Clement T. Branch Village Dedication Program, September 27, 1941View transcription
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF DR. CLEMENT T. BRANCH
Branch Village was named for Dr. Clement T. Branch who was born in Farmville, Va., January 21, 1869. He died in Camden, November 29, 1933.
He was educated in the public schools of Farmville, Va., and received his college training at Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute, now Virginia State College. He studied medicine at Shaw University, Cornell University and Howard University, from which he graduated in 1900 and married Miss Bessie D. Avery, a school teacher, of Petersburg, Va., in 1903.
Dr. Branch began practicing medicine in Jersey City and came to Camden in 1902, where he practiced until his death. He rapidly reached the limelight in educational and civic as well as professional work. He was the first Colored Member of the Camden Board of Education in 1902, serving a term of three years. He was responsible for obtaining adequate Colored representation in the police and fire Departments of the city.
In 1912 he was a delegate from New Jersey to the "Bull Moose Convention" in Chicago.
Dr. Branch was responsible for the organization of the Hunton Branch Y. M. C. A., also the organization of the N. A. A. C. P. in Camden. He was chairman of the committee of management of the Hunton Branch until his death. He was always interested in Youth and in any movement that had the welfare of his race at heart.
Memorial services have been held by colored citizens of Camden on his birthday each year since his death.
He was educated in the public schools of Farmville, Va., and received his college training at Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute, now Virginia State College. He studied medicine at Shaw University, Cornell University and Howard University, from which he graduated in 1900 and married Miss Bessie D. Avery, a school teacher, of Petersburg, Va., in 1903.
Dr. Branch began practicing medicine in Jersey City and came to Camden in 1902, where he practiced until his death. He rapidly reached the limelight in educational and civic as well as professional work. He was the first Colored Member of the Camden Board of Education in 1902, serving a term of three years. He was responsible for obtaining adequate Colored representation in the police and fire Departments of the city.
In 1912 he was a delegate from New Jersey to the "Bull Moose Convention" in Chicago.
Dr. Branch was responsible for the organization of the Hunton Branch Y. M. C. A., also the organization of the N. A. A. C. P. in Camden. He was chairman of the committee of management of the Hunton Branch until his death. He was always interested in Youth and in any movement that had the welfare of his race at heart.
Memorial services have been held by colored citizens of Camden on his birthday each year since his death.
