{"nrhp_refnum":"11000642","name":"Atkinson, Clement, Memorial Hospital","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"822-824 E. Chestnut St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Coatesville City","county":"Chester County","state":"PA","lat":39.988842059000035,"lon":-75.80818178899995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"2011-09-08","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Black","Health/Medicine"],"significance_levels":["state"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A former hospital and residence complex at 822 East Chestnut Street in Coatesville, Chester County, Pennsylvania, combining a Colonial Revival house and a hospital wing with later additions. It was built starting in 1932 by Dr. Whittier Clement Atkinson and operated as a hospital for African American and white patients until 1977.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the complex is significant for its role as one of the few hospitals providing medical care to African Americans in Pennsylvania before the 1970s, and as one of only three known black-owned health facilities in the state. It is also linked to Dr. Atkinson, a physician and community leader who worked against segregation and supported African American medical professionals.","narrative":"Built in 1932 in Coatesville, this red brick complex combines a Colonial Revival house with a one-story hospital wing that was enlarged to two stories in 1937, with further additions in 1955, 1962 and 1969. Dr. Whittier Clement Atkinson opened the four-bed hospital that year for African American patients, who were largely refused care at Coatesville Hospital. It remained open until 1977, serving poor and needy African American and white residents through the 1960s and early 1970s. The hospital was one of only three known black-owned health facilities in Pennsylvania and offered training and practice opportunities to African American physicians and nurses. Its significance lies in providing care during an era of segregation, and in its association with Dr. Atkinson, who also led civic organizations and served on state hospital study commissions. The building retains its combed brick veneer and original window and entrance details.","period_of_significance":"1932-1977","architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":"Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Colonial Revival","criteria":["A","B"],"status_note":"Hospital closed in 1977; the complex was later adapted to become the W. C. Atkinson Memorial Community Center and Apartments, c. 1991.","vacant_flag":null,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-haiku-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.1-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 17:10:27.108963-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_PA/11000642.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/11000642/960b64c799-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/11000642/960b64c799-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"JERRYE &amp; ROY KLOTZ MD","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CLEMENT_ATKINSON_MEMORIAL_HOSPITAL.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">JERRYE &amp;amp; ROY KLOTZ MD</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CLEMENT_ATKINSON_MEMORIAL_HOSPITAL.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71995089","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clement_Atkinson_Memorial_Hospital","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5131284"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/pennsylvania/chester-county/atkinson-clement-memorial-hospital-11000642/"}