Dr. Emma M. Richardson

DR. EMMA MILLER RICHARDSON was born June 5, 1861 in Gloucester City NJ to Peter and his wife, the former Mary Jones Ball. Her father was a carter. The family was living in Newton Township at the time of the 1870 Census. She was educated at Miss Padelford’s Private School in Camden, and apparently also in the Camden School system as well.

Emma Miller married Edward Augustus Richardson around 1877. Her husband, the son of William David Richardson and Celia Morrison, was a shoemaker, who went into shoe manufacturing with a factory at West and Clinton Streets in the 1880s. By 1880 the Millers were living in the 700 block of Chestnut Street in South Camden. Twin sons were there, George & William, born on February 7, 1878. Another son, Edward came in August of 1880.

While Edward A. Miller’s business seems to have prospered, the marriage did not. At some point the Millers divorced, a rare occurrence in those times. Rarer yet, Emma Miller Richardson went into the practice of medicine. She graduated from the N.J. Training School for Nurses in 1891, and the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1898. She initially was affiliated with the Polyclinic Hospital in Philadelphia, she also was appointed to the clinic at the Women’s Medical College, the clinic at the Camden Dispensary, and the Howard hospital.

The 1900 Census shows Dr. Richardson living with her three sons and practicing medicine at 751 Chestnut Street. By 1906 she had purchased a home at 581 Stevens Street. When the census was enumerated in 1910, son George was still living at home. A Josiah Seagraves, 38, was living there as well, providing clerical assistance to Dr. Richardson in her practice. Josiah Seagraves would remain in Dr. Richardson’s employ through 1930. By that time he was her chauffer.

At some point after she began her medical practice, Dr. Richardson founded the Mary J. Ball Day Nursery at 1743 Master Street in Camden’s Centerville neighborhood. Unfortunately, by 1921 Dr. Richardson, then 60, did not have the temperament for dealing with children, and she got into trouble with the law over her treatment of some children in her care. She surrendered the charter for the Day Nursery in the spring of 1922.

Dr. Richardson remained at 581 Stevens Street through 1924. She moved to 577 Stevens Street. By 1927 the house at 581 Stevens Street was the home of Clarence Fuhrman’s music school. Dr. Richardson apparently kept an interest in 581 Stevens Street, however, as a Dr. Frank M. Richardson was at that address in 1947.

When the Census was taken in 1930, Dr. Emma Richardson had moved, along with Josiah Seagraves, to 577 Stevens Street. A Henry Cleaver, 73 years old, also lived at that address, serving as a caretaker.

Dr. Emma Richardson passed away in 1952, survived by her three sons. She had been a member of the American Medical Association, the Camden County Medical Society, and the Camden City Medical Society.

Sawdust caused a fire at the Mary J. Ball Nursery, 1743 Master street, where there are forty-one small inmates. These were herded together by Dr. Emma J. Richardson and the matron, while the firemen extinguished the blaze.

Thanks go out to Jackie R. Harrington, for her help in creating this web-page.