Frank H. Parker, M.D. & Marian Parker - Boston, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 21.496 W 071° 03.794
19T E 330086 N 4691617
A tablet honoring Frank H. Parker, M.D. and his wife Marian Parker is located in Nurses Hall in the Massachusetts State House at 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA.
Waymark Code: WMN2XN
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 12/15/2014
Views: 5
In July 1905, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts purchased the island of Penikese in Buzzards Bay to establish a colony for Massachusetts, mostly immigrant, residents suffering from leprosy. In 1907 Dr. Frank H. Parker gave up his private practice to accept the position of superintendent of the facility. In 1921, the state’s lepers were moved to federal leprosy hospital in Carville, Louisiana and the leper colony at Penikese was closed. The buildings were burned then dynamited to remove all trace of the hospital. The cemetery was abandoned.
A bronze plaque honoring the heroic work of Dr. Frank H. Parker is located in Nurses Hall of the Massachusetts State House. The plaque is inscribed:
IN HONOR OF
FRANK H. PARKER, M.D.
SUPERINTENDENT
PENIKESE HOSPITAL, BUZZARDS BAY
1907 - 1921
AND HIS WIFE MARIAN PARKER
FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE
IN THE CARE AND TREATMENT
OF THOSE WITH LEPROSY
GIVEN ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL COMMONWEALTH
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
The Massachusetts State House is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm. All visitors must enter through the General Hooker entrance.