Provident Hospital of Cook County

Story

Provident Hospital, the first African-American owned and operated hospital in America, was established in Chicago in 1891 by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, an African American surgeon during the time in American history where few public or private medical facilities were open to black Americans. It was founded to provide health care and medical training. Its initial officers were president John M. Brown, vice president Richard Mason Hancock, treasurer John T. Jenifer, secretary Louis H. Reynolds, and auditor Lloyd D. Wheeler Though the historic Provident Hospital was forced to close in 1987 due to financial difficulties, it reopened in 1993 as part of Cook County's Bureau of Health Services to provide services to residents of Chicago's south side. It is now known as Provident Hospital of Cook County. Alton Abraham, the social entrepreneur associated with Sun Ra worked here.