Row1: (left to right) Audrey DuConge Pajaud, Pierre Graves, Jennie Dunn, Althemus Porche.
Row 2: Napoleon Butler, Anna Cere Montague, Mathurin Reid.
Middle: Lester Arnaud
Row 3: Stella Brown, Oscar Bouise, Hirell Lawes.
Row 4: Wilbert Robichaux, Dolorite Dupart, Alfred LeBlanc, Jeannette Baxter Lopez.
As their photos were being snapped in 1927, the students (shown above) were members of the first class entering into the College of Pharmacy at Xavier University of Louisiana. The legacy they established continues today, ninety-four years later. All of this took place just two years after the University opened its doors in 1925 under the visionary leadership of Saint Katharine Drexel. The main purpose of incorporating the College of Pharmacy at Xavier was to provide the education and training to young black men and women for whom this had been previously difficult to obtain. In addition to building a strong foundation in the sciences, emphasis was placed on character building through community involvement.
Xavier’s campus in the 1920s consisted of only a Liberal Arts building, Science Hall, and a Faculty Hall. Of course, there were no fancy Science buildings in which to hold classes as there are today; only laboratories equipped with the necessary fixtures, apparatus, materials, and drugs in pharmacy and pharmacology. Lecture Room# 36 in the Science Hall became their official headquarters. Despite modest beginnings with only two part-time teachers plus a permanent dean, students (for the next three academic years of 36 weeks each) engaged in a rigid course of study.
This is not to say that there had not been earlier African American Pharmacy Schools. The existence of these earlier schools ran parallel with the health care crisis following the Civil War – that period known as Reconstruction and the rise of Jim Crow. Seven black pharmacy schools were in existence during this period. Most began to disappear just before the early 1920s, but Xavier and Howard universities saw the need to continue the tradition of preparing young men and women as medical experts in the pharmaceutical field. As a result, Xavier established its pharmacy program in 1927.
Locally, New Orleans University Flint College of Pharmacy was one of the seven schools. It opened in September 1900, graduated a total of sixty students, but closed by 1915.
Meharry Pharmaceutical College had the most significant impact on the education of black pharmacists in the South. Between 1890 and 1936, the school graduated 560 pharmacists, 82 of whom were women. When enrollment failed to reach 20 students in 1936, the pharmacy program ended. Many of Meharry’s graduates became pharmacists and opened their own drugstores throughout the United States. Such local pharmacies in New Orleans as LaBranche and Belfield Drug Stores were started by graduates of Meharry while Dejoie Drug Stores were early Howard graduates.
So, what happened to the fifteen pharmacy students shown above, you may ask? Well, three years later in the spring of 1930, eight of the fifteen completed the program and received the Graduate in Pharmacy (Ph.G.) degree.
Some never became pharmacists since jobs were not available. Jim Crow laws did not allow them to be hired in white pharmacies and most black pharmacies were small family-owned businesses. You basically had to open a pharmacy of your own which financially was quite expensive and very hard to do.
Audrey DuConge Pajaud (1903-1998) According to her son, Audrey never became a pharmacist. He often stated that his mother was university-trained in pharmacy, but as a woman of color she had difficulty finding work in that field. Instead, she became a sociologist and worked on the college level.
Audrey was one of 14 children born to Adolph and Daniska DuConge. Her dad was a well-known barber who ran his own shop in the downtown section of New Orleans. She married William Etienne Pajaud in 1923. William was a trumpet player and band leader who favored playing at jazz funerals. They had one son, William Pajaud Jr., who became a nationally recognized painter under the tutelage of Professor Numa Roussève at Xavier. William is best known for his vibrant watercolors which featured images of jazz funerals and street scenes from his childhood in New Orleans and his adult life in Los Angeles.
Alfred LeBlanc (1908-1970) Alfred LeBlanc spent his adult life as an X-ray technician at Touro Hospital. He often talked about the lack of opportunities available in Jim Crow Louisiana to men like himself, who were trained pharmacists. He was born to Alfred LeBlanc and Victoria Diaz. His mother passed away when he was two years old and he was reared by his aunt and extended family members. He remained a bachelor and enjoyed socializing with his friends at the Autocrat and Wonderful Boys Social Clubs.
