Vigo County Historical Society

Dr. Sloss a "selfless servant"

With "Black History Month" near, I felt that we should honor the accomplishments of Terre Haute’s African-American Citizens.

I found quite a few people to honor when I discovered a booklet in our collection titled, "THE NEGRO IN TERRE HAUTE - 1863-1963 Emancipation Centennial, A Century of Progress."

This booklet was a result of two committees, a Centennial Committee and a Booklet Committee.

The Centennial Committee was chaired by the Rev. Edward Abbott. The Rev. William Brett was treasurer. Publicity was handled by the Rev. John Chironna. The Rev. Noel Hord was program chair. The remaining committee consisted of the Rev. Samuel P. Jones, Jr. and Demetrius Ewing. On the Booklet Committee, the following people served: John W. Lyda, Morton A. Lewis, Thelma Jett and Lee B. Jett. Other acknowledgments were: Don Turner for the cover, Thomas Pettigrew, Jeanette Anderson, Dorothy Harps, Jacquelyn Hatfield and Lena Johnson.

The last sentence in the introduction to the Health and Welfare section states, "To all these selfless servants of humanity, we owe so much." One of these selfless servants, Dr. I. Herman Sloss, M.D. is our Historical Treasure for today.

Sloss was born in Franklin, Ky., and received his medical education at Meharry College in Nashville, Tenn. He practiced medicine for a while in Princeton, Ky., before coming to Terre Haute in 1921. In 1950, he established his own hospital and clinic at 1029 S. Seventh St.

The Sloss Hospital flourished under his administration and in 1956 he received a Fort Foundation Award of $10,000, which was to be used for the betterment and expansion of his hospital.

He was a member of the Vigo County Medication Society, St. Paul’s Baptist Church, the Masonic Lodge of Tennessee, the Odd Fellows Lodge, the Woodmen of the World and the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People.

Dr. Sloss died Nov. 19, 1956, and is buried in Grandview Cemetery.