Dr. John Harvey Lowery 1860-1941
This post was contributed by Mr. Michael L. Wilson, a great-grandson of Dr. John H. Lowery of Donaldsonville. Mr. Wilson serves as CEO of the John Harvey Lowery Foundation, which continues Dr. Lowery’s good works in the present day. CreoleGen is glad to consider other guest submissions which are based upon fact and are in keeping with our mission and standards.
Dr. John Harvey Lowery, also known as J. H. Lowery, was the first African-American physician in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. Born on October 18, 1860 in Plaquemine in Iberville Parish, he later took residence in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. One of nineteen children, Dr. Lowery’s parents were John Harvey Lowery Sr. (1834-1907), a bricklayer from Virginia, and Elizabeth (Carson) Lowery (1835-1919), a midwife from Tennessee. His mother had ancestral roots in Madagascar.
Very little is known about his early education. But he did complete a full course of study at Straight College in New Orleans and after which he pursued medicine in the Medical College in New Orleans University. He graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree from New Orleans University on February 21, 1894.
Dr. Lowery established his practice on 412 Charles Street in Donaldsonville. He would also later practice out of a small red shotgun-style building on Railroad Avenue from 1894 until his death on September 25, 1941. Throughout his life Dr. Lowery heavily invested in real estate, accumulating fifty pieces of property in the Donaldsonville Historic District. One of the most successful businessmen in Donaldsonville, he owned and operated a mercantile department store for a number of years. He eventually closed it due to health and began farming. A successful planter, Dr. Lowery acquired a property known as the Babin Place in Modeste which he renamed the Africa Plantation. During his tenure as owner it was fashioned into a 600-acre sugar cane and 600-acre rice farm. In these cane and rice fields, Dr. Lowery afforded permanent year-round employment to over 200 men and women. He also established and ran one of the first pharmacies in Donaldsonville. A close friend and associate of Walter L. Cohen, he was active in the insurance industry and served as one of the co-founders and board members of Mr. Cohen’s People’s Industrial Life Insurance Company in New Orleans.
Deeply committed to improving education, Dr. Lowery believed it to be a tool to build community and improve the situation of impoverished African-Americans. He viewed education as the only way for people and communities to flourish, and actively worked to establish schools to promote opportunities for learning. Dr. Lowery donated extensively to education for example, in 1937 he sponsored a movement to build a modern school in Ascension Parish to ensure that African-American youth received access to quality education. Named the Lowery Training School in honor of Dr. Lowery’s instrumental role in establishing and funding the building, the school later became known as Lowery Middle School during integration in the 1960s. Dr. Lowery even served as Chairman of the Advisory Board of Education for the Lowery Training School in Donaldsonville. His commitment to education in the region extended to donating land for a school in Modeste, a rural community between Donaldsonville and White Castle.
Dr. Lowery was very active in civic matters, as well as local, state, and national politics. An advocate of equal rights, Dr. Lowery fought to improve accommodations for African-Americans on the railroads of Louisiana through his committee, the State Railroad Commission (the precursor to the Louisiana Public Service Commission). Through his work, he was successful in campaigning for equality in railroad accommodations. A life-long member of the Republican Party, Dr. Lowery was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions of 1892, 1916, 1920, 1924, 1928, and 1940. He was also a member of the Republican State Central Committee. Active in fraternal societies, Dr. Lowery served as Secretary of the Endowment Department of the District Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows for the state of Louisiana and was a prominent member of the Grand General Independent Order of Brothers and Sisters of Charity North America, South America, Liberia, and Adjacent Islands.
Dr. Lowery died at the Flint-Goodridge Hospital in New Orleans on September 25, 1941. Years after his passing, he was fondly remembered as an attentive father and dedicated citizen. A dynamic man who deeply affected his community, town members also remembered him as “King Fisherman,” an avid fisherman who took his family and employees on fishing excursions.
Almost eighty years after the first school bore Dr. Lowery’s name, his contributions have a lasting effect. In 2005, the Donaldsonville School Board dedicated two new schools, Lowery Intermediate and Lowery Elementary in his memory, maintaining a connection to the physician and to honor his contributions to community and education. The little red building on Louisiana Square out of which Dr. Lowery practiced medicine from 1894 to 1941 is now part of the collection of the River Road African American Museum (RRAAM). In 1987, a copy of Dr. Lowery’s medical degree and a photograph were presented to the Donaldsonville Chamber of Commerce and are still housed there now. Dr. Lowery further helped establish practices for other African-American physicians in the Donaldsonville area. When his son-in-law, Dr. Sidney Brazier, took over his pharmacy, it aided in Dr. Brazier becoming one of the most prominent residents of Donaldsonville. Dr. Lowery’s work was so profound, that in his 1941 obituary, it was stated that his legacy reached across racial lines. His philanthropic legacy is carried on by such charitable organizations as the John Harvey Lowery Foundation in Louisiana (an independent branch of the Global PeerCorps Network), which strives to reduce poverty and increase educational opportunities.