Lester Arnaud, Sr. (1907-1972) Lester Arnaud became the supervisor of the radiology department at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. He was the son of Wellington and Antoinette Jones Arnaud. He married Elvina Armstrong and had two children: Adrienne Arnaud Narcisse and Lester James Arnaud Jr. Lester was the brother of Mrs. Eudora A. Haydel and Mr. Archie Arnaud. He was closely associated with D&H Drug Store and Shakespeare Drug Store. Lester Arnaud was a member of the Progressive Druggists Association and an active Alumnus of Xavier University’s Department of Pharmacy.
Wilbert Robichaux (1909-2002) Wilbert D. Robichaux, Jr., was born in New Orleans, graduated from Xavier’s Pharmacy School in 1930 and moved to New York City where he worked as a chemist for many years. Upon retiring, he moved back to his birthplace. He was the son of Wilbert and Marion Hite Robichaux. He was the husband of Audrey Coulon and later, Mildred deSarzant. He was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the Xavier University Alumni Association.
Oscar Bouise (1908-1993) Oscar Bouise was a graduate of Xavier’s Pharmacy School and the University of Michigan. He became an English professor at Xavier, Southern at Baton Rouge, and the University of New Orleans where he occupied the Marcus Christian Chair. He also received an honorary doctorate from Xavier and was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He was married to Louise Metoyer Bouise and was the father of Dr. Anne Bouise Ward and Joan Bouise.
Althemus Porche (Joseph A. Porche) (1909-1971) He was originally from Lake Charles and was a graduate of Sacred Heart High School. He was the son of Joseph Porche and Olivia Gabrielle Porche. He married Phoebe Davis in 1938 in New Orleans, but eventually relocated to Los Angeles. He had two daughters, based on the 1930 census; Paula and Sylvia Porche. If anyone can provide better factual information, please do so.
Pierre T. Graves (1904-1972) Pierre Theodore Graves was the son of Joseph J. Graves and Corinne Prudeaux. He was born and reared in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi before coming to Xavier to study Pharmacy. He eventually moved to Seattle, Washington with his wife Carmelite and three children: Francis, Errol, and Brenda.
Anna Cerre Montegut (1898-1930) Anna Rose Cerre was the daughter of Louis Cerre and Felicie Pujol. She was orphaned at an early age and was reared in a very cultured home by the Colin family in Trémé. She married a dentist, Dr. Ferdinand Montegut. They had one daughter, Annette Montegut Dumas, before Anna’s early death in 1930.
Hirell P. Lawes (1905-) Hirell P. Lawes graduated the following year (1931) with a pharmacy degree. She was a native of Washington, D.C. and the daughter of William and Lillian Lawes.
The days of the three-year pharmacy program have long since passed. As the years went by, so did the length of time students had to spend in preparation. By 1964, two years of pre-pharmacy and three years of professional studies became mandatory. By 1991, Xavier initiated its PharmD degree requiring two years of pre-pharmacy and four years of professional studies. Over the past 94 years, the College of Pharmacy has grown under the leadership of eight deans and one interim dean.
Through a generous gift of $12.5 million from the country of Qatar, a new state-of-the-art pharmacy building was erected in 2010 to meet the College’s growing needs. Its graduates today serve not only in traditional pharmacy practices but also nuclear pharmacy, research, ambulatory care, home infusion, and industry.
From its first graduating class of eight pharmacy students in 1930 to the class of 2021, in which students received the Doctor of Pharmacy degree, Xavier’s graduates serve with distinction in communities throughout the nation and around the world.
Sources:
A special thank you to Mr. Randall V. Schexnayder (Assistant Dean for Professionalism, College of Pharmacy, Xavier University) for his much-needed assistance with providing up-to-date information.
The Xavier Herald Commencement (1930) Yearbook, The Lighthouse Yearbook (1931), The Xavier Herald Yearbook (1932), Xavier University Archival Department; Obituaries taken from www.genealogybank.com The Times-Picayune 01 June 1972, 16 June1970, 13 May 1993, 10 Nov. 2002, Seattle Daily Times Sept. 1972; Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2015; Crescent City Pictorial, Amistad Research Center; U.S. Federal Census 1910-1930; New Orleans City Directory 1920-1940; “Remembering the Early Defunct African-American Pharmacy Schools.”
