Museum of Durham History Hosts Panel Discussion Honoring Joyce Clayton Thorpe Nichols at Library Fest 2025

Culminating Event for the '100 Years of Duke: Names to Remember' Exhibit

The Museum of Durham History is proud to present a special panel discussion 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, in collaboration with the Durham Library Foundation.

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.

For more information, visit modh.org or contact info@modh.org

100 Years of Duke: Names to Remember and Our History, Our Voice: Latinés at Duke are made possible with support from Duke University Centennial, First Horizon Foundation, The Forest at Duke, Fox Family Foundation, Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, Teer Family in honor of Nello L. Teer, Nello L. Teer Jr., and R. Dillard Teer, Ruth & Dr. Victor Dzau, and Duke Community Affairs, Copa Airlines, CT Wilson Construction, and Lucy & Bill Stokes.

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About the Museum of Durham History (MoDH)  Opened in 2013, the Museum of Durham History is an innovative 21st-century museum that uses stories about people, places and things to foster curiosity, encourage further exploration and promote an understanding of diverse perspectives about the Durham community and its history. The Museum is located at 500 W. Main St., in the heart of Durham’s vibrant downtown. The Museum is free of charge and open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday 12pm to 5pm. For more information, see modh.org.