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the 20th Century

The "Biography" pages of the Afrolumens Project provide information about the lives of prominent as well as little-known African American citizens of Pennsylvania.  Because racism prevented the dominant newspapers and publishers of the time from recognizing the leadership role of many of these remarkable people, their stories are in danger of being lost.  Similarly, many noteworthy people became accomplished business or social leaders, yet have never been recognized for their achievements.  The Afrolumens Project Biography Pages are meant to serve as a Who's Who of the Central Pennsylvania African American community in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Professional Men -- Charles Hoyt Crampton, M.D.
Biography from Pennsylvania Negro Business Directory--1910

"Dr. Crampton was born in this city and is a product of our public schools.  Graduating from the High School, he took a medical course at Howard University, Washington, D.C., and a post-graduate course at Hahnemann College, Philadelphia.  He came to his work well equipped and at once leaped into popularity.  Having an unlimited acquaintance throughout the city and being of a pleasing and many nature his practice has grown large and lucrative.  He is one of the county physicians, representing the city, a position to which he was appointed in 1908, and fills with great credit."

Pennsylvania Negro Business Directory--1910.  Harrisburg, PA: James H. W. Howard and Son, 1910.  Page 81. 

Notes

See additional information for other important events in the life of Dr. Crampton, below.

Additional information

Harrisburg historian Calobe Jackson, Jr., adds the following additional information about Dr. Crampton:

"Born in Harrisburg (1879), he graduated from Harrisburg High in 1899. Dr. Crampton skipped undergraduate school and was admitted to Howard Medical School, from which he graduated in 1903. From 1917 to 1955, he volunteered as athletic trainer to Harrisburg Tech and William Penn High Schools. "Ole Doc" as he was affectionately known, was a familiar site at all athletic events, especially the Thanksgiving Day Football Game between William Penn and John Harris. 'Ole Doc" died, fifty years ago, November 15, 1955." (Correspondence, Calobe Jackson, Jr. to Afrolumens Project, 11 November 2005)

He is likely the son of Benjamin and Susan Crampton, who came from Maryland and settled in Harrisburg between 1868 and 1874.

For More Information:

Obituary of W. Justin Carter, for whom Dr. Crampton served as an honorary pallbearer.
Memorial Days Past:  A Remarkable Gathering  Photo of Doctor Crampton