Biography
Dr. Frank Boston
Dr. Frank Erdman Boston (1890-1960), WWI Veteran, Doctor, Surgeon, Founder of Hospital and Founder of Ambulance Corps. and recipient of two U.S. Presidential Citations, but forgotten by history
By George Whitehair
Here are some of the remarkable facts of this unsung hero we have uncovered
1) FIRST AMBULANCE CORPS AND HOSPITAL
Dr. Frank Boston (1890-1960), a WWI veteran who is one of the first African Americans to start both a hospital and ambulance corps almost 100 years ago that both are still in business and thriving. The hospital is part of Jefferson Health and the ambulance corps is the Volunteer Medical Services Corps. There were other hospitals started earlier, but not both a hospital and ambulance corps.
2) ONE OF THE FIRST FAMILY OF DOCTORS
The Boston family may be one of the first African American families to produce two medical doctors. Dr. Frank Boston’s brother, Samuel Clifford Boston was also a doctor and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1898.
3) ONE OF THE FIRST SETS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN BROTHERS AND DOCTORS TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY
We believe Dr. Frank Boston and his brother, Dr. Samuel Clifford Boston, may be one of the first sets of African American brothers to serve as military doctors in WWI.
4) FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MONUMENT
Dr. Frank Boston died in 1960 and a monument was built at 7th & Broad Streets as the Hospital refused to allow his supporters to hang his portrait. Montgomery County may have the first monument built for a specific African American individual in Pennsylvania, as most individual monuments came after the civil rights movement. For example, Philadelphia has over 1,500 public statues, but Center City’s first statue of a specific African American wasn’t built until 2017 and is the Octavius V. Catto Memorial, located on the southwest corner of Philadelphia City Hall.
5) FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN DOCTOR TO RECEIVE TWO PRESIDENTIAL CITATIONS FROM TWO DIFFERENT U.S. PRESIDENTS
Dr. Frank Boston may be the first African American Doctor to receive two presidential citations from two different Presidents for his community work.
Dr. Frank Boston was honored by President Harry S. Truman (1945 to 1953) when he received a “Red Cross Certificate of Appreciation, signed by President Truman and presented to Dr. Frank E. Boston, director and founder of the Lansdale Volunteer Medical Services Corps.
Dr. Frank Boston, together with Pearl Buck, received a citation from President Eisenhower (1953 to 1961) for work among the handicapped. For Dr. Boston, this was his second Presidential Citation. The Doctor is also the recipient of a 25-year Red Cross service certificate.
6) THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN DOCTOR TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MILITARY SURGEONS OF THE UNITED STATES
Dr. Boston became a Life Member in 1959 when the Associations recognized Major Frank E. Boston for over 30 years membership, and we believe he may be the first African American member.
7) FIRST COMMANDER OF THE LT. WILLIAM G. JUNKEN VFW POST
In 1924, the new post of the VFW held its first public obligation at the G.A.R. Post 2 Hall, in Philadelphia with Dr. Frank Boston as the post commander. G.A.R. refers to Grand Army of the Republic and was started by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
8) BOSTON AWARD FOR HELPING THE DISABLED
The Ability First Committee, a unit of the Governor’s Committee on the Employment of the Handicap, a division of the President’s Committee as established by Congress, gave an annual “Dr. Frank E. Boston” award, named after Dr. Boston for meritorious service on behalf of the handicapped.
9) BOY SCOUT OFFICIAL
Dr. Boston was a Boy Scout official and served as chairman of Health and Safety for the General Nash District, Valley Forge Scout Council.
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