Lolita Villavasso Cherrie
WOW. This is very interesting. My dad Henry Julien, Sr. graduated in 1942., opened his own pharmacy. His was directly across from Flint Goodrich. The other pharmacist opened his in the 9th ward. I have two other cousins who are graduates of Xavier’s College of Pharmacy, Clytie Johnson Marchand, and Desiree Marchand. We’ve been trying to determine if Clytie was among the first females to actually graduate.
I didn’t know my mother’s sister Stella Brown was a pharmacy student at Xavier. She married a pharmacist, Aristide (Harry) Dejoie, was a talented seamstress, and later taught in New Orleans public schools. Thanks for the lovely photo.
How wonderful to see a picture of my father from 1927-the only picture I ever saw of him without mingled gray hair. He left the field of pharmacy to become the Registrar at Xavier University because pharmacists were only earning $7.00 per week.Thus began an academic career in the field of English literature, for which he became an expert. I was, and still am, so very proud to have been the daughter of this smart, talented, gentle man.
Your father was one of my favorite professors. I never knew he had a pharmacy degree. He was an English scholar who made learning so enjoyable. Richard Winder, MSW, XULA Class of 1969.
Like the previous comment, I did not know your Dad was a pharmacy graduate. He taught me 2nd semester freshman English and was probably the best teacher I ever had. I was a classmate of your husband, Grant, my freshman year at Xavier. I did Air Force Rady Reserve and Regular Air Force duty, then entered Southern University in my hometown school to complete my college education where I ran into your father Mr. Bouise. Your dad also taught my Mother and Father who were XU Grads of 1938. What a small world!!
Wow Anne, great history !
Hi Anne, Thank you for sending the additional information. So interesting !! I remember your dad from my years at Xavier. He was highly respected and gave so much to educating generations of young people. You should be proud!! …Lolita
A very interesting and informative read. My grandmother’s brother – Louis Peter Bucksell – was a pharmacist and owned three pharmacies around the state. During the depression, the day the banks closed was traumatic for many – especially Uncle Louis. When the banks re-opened, his account had been wiped out by the bank. He had some $14,000 in the bank at that point. A large sum of money for the time period. Many blacks experienced the same thing. He trained his wife – Gladys Bucksell – in pharmacy and she spent a lifetime in the field. Sorry you missed them. Do you have a Catholic bias? I notice that is generally where much of your history is concentrated. Otherwise, your research and information is interesting, informative and opens many eyes to history we all missed.
This is amazing. Audrey DuConge was a distant relative of mine. It’s sad that so many could not get hired in pharmacy.
Lolita,
It was a pleasure discussing your great article before publishing. As Pharmacy students Association (PSA) president I had the honor of pinning a carnation on Mr. Bouise (and Cheryl Mackie Byrd as Miss College of Pharmacy pinned Audrey Duconge) as they celebrated their 50th year of graduation from Xavier during our 1980 pharmacy graduation banquet. They were both very dedicated to their alternative careers, despite their previous obstacles in pharmacy.
Excellent article. I’m sure the individuals were difficult to trace.
Yes, Lionel, tracing the individuals was the hardest(most consuming) part of writing this article. Thanks…Lolita
Amazing History!!!
My Uncle by marriage,Althemus Porche did in fact marry my mom, Udine Davis Valteau’s sister Pheobe. They relocated to California shortly after marrying and had two daughters Sylvia Sue Porche Wholmut (deceased 2020) and Paula LaVerne Porche Wilcox (deceased 2000). I am in close contact with two of Sylvia’s children my second cousins and will try to get work history on my Uncle. I do remember when I was very young being told he and my Aunt moved to CA because he could not get employment in his field in LA. I believe worked as a Hospital Pharmacist until his heart condition became so severe he could no longer work.
Hi Eileen, I would really appreciate any information on Mr.Porche that you can find, especially pertaining to his occupation. I will add it to what I already have. You can also reach me at Lolitac454@aol.com. Thanks!!
Thank you Lolita. His grand daughter Colyn Wholmut is going to reach out. She remembers her mom, Sylvia telling her that he was First Black Pharmacist hired in Los Angeles at Thrifty which I believe was a Drug Store
I’m a retired pharmacist! I appreciate all the pharmacists who came before me and steered me in my path of pharmacy! Especially Xavier where my relatives attended pharmacy school! Amazing story!