Panel Discussion Honoring Joyce Clayton Thorpe Nichols at Library Fest 2025
The Museum of Durham History is proud to present a special panel discussion (FREE and open to the public) honoring the legacy of Joyce Clayton Thorpe Nichols (1940-2012), the first female Physician Assistant (PA) in the United States and a tireless advocate for fair housing, healthcare, and social justice. This fireside chat will take place on Saturday, April 12, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Durham County Main Library (300 N. Roxboro St.) as part of Library Fest 2025: North Carolina Edition.
The panel will be moderated by Mayme Webb Bledsoe, Assistant Vice President of Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership & Community Development and Chair of the Durham Housing Authority. Panelists will include members of Nichols’ family, who will share personal stories, reflections, and insights into her extraordinary life and impact.
Joyce Clayton Thorpe Nichols, known as “Joyce Ann” to loved ones and “Mama” to her community, never let obstacles stand in her way. A trailblazer in the 1960s fair housing movement, the first female PA in the 1970s, and a Durham Housing Authority Commissioner in the 1980s, Nichols dedicated her life to uplifting others.
The discussion will explore key moments in Nichols’ life, including:
– Fair Housing Advocacy: In 1965, Nichols challenged the Durham Housing Authority after facing an unjust eviction from McDougald Terrace. Her legal battle resulted in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that strengthened tenant rights in federally funded housing.
– Breaking Barriers in Medicine: In 1970, after persistent attempts to gain admission, Nichols became the first woman to graduate from Duke University’s PA program, defying expectations and paving the way for future generations.
– Community Healthcare Leadership: Nichols played a pivotal role in establishing rural healthcare clinics in North Carolina and expanding healthcare access at Lincoln Community Health Center, where she served for 23 years.
The discussion will touch on the history of Lincoln Hospital and Lincoln Community Health Center, institutions critical to Durham’s Black community, and Nichols’ instrumental role in shaping their impact.
Family members will share their personal memories of Nichols, reflecting on her resilience, warmth, and unwavering sense of justice. They will recount childhood stories of her determination, how she balanced raising a family while fighting for civil rights, and the wisdom she passed down through generations. Through these heartfelt anecdotes, attendees will gain a deeper appreciation for Nichols as not just a historical figure, but a beloved mother, grandmother, and mentor whose lessons continue to inspire.
“They opened the door, and it was up to me to take advantage of it. And that’s what I did.”
– Joyce Clayton Thorpe Nichols
This event is free and open to the public. Join the Museum of Durham History and the Durham County Library in celebrating the life and legacy of a woman who refused to take ‘no’ for an answer and changed the course of history. This event is part of the programming for the Museum’s 100 Years of Duke: Names to Remember, on display at 500 West Main Street until late April 2025.