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Central PA's African American Community Moves Through the Twentieth Century
Study Areas
Biography: Charles Hoyt Crampton, M.D., 1879-1955
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."
Source
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.
Harrisburg historian Calobe Jackson, Jr., adds the following additional information about Dr. Crampton:
Charles Crampton apparently lived independently for a time. The 1897 city directory shows him as a student, living at 248 North Street, two years before his high school graduation. After his post graduate work he returned to Harrisburg to set up his practice. The 1919 edition of Boyd's Directory for Harrisburg lists Dr. Crampton's office at 600 Forster Street, with his home in the same building. He is likely the son of Benjamin and Susan Crampton, who came from Maryland and settled in Harrisburg between 1868 and 1874. Obituary of W. Justin Carter, for whom Dr. Crampton served as an honorary pallbearer. Afrolumens Project Home | Enslavement | Underground Railroad | 19th Century | 20th CenturyBorn 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)For More Information:
Memorial Days Past: A Remarkable Gathering Photo of Doctor Crampton