Early Life Gallery

Dr. John H. Lowery
ca. 1930

Dr. John H. Lowery

Dr. John H. Lowery was born in Plaquemine, Louisiana, on October 24, 1861. Dr. Lowery was married twice. He and his first wife, Elizabeth Conway, had two daughters, Williana L. Watkins and Evelyn L. Brazier. Mrs. Evelyn L. Brazier was the wife of Dr. John Sidney Brazier.

In his second marriage to Mary L. Brown, Dr. Lowery produced one daughter, Dr. Mary L. Munson Runge. Dr. Mary L. Munson Runge became the first African American and female President of the California and American Pharmaceutical Association.  Click here to view her obiturary.

John & Elizabeth Lowery
Source: Lowery Family Reunion Book

John & Elizabeth Lowery

Dr. John Lowery was the son of John Harvey & Elizabeth C. Lowery. John Harvey Lowery (1834-1907) and Elizabeth C. Lowery (1835-1919) had thirteen children.

John Harvey was a bricklayer and Elizabeth Lowery was a midwife. Elizabeth’s midwife certificate is on view at the museum.

Benevolent Societies 

Dr. Lowery was the Secretary of the Endowment Department of the District Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows. In this organization, he earned the distinction as the Past Noble Father. 

Dr. Lowery was also a member of the District Grand Lodge of Grand General Independent Order of Brothers and Sisters of Charity North America, South America, Liberia and Adjacent Islands. On October 10, 1928, the organization held their annual meeting at True Friends Hall in Donaldsonville, LA.

Dr. John H. Lowery District Grand Lodge of 

Odd Fellows Ceremonial Sash

True Friends Hall

Donaldsonville, Louisiana

The Physician Gallery

Education & Medical School
Dr. Lowery studied medicine at Flint Goodridge Hospital. He graduated from New Orleans University Medical College on February 21, 1894. 

New Orleans University Medical College Diploma

Dr. Lowery's Medical Office
Louisiana Square
Donaldsonville, LA
November 9, 2013

Medical Office

This restored shotgun-style house was once the medical office of Dr. Lowery. Dr. Lowery’s office was originally located on the corner of Charles Street and Railroad Avenue. 

The office is currently located in Louisiana Square in Donaldsonville, LA.

Dr. Lowery's Medical Cabinet

Metal

Medical Practice

Dr. Lowery opened his medical practice in Donaldsonville, Louisiana becoming one of the first African American doctors in Ascension Parish.

Dr. Lowery's office telephone number was 309. He practiced medicine in Donaldsonville from 1894 to 1941.

Dr. Lowery’s Medical Office Telephone 

Electric Rotary Phone 

c. 1930

The Planter

The Planter Gallery

Flood of 1927

In 1927, some of the parishes along the Mississippi River were overwhelmed by massive flooding. The Great Flood of 1927 killed approximately 247 people and displaced over 600,000 residents along the Mississippi river.

1927 Mississippi River flood Hamburg, Louisiana 

Department of Special Collections, University of Chicago Library 

1927

New Africa Farm

According to the 1927 Proceedings of the Executive Session of the General Grand Independent Order of Brothers and Sisters of Love and Charity of North and South America, Liberia and Adjacent Islands 

“the death rates for the year have run high but with strong firm position in this department we have been able to take proper care of all of our Burial Claims as they fall due; with a strong balance still on hand.”

The prosperity of the organization was due to the diligence of Dr. Lowery and the growth of New Africa Farm, in Modeste, LA.

New Africa Farm

In 1933, four years after the Great Depression, Dr. Lowery purchased New Africa Farm from the General Grand Independent Order of Brothers and Sisters of Love and Charity of North and South America, Liberia, and Adjacent Islands for the amount of $17,500. This 450-acre farm gave jobs to more than 200 African Americans in the rural community.

New Africa Farm was also the place where Leonard Julien invented the sugarcane planting machine. Mr. Julien lived on and managed New Africa Farm from 1933 to 1973. The farm was disassembled in 2009 due to a lack of funding for the restoration and the moving of the building.

Leonard Julien and his sugarcane planting machine

The Philanthropist

Dr. Lowery used his wealth to invest in the children of Donaldsonville, Louisiana.

Modeste School

Dr. Lowery donated the land for a school in Modeste, a rural community between Donaldsonville and White Castle, Louisiana. He also paid the salaries of the teachers for a year!

Lowery High School
Prof Eoland
Donaldsonville, Louisiana
February 14,  1944

Lowery Schools

Dr. Lowery’s generous and numerous contributions to the community resulted in several schools be named in his honor, including Lowery Training School, Lowery High School (renamed in 1969), and Lowery Middle School.

Lowery High School 

Commencement Program Cover

Donaldsonville, LA

1961

Our Family Physician

Dr. Lowery owned a mercantile department store and a pharmacy on Railroad Avenue. He became one of Ascension Parish’s wealthiest citizens, owning over 50 pieces of property within the historic district of Donaldsonville.

Dr. John Lowery died at Flint-Goodridge Hospital in New Orleans, La., on September 25, 1941.

Our Family Physician; A Plain, Practical and Reliable 

Guide to the Detection and Treatment of All the 

Diseases Common to This Country 

c. 1885

Physician, Planter & Philanthropist: Dr. John H. Lowery Historical Timeline

Physician, Planter & Philanthropist: Dr. John Lowery Educator's Guide

Dear Educator,

In the 19th century, many medical schools were closed to African Americans in the South and to a lesser degree in the North. Because of discrimination in the field of medicine, numerous African American physicians received their medical degrees abroad. Fortunately, black medical schools developed at Howard University, Meharry Medical College, and New Orleans University.

On Saturday, March 12, 2005, the River Road African American Museum commemorated the achievements of Dr. John H. Lowery, Dr. Sidney Brazier, Dr. Luther C. Speight, Dr. Ulysses G. Dailey, Dr. John Watkins, Dr. Feastor R. Dean, Dr. Leo S. Butler, Dr. Ernest N. Ezidore, and Dr. Emma Wakefield.

We are pleased to introduce you to Physician, Planter & Philanthropist: Dr. John H. Lowery, an online exhibition that illustrates the life of Dr. John H. Lowery. This exhibition features some of the items on view in our Rural Black Doctors permanent exhibit at the museum. The board, staff members, and volunteers of the River Road African American are so excited that you are supporting the museum’s educational mission by viewing and using this online exhibition in your classroom. Please enjoy the artifacts, documents, and oral histories and adapt them to your specific needs.

I hope that you will find this educator’s guide and exhibition useful and we look forward to welcoming you and your students to the River Road African American Museum.



Sincerely,

Kathe Hambrick Jackson
Founder & Executive Director, RRAAM

To download a copy of the educator's guide, click here.