The University of Colorado School of Medicine was launched in 1883. The new medical school, despite the sentiments about co-ed medical education at the time, did offer medical school admission to “all persons of either sex.” There was no such provision for African Americans. Though the early female students may not have been welcomed with open arms, the first female graduated in 1891. However, it was over 4 more decades, 1947, before CU School of Medicine graduated the first African American student, Dr. Charles J. Blackwood. He was featured in the CU Alumnus magazine on stage with Dr. Florence Sabin with a caption that described him as the first “Negro” graduate.