as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Greensboro, delivering over 3000 babies. He was a member of the medical staff at the L. Richardson Memorial Hospital for the entirety of his career and Chief of Medical Staff from 1950-1951. He also served on the Board of Trustees from 1935-1957, including twenty years as secretary.

During his career, Dr. Evans was actively involved in the Greensboro community. He served on the Greensboro Housing Authority for fourteen years and then for ten years on the Greensboro Board of Education. In 1963, during civil unrest, he was appointed to a Special Committee on Human Relations. This work led to the permanent establishment of the Human Relations Commission by the City Council. He received several awards, including the International Civil Rights Center and Museum (ICRCM) Unsung Heroes Award in 2005 and the Human Rights Medal from NC A&T State University in 2008.

Biographical Sources: The sources for this biographical note include biographies gifted with the collection and Dr. George H. Evans’ obituary (News & Record, February 9, 2011). Copies of these documents can be found in the folder at the front of the collection. Additional information about Dr. Evans was obtained from “City Council Names Evans to Board” (Greensboro Daily News, February 16, 1960) and “A Worthy Record” (Greensboro Daily News, March 21, 1970).

SCOPE & CONTENT NOTE

Types of materials in this collection include letters, photographs, newspaper clippings, periodicals and programs. These materials highlight Dr. Evans’ contributions to the Greensboro community.

Items of note include a photo of Greensboro’s African American physicians in the 1940s. Other materials relating to Dr. Evans’ medical career include a reprint of “The History of L. Richardson Memorial Hospital” from the Journal of the National Medical Association, as well as a copy of the History of Integration of Medicine in Greensboro…, by Robert L. Phillips M.D. The correspondence and some printed materials relate to the Unsung Heroes Award (3:5-6) that Dr. Evans received in 2005, and an article in A&T Today is about the A&T Human Rights Medal (3:1) that he was awarded in 2008.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

1. Correspondence.  2 folders (3 items).  2005.

This series contains letters to Dr. George H. Evans regarding the ICRCM Unsung Heroes Award that he received in 2005. Included are a letter of congratulations from Kay R. Hagan (1:1) and letters from the International Civil Rights Center and Museum (1:2).

2. Photographs.  3 folders (6 items).  1940s-2000s.

A highlight of this series is the photograph of Greensboro’s African American doctors (2:1) in the 1940s, including Dr. Frank Davis, Dr. J.R. Hawkins, Dr. W.L.T. Miller, Dr. George Evans, Dr. Charles C. Stewart, Dr. William Jenkins, Dr. William Hampton, William Morrow (pharmacist), Dr. William Alexander and Dr. John B. McLaughlin. Also included are photographs of Dr. George H. Evans (2:3) from the 2000s, as well as digital photographs of his office and photographs with his wife, Margueritte Evans (2:2).

3. Printed Material.  7 folders (8 items).  1969-2011.

This series contains an assortment of printed materials, including programs, newspaper clippings and other periodicals. Of note are items relating to the ICRCM Unsung Heroes Award that Dr. Evans received in 2005, including the program from the ceremony (3:5) as well as clippings from the News & Record and the Carolina Peacemaker (3:6). A&T Today mentions Dr. Evans’ receipt of the 2008 Human Rights Medal (3:1). Additional materials include the History of Integration of Medicine in Greensboro…, by Robert L. Phillips M.D. (3:3) and a reprint from the Journal of the National Medical Association concerning the “History of L. Richardson Memorial Hospital” (3:4).

FOLDER LISTING