“Ida P. (Hagan) Whitaker” State Historical Marker to be dedicated in Ferdinand
A new Indiana state historical marker commemorating Ida (Hagan) Whitaker will be dedicated on Saturday, May 31. The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony, which will take place at the corner of 11th and Main streets in Ferdinand at 11 a.m. (ET). Parking is available alongside the streets in the area.
The new historical marker highlights Ida (Hagan) Whitaker’s work as a postmaster and pharmacist and examines the history of the Pinkston Settlement near Ferdinand. It is sponsored by the Ferdinand Historical Society and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.
Dr. John Clark will be a special guest at Saturday’s event.
Dr. Clark is Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacotherapeutics and Clinical Research and Director of Culture and Climate Programs at the University of South Florida (USF) Taneja College of Pharmacy in Tampa.
Clark is a vocal advocate for the creation of culturally competent healthcare systems as a means to address racial and ethnic disparities. In 1996, he organized a series of regional seminars on the roles of pharmacists in the treatment and prevention of diabetes. He was also instrumental for several years in the planning and implementation of the ABHP Minority Health Conference, which explored health literacy, medication adherence, use of health information technology, and medication management of conditions such as diabetes, renal disease, prostate cancer, and HIV/AIDS.
A past president of the Association of Black Health-Systems Pharmacists (ABHP), Clark played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s influence on minority healthcare issues, including the establishment of the ABHP Research and Education Foundation. In 2005, Clark led an effort to increase collaboration between ABHP and the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) on matters of mutual interest, including reducing health disparities and increasing ethnic and cultural diversity in the workplace. The partnership resulted in a series of educational sessions at ASHP’s Midyear Clinical Meeting and the development of the Joint Leadership Award.
A widely published author and sought-after speaker, Clark’s current projects include a historical review of the contributions of African American women in pharmacy and an analysis of the ways early, and now defunct, African American pharmacy schools impacted health disparities. His work on black pharmacy history has gotten both national and international attention. He supplied advice and research items for one of the first African American pharmacy exhibition at the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum. He has presented Black pharmacy history topics to healthcare professionals in Lithuania, Italy, and most recently Canada.
We asked Dr. Clark a few questions about Ms. Hagan’s legacy and the recognition she is receiving by the State of Indiana.
What aspects of Ms. Hagan’s accomplishments do you find inspiring?
There are several aspects of Ms. Hagan’s accomplishments that I find inspiring. She was able to do something that most Black people would not have been able to do during the early part of her life. She worked in a pharmacy, a physician’s office, and served as a Deputy Postmaster. Whether she knew it or not, she modeled herself in a way like my mother always did for me and the community where I grew up in the South. She did something that mattered to others. She took care of the home and family of people, and she mattered to them. She worked in a pharmacy and served the people and community in a way that I believe matters to them. She led a group of women in the Ladies Auxiliary of the Brotherhood of Sleep Car Porters. From behind the scenes, they proved to be crucial while taking care of their husbands and friends with vital support, financial resources, and critical information. Her core qualities, which I believe included resiliency, integrity, courage, and a strong psychological capacity to endure and succeed. I am inspired by her story and the role model that she was and still is today. Her legacy is not so much about what she accomplished, but that she “matter to others.”
Are there parts of her life and professional journey that you can relate to or see reflected in your own or others?
I never dreamed of becoming a pharmacist. I do not think Ida did either. Ida was inspired by someone who gave her the opportunity to realize her full potential. Like me, none of her ancestors were college-educated. One difference that was noticeable to me is that she went to primary school with white students, whereas I attended segregated schools in Mississippi, and we both seem to have navigated the “Jim Crow” legal system. I often felt excluded from opportunities to learn, grow, and make a difference, but I always felt that if given a fair chance to make a difference, I would, and I have. I believe Ida Hagan felt the same way. She dealt with her surroundings, but did not lose her vision of what she wanted to do in life.
Why is it important for you to be part of this weekend’s event?
There are several reasons it is important to be a part of this ceremonial event. Only a few Black female pharmacists from the late 19th and early 20th century have been honored by either a state or nationally. Most publications and literature have not honored Black female pharmacists. While most attention has focused on Black physicians, nurses, chemists, educators, and scientists, less attention has been given to Black pharmacists. Celebrating the accomplishment and legacy of Ida Hagan not only highlights the significant impact of Black professionals and women on healthcare, but it also acknowledges their contributions that may have been historically overlooked or underappreciated.
A token in the field of pharmacy at one point, however, today, Ida Pricilla Hagan can be seen as a pioneer, a trailblazer, and a waymaker. Although her time and place may have been different from the other “firsts,” I look forward to being a part of the event to help applaud her for leaving “footprints in the sands” for so many of us to follow.
The marker honoring Ms. Hagan reads:
“Ida Hagan grew up in the Pinkston Settlement, a free Black community west of Ferdinand. In 1904, local physician Dr. Alois Wollermann appointed her deputy postmaster of the Ferdinand Post Office at age 16, at a time when few professional opportunities existed for Black women. This drew intense local resistance and national attention. She became acting postmaster in 1912. After completing Winona Technical Institutes’ pharmacy course, Hagan earned her license in 1909, practicing in Ferdinand, Indianapolis, and Gary. She married and moved to Detroit by 1930. There, she participated in many organizations, most notably serving as president of the city’s Ladies Auxiliary of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, a leading Black labor union.”
Author Glenda Steele has created this webpage to describe many of Ms. Hagan’s achievements.
Here is a story we did on Ms. Hagan.
State historical markers commemorate significant individuals, organizations, places, and events in Indiana history. These markers help communities throughout the state promote, preserve, and present their history for the education and enjoyment of residents and tourists of all ages. For over 100 years, the Indiana Historical Bureau, a division of the Indiana State Library, has been marking Indiana history. Since 1946, the marker format has been the large roadside marker, which has the familiar dark blue background with gold lettering and the outline of the state of Indiana at the top. Over 750 of these markers have been installed over the years. This marker is the fifth state historical marker to be installed in Dubois County. For a listing of all markers in Dubois County and statewide, click here.
For more information about the Indiana Historical Marker Program, including details on this marker, a listing of other markers in the state, or other resources about Indiana history, visit the Indiana Historical Bureau’s website at http://www.IN.gov/history or call 317-232-2535. For more information regarding community events surrounding the dedication of the Ida P. (Hagan) Whitaker State Historical Marker, contact Kathy Tretter with the Ferdinand News at ferdnews@psci.net or marker applicant Glenda Steele at gtjsteele@gmail.com.
