PEOPLE: Dr. Thomas Elkins was a 19th century African American who dedicated his life to helping mankind have and enjoy a better life
AGN.News Team
April 14, 2023
ALBANY, NY (AGN.News) – Dr. Thomas Elkins (1818-1900) lived in Albany, New York most of his life. Dr. Elkins was a very accomplished African American citizen of the United States.
His achievements and individual success in various disciplines during the 19th century are a matter of record and benefit almost everyone today.
Dr. Thomas Elkins was an African American dentist, abolitionist, surgeon, pharmacist, and inventor who change the lives of Americans everywhere then and now.
He studied medicine, surgery, and dentistry under the personal direction of master educators during the time when many people went to Albany Medical College which was founded in 1839.
Dr. Thomas Elkins as an abolitionist
In the 1840s, Dr. Elkins joined the Albany Vigilance Committee, serving as its secretary in the 1850s. During this time he played a significant role in support of the underground railroad in Albany when African Americans were still enslaved up to the mid 1860s.
Elkins used his personal resources as an abolitionist to aid these enslaved Americans in escaping the institution of slavery – he helped them escape to Canada. In Canada they were free.
The abolitionist group, Albany Vigilance Committee, passed out flyers and posters in 1856 to help raise funds to help these victims of slavery to escape. As secretary, Elkins was in charge of this effort.
The Albany Vigilance Committee asked people to donate and help cover travel expenses (food, medical, legal aid, and more) of fugitive slaves.
In Albany, other abolitionist leaders gave support to the cause. One of such leaders was Stephen Myers, a former slave, and publisher of the Northern Star and Freeman’s Advocate newspapers (1842-1843) in Albany.
Dr. Thomas Elkins during the Civil War
During the American Civil War, Dr. Elkins volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army. He was appointed by Governor John A. Andrew to serve as the medical examiner for the famed African American 54th and 55th Massachusetts infantry regiments.
Both regiments were commanded by white officers. These officers, for the most part, came from abolitionist families who wanted the institution of slavery to end.
These courageous Union commanders led the 54th and 55th Massachusetts infantry in many battles against the Confederate Army – who ultimately lost the war, and surrendered to the Union.
Dr. Elkins as a successful inventor
Having served honorably in the U.S. Army as a medical examiner, Dr. Elkins turned his attention to becoming an inventor. On February 22, 1870, Elkins invented and patented (U.S. Patent number 100.020) a table that could serve for dining, ironing, and as a quilting frame.
On January 9, 1872, he patented the design for an improved “chamber commode” (U.S. Patent number 122.518). This invention combined several pieces of furniture into one item, and featured a bureau, mirror, bookshelf, washstand, table, easy-chair, and earth-closet or chamber-stool.
After being a medical examiner in the United States Army during the 1860s civil war, he was undoubtedly motivated to become an inventor of a better cooling device. The need for a cooler environment to examine the many corpses of soldiers, gave him the idea to improve refrigeration to cool food and bodies.
So, he invented an apparatus aimed at improving refrigeration of “articles liable for decay” such as “food, or human corpses.” His patent was approved on November 4, 1879. This invention was quickly put to use in the 19th century, especially in large cities where his invention was far better than existing cooling techniques.
Dr. Thomas Elkins life and legacy
His former property at 188 Livingston Avenue in Albany, New York is currently owned and operated by the Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc.
They also own the Stephen Myers home and others from the era. These properties continues to highlight his life and the lives of others from the 19th century.
In 1880, the New York Agriculture Society awarded Dr. Elkins a certificate of “highest merit” for his idea and patent of the cooling device.
During his life, Dr. Thomas Elkins traveled to many places including the west African country of Liberia. As he traveled internationally, he hoped to help change lives.
Elkins passed away on August 10, 1900 at the age of 82. He never married and had no children but he left an enduring legacy of making the world a better place than it was when he was born.
We owe a lot of gratitude and thanks to the amazing Dr. Thomas Elkins.
Thanks to his determination to improve the lives of people everywhere, we have better lives today. All of us enjoy the fruits of his self-sacrificing labor in one way or another.
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