Arthur Leo Curtis MD
Son of Austin Maurice Curtis MD and Namahyoka Gertrude Sockum
Born 26 Jul 1889 in Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois
Died 28 Jun 1936 in [Washington, District of Columbia]
Doctor-Surgeon, 1920; Doctor-Hospital, 1930
Married 17 Jun 1916 in [Washington, District of Columbia] to Helen Gordon
Born 05 Jun 1891 in Washington, District of Columbia
Notes
- Arthur's age in the census records: in 1900, age 10 (b. Jul 1889); in 1910, age 20; in 1920, age 30;
in 1930, age 37 [sic].
- In 1920 Arthur owned a house, free from mortgage.
- In 1930 Arthur owned a house valued at $9000.
- African American Heritage Trail Database: Corrigan v. Buckley Site, Location: 1727 S Street, NW:
Irene Corrigan, owner of this property, attempted in 1922 to sell her house to Helen Curtis and her husband
Dr. Arthur Curtis, both African American. One year earlier, the majority of the block's white residents,
including Corrigan, had signed an agreement, or covenant, that they would not sell or rent their properties
to African Americans. When Corrigan tried to sell her house to the Curtises, a neighbor asked the District Supreme Court
to enforce the covenant and prevent the sale. The court agreed. Corrigan and Curtis took their appeal to the U.S.
Supreme Court, which in 1926 declined to hear the case on the grounds that the constitutional amendments cited by
Corrigan and Curtis, including the 14th Amendment that prohibited race-based discrimination, were applicable to action
by states only, not by individuals. The lower court ruling stood, and Corrigan could not sell to Curtis.
Covenants were enforced legally for the next 20-plus years.
Source: U.S. Supreme Court, Corrigan et al. v. Buckley, 271 U.S. 323 (1926).
- Arthur was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia: Section 4 Site 2986-B
Arthur L Curtis / 1ST LT MED CORPS US ARMY
Sources
- 1900 - U.S. Census, District of Columbia,
Washington, E.D. 147, Sheet No. 1 [=175A], 1-1, Freedmen's Hospital, 06 Jun 1900
- 1910 - U.S. Census, District of Columbia,
Washington City, Precinct 8, E.D. 151, Sheet No. 9A [=187], 132-174, 1939 13th St NW, 21-22 Apr 1910
- 1920 - U.S. Census, District of Columbia,
Washington City, Precinct 8, E.D. 181, Sheet No. 2A [=156], 25-31, 1717 You St NW, 02 Jan 1920
- 1930 - U.S. Census, District of Columbia,
Washington City, Precinct 8, E.D. 201, Sheet No. 8B [=95 verso], [x]-[x], 1717 You St NW, 07 Apr 1930