TIMELINE
Here is a timeline that goes through some important dates relevant to before, during and after the experiment. It also shows the process of identifying treatments for syphilis, to just just how lacking the experiment was in adequately giving even the smallest amount of treatment to its patients.
1850 - Most good land was "farmed out", hurting Macon County economy and increasing poverty
1881 - Tuskegee Institute founded by Booker T. Washington in Alabama
1917 - Rosenwald Fund was founded, the fund that backed the Tuskegee experiment
1921 – Sazerac, Levaditi, Fournier treat syphilis with bismuth
1926 - Syphilis noted as major health problem in the U.S; 35% prevalence
1928 – Published Oslo Study: reported on natural history of untreated syphilis in WHITE males; racism at the time made physicians think it would follow a different course in African American males
1929 – Treatment approach for syphilis with mercury and bismuth
1930 - Population lowered from 27,103 to 22,320, average income being one 1-2 dollars a day in Macon County; the county was quite desperate for assistance
1932 – 6 month program starts to view untreated syphilis in men in Macon County; Tuskegee Experiment begins
1933 – The study gained more funds and continued
1940 - Census showed amount of poverty in Macon County; no electricity, no toilets, no running water
1943 – Penicillin introduced as treatment
1972 – News article breaks about the Tuskegee study; study ends
1973 – Congressional hearings of those involved and affected by the study
1974 - A $10 million out-of-court settlement is reached giving lifetime medical benefits and burial services to all living participants; settlements also for family members affected
2001 – President’s Council on Bioethics established
2001-02 – Tuskegee Center created first exhibit, named official visitor center of Macon County
2004 – Last survivor dies, Ernest Hendon
1881 - Tuskegee Institute founded by Booker T. Washington in Alabama
1917 - Rosenwald Fund was founded, the fund that backed the Tuskegee experiment
1921 – Sazerac, Levaditi, Fournier treat syphilis with bismuth
1926 - Syphilis noted as major health problem in the U.S; 35% prevalence
1928 – Published Oslo Study: reported on natural history of untreated syphilis in WHITE males; racism at the time made physicians think it would follow a different course in African American males
1929 – Treatment approach for syphilis with mercury and bismuth
1930 - Population lowered from 27,103 to 22,320, average income being one 1-2 dollars a day in Macon County; the county was quite desperate for assistance
1932 – 6 month program starts to view untreated syphilis in men in Macon County; Tuskegee Experiment begins
1933 – The study gained more funds and continued
1940 - Census showed amount of poverty in Macon County; no electricity, no toilets, no running water
1943 – Penicillin introduced as treatment
1972 – News article breaks about the Tuskegee study; study ends
1973 – Congressional hearings of those involved and affected by the study
1974 - A $10 million out-of-court settlement is reached giving lifetime medical benefits and burial services to all living participants; settlements also for family members affected
- The Tuskegee Health Benefit Program (THBP) was established to provide these services.
2001 – President’s Council on Bioethics established
2001-02 – Tuskegee Center created first exhibit, named official visitor center of Macon County
2004 – Last survivor dies, Ernest Hendon