Sources:
“Dr. John H. Lowery, Colored Physician, Taken by Death.” The Louisiana Weekly. 27 September 1941; Dupont, John. “School Board, family recall benefactor’s contributions.” Advocate 18 August 2005:1; Francis, Janet. “Dr. John Harvey Lowery.” 1 Oct. 1997: “Index to Politicians: Lowery, John Harvey (1860-1941).” The Political Graveyard: A Database of American History. Lawrence Kestenbaum, 1 July 1996. Web. 8 Apr. 2014. < http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/lowenberg-lown.html#406.69.99>; “John H. Lowery, M.D.”. John Harvey Lowery Foundation- Recapturing a Legacy, John Harvey Lowery Foundation, Inc. 2011. Web. 9 Apr. 2014. < http://jhlowery.org/page5/page5.html>; Runge, Mary Lowery. “John Harvey Lowery M.D.” “Rural Black Doctors of the River Road.” The River Road African American Museum. The River Road African American Museum, 2004. Web. 8 Apr. 2014. < http://www.africanamericanmuseum.org/exhibits-doctors.html>; Taylor, G. G. W.. “Successful Southerners.” “The Life and Legacy of John Harvey Lowery M.D. (1860-1941)”. John Harvey Lowery Foundation- Recapturing a Legacy. John Harvey Lowery Foundation, Inc, 2011. Web. 8 Apr. 2014. <http://jhlowery.org/page19/page19.html>.
Wow, this is my grandmother’s uncle from her mother’s side. This is snagging to see a part of my abbey here! This opens more doors for my search. This is amazing. Thank you for posting this story. How can I get in touch with you all?
Hi Rykiell,
If you are interested, I have some additional resources which might be of interest.
Rykiell…. Please contact Michael Wilson, the great-grandson and CEO of the John Lowery Foundation at mwilson@hlowery.org. He will have all the information you need.
He is my Great-Grandfather.
Hi Rykiell……You can contact me (Lolita) directly at Lolitac454@aol.com or Lenora at Lenoragobert@yahoo.com. Thanks for writing.
Hello that’s my father’s grandfather
My great,great Uncle.
Great Story. Would like to get more information/history on Lowery High school in Donaldsonville, La. to include on a history website:
http://www.africanamericanhighschoolsinlouisianabefore1970.com Thanks,
Dwight Kelly
Hi Dwight,
In another comment you requested information on both Catholic & Public schools that existed before integration. Of course, we have quite a bit of info on many of these schools right here on Creolegen. Aside from that, I would refer you to the New Orleans main public library ( 3rd floor -Loyola Avenue). Placed on reserve are various NOLA high school yearbooks which you can browse through and take photos. They include St. Mary’s Academy (1940-47-48-56-63-64). St. Augustine (1956), Xavier Prep. (1956-58-59-61-63-64), Walter L. Cohen (1953), McD.#35 (1931-36-44-45-), L.B.Landry (1953-55), Holy Ghost in Opelousas (1959). Of course, I included only those years available during segregation and not more current years.
You may also wish to check the University of New Orleans Library Archives (3rd floor) which houses the OP School Board records.They also have some yearbooks available.
“Names Over New Orleans Public Schools” by Robert Meyer,Jr. and “Crescent City Schools” by DeVore & Logsdon may be of some help……Lolita
Childhood memories … It’s been nearly three quarters of a century, but when we, as children, would walk past the Lowery residence, on a Sunday afternoon, to visit my Sitie’, Grandmother, I recall being greeted with a big hug, from my Aunt Mary, and the words “be quite, Mrs. Lowery is resting”. I knew, as a small child, the name Lowery was held in high esteem …
Growing up in Donaldsonville, always knew of Dr Lowery and his family. Attended Lowery High and was a member of St Peter Methodist Church, when Mrs Sylvia Watkins Chatman was pianist. I believe she was his neice. I often would visit her home, which is now the Museum. I also discovered, while doing family research,that he delivered my mother’s baby sister in 1925 and recently passed last year May 2019. Found on my grandmother’s death certificate. Beautiful memories. Sweet rest for a great servant.
Dr. Lower was my grandmother’s uncle. I can see a strong resemblance in my father. I was sorry to hear that we lost the building at the Africa Plantation in Modeste, but glad that the house in Donaldsonville is being preserved. It would great if a visitor’s center could be established at the plantation. Does anyone know if there is a historic marker? There could also be a marker of some sort for Leonard Julien who worked at the plantation and is known for inventing a sugar cane planter. I believe Julien Street or Lane in Modeste may be named after him.
Hello,
Thanks for creating this, I would love to become an active member of his foundation, Dr. Lowery is my great-uncle (X3). I’m in the process of putting together a living history exhibit and one of the people I want to focus on is Grandma Betsy (Dr. Lowery’s mother) and her work as a midwife. I would appreciate any information related to her, the good doctor, Grandma Williana, etc.