Theodore K. Lawless
Encyclopedia
Theodore K. Lawless was an American dermatologist, medical researcher, and philanthropist
. He is known for work related to leprosy
and syphilis
. He also was involved in various charitable causes including Jewish causes. Related to the latter he created the Lawless Department of Dermatology in Beilison Hospital, Tel-Aviv, Israel. He received his degree from Northwestern University
and was a self-made millionaire.
Dr. Lawless was born December 6, 1892 in Thibodeaux, Louisiana. Soon after his birth, his father, a Congregational minister, moved the family to New Orleans.
in Alabama
in 1914. He then attended University of Kansas
Medical School and Northwestern University
in Chicago
, from which he received his MD in 1919 and an MS in 1920. He held a fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital
and received further training at the University of Paris's
premier Dermatology program.
Most of his philanthropy involved starting a number of dermatology programs in Israel. He created the Lawless Department of Dermatology in Beilison Hospital, Tel-Aviv, Israel; the T. K. Lawless Student Summer Program at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel; the Lawless Clinical and Research Laboratory in Dermatology of the Hebrew Medical School, Jerusalem; Roosevelt University
's Chemical Laboratory and Lecture Auditorium, Chicago; and Lawless Memorial Chapel, Dillard University
, New Orleans. He thus repaid support received from Jewish doctors in obtaining his appointment to his position at the University of Paris
.
A shrewd investor and businessman, he had a remarkable business career. He was director of both the Supreme Life Insurance Company and Marina City Bank. He was also a charter member, associate founder, and president of Service Federal Savings and Loan in Chicago.
His professional memberships included the American Medical Association
, the National Medical Association
, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
. He served as an associate examiner in Dermatology for the National Board of Medical Examiners and as a consultant for the United States Chemical Warfare Board.
, Bethune-Cookman College
, the University of Illinois, and Virginia State University
. Phi Beta Kappa honored him with its Distinguished Service Award. He also received the Citation of the Weizman Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, the Greater Chicago Churchman Layman-of-the-Year Citation, the NAACP's Spingarn Medal
for 1954, and the Golden Torch Award of the City of Hope. He also received University of Kansas Distinguished Service Citation in 1967.
He was also honored by having a County park in Cass County near Vandalia Michigan named after him. The park features a wide range of outdoor activities including A 10 mile mountain bike trail, shelters, softball fields, and soccer fields.
He died in Chicago on May 1, 1971.
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. He is known for work related to leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
and syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
. He also was involved in various charitable causes including Jewish causes. Related to the latter he created the Lawless Department of Dermatology in Beilison Hospital, Tel-Aviv, Israel. He received his degree from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and was a self-made millionaire.
Dr. Lawless was born December 6, 1892 in Thibodeaux, Louisiana. Soon after his birth, his father, a Congregational minister, moved the family to New Orleans.
Education
He attended Straight College in New Orleans, and went from there to Talladega CollegeTalladega College
- External Links :* -- Official web site*...
in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
in 1914. He then attended University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
Medical School and Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, from which he received his MD in 1919 and an MS in 1920. He held a fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
and received further training at the University of Paris's
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
premier Dermatology program.
Careers, achievements, and philanthropy
After graduating in 1924, he returned to Chicago to open his dermatology practice in a poor, black neighborhood. He became an instructor at Northwestern the same year and taught there until 1941. He established the first clinical laboratory for dermatology.Most of his philanthropy involved starting a number of dermatology programs in Israel. He created the Lawless Department of Dermatology in Beilison Hospital, Tel-Aviv, Israel; the T. K. Lawless Student Summer Program at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel; the Lawless Clinical and Research Laboratory in Dermatology of the Hebrew Medical School, Jerusalem; Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on...
's Chemical Laboratory and Lecture Auditorium, Chicago; and Lawless Memorial Chapel, Dillard University
Dillard University
Dillard University is a private, historically black liberal arts college in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1930 incorporating earlier institutions that went back to 1869, it is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church....
, New Orleans. He thus repaid support received from Jewish doctors in obtaining his appointment to his position at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
.
A shrewd investor and businessman, he had a remarkable business career. He was director of both the Supreme Life Insurance Company and Marina City Bank. He was also a charter member, associate founder, and president of Service Federal Savings and Loan in Chicago.
His professional memberships included the American Medical Association
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
, the National Medical Association
National Medical Association
The National Medical Association is the largest and oldest national organization representing African American physicians and their patients in the United States...
, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
. He served as an associate examiner in Dermatology for the National Board of Medical Examiners and as a consultant for the United States Chemical Warfare Board.
Honors
He received Honorary degrees from Talldega, Howard UniversityHoward University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, Bethune-Cookman College
Bethune-Cookman College
Bethune-Cookman University or B-CU is a private historically black university in Daytona Beach, Florida.- History :Mary McLeod Bethune founded the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School in 1904...
, the University of Illinois, and Virginia State University
Virginia State University
Virginia State University is a historically black and land-grant university located north of the Appomattox River in Chesterfield, in the Richmond area. Founded on , Virginia State was the United States's first fully state-supported four-year institution of higher learning for black Americans...
. Phi Beta Kappa honored him with its Distinguished Service Award. He also received the Citation of the Weizman Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, the Greater Chicago Churchman Layman-of-the-Year Citation, the NAACP's Spingarn Medal
Spingarn Medal
The Spingarn Medal is awarded annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for outstanding achievement by an African American....
for 1954, and the Golden Torch Award of the City of Hope. He also received University of Kansas Distinguished Service Citation in 1967.
He was also honored by having a County park in Cass County near Vandalia Michigan named after him. The park features a wide range of outdoor activities including A 10 mile mountain bike trail, shelters, softball fields, and soccer fields.
He died in Chicago on May 1, 1971.
Print source
- Smith, Jessie Carney (Editor). Notable Black American Men. pp 700 –702. Gale Research Incorporated. Detroit, Michigan. 1999.