Melissa Evelyn Thompson Coppin (c. 1878 – September 27, 1940) was an American physician. Coppin was the tenth African American woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. She was also known for the creation of the children's welfare group, the Women's Christian Alliance (WCA).
Melissa Evelyn Thompson was born around 1878.[1] When she graduated from the Women's Medical College (now the Medical College of Pennsylvania) in 1900, and she became the tenth African American woman in the United States to earn a medical degree.[2][3]
In August 1914, Coppin married African Methodist Episcopal Church Bishop Levi J. Coppin.[4] Her husband's wedding present to her was a new car, and which the couple used to drive to their honeymoonatCape May.[4] Melissa Thompson Coppin was Levi's third wife and together, they had one daughter, Theodosia.[5] Levi died in 1924.[5]
After the end of World War I, Coppin felt there was a need to create a place for young African American women and families who were migrating into the city.[2] Coppin founded the Women's Christian Alliance (WCA) as a child welfare agency, daycare and shelter in Philadelphia in 1919.[6][2] Coppin's sister, Dr. Syrene Elizabeth Thompson Benjamin, was involved with WCA until 1927, when the sisters disagreed over the "direction of the agency."[7]
Coppin died on September 27, 1940.[8]
