James Thomas Still

James Thomas Still (July 12, 1840 - June 22, 1895) was a surgeon and writer in Boston, Massachusetts.

He was born in Medford, New Jersey to noted physician James Still and Henrietta Still.^[1] Abolitionist William Still was his uncle.^[2] His education was in the common schools of New Jersey.^[1] Afterwards he became a teacher at Mount Holly, New Jersey.^[1] He then started work as a sutler's clerk and started studying chemistry in his own time aiming to go to Harvard to study to become a doctor.^[1]

In 1871 he became the third African American to graduate from Harvard Medical School. He served with the 2nd Battalion of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia from 1871 to 1874. From 1875 to 1878 he served on the Boston School Board,^[3] its first African American member.^[4] In 1889, his pamphlet "Don't Tell White Folks, or Light out of Darkness" was published.^[2] Still included a dedication stating:

To the numerous lovers of truth and of humanity — many who have lived and acted, and many who still live and act for the good of mankind — and to the many earnest aspirants and workers for true manly positions among men in their native land, yet are side-tracked and crushed universally, is this picture of serious truth dedicated, by a lover of truth.

He followed another statement in the book with his address as 82 West Cedar Street.^[5]

He died June 22, 1895, at his home in Boston of Bright's disease.^[1]