Andrew J. Armstrong

(1862-1961)

In the 1920s, African American community leaders across the country turned their attention to healthcare. American hospitals gave African American health professionals no opportunity to practice or train and excluded African American patients. Responding to this situation, African American leaders began "making a place for themselves" by establishing African American controlled hospitals.On December 12, 1922, A. J. Armstrong, W. I. Brown, J. H. Kelly, Dr. C. E. Jones, Rev.

W. R Lampley, J. H. Sanders, and Albert Wright signed the charter of incorporation for the Maury County Colored Hospital which evolved out of a critical need to provide medical care for African Americans in Maury and surrounding counties.

Maury County Colored Hospital remained in good standing with the Tennessee State Medical Board until it closed in 1954 when Maury County Regional Hospital opened with the promise to create a wing for African Americans.Andrew J. Armstrong was the general manager of the Maury County Colored Hospital and co-owned and operated the People’s Drug Store. Armstrong graduated from Roger Williams University with a degree in pharmacy.

Information provided by Jo Ann McClellan, Maury County Historian and Founder & President of the African American Heritage Society of Maury County