Lawless, Theodore Kenneth (1892-1971), an African American physician, became known for his work in the field of dermatology. He helped develop treatments for lesions (skin changes) resulting from the use of arsenic in the treatment of syphilis. Lawless also was a successful businessman and worked actively for many civic organizations.
Lawless was born on Dec. 6, 1892, in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He received his medical degree from Northwestern University. He did postgraduate study at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and also at hospitals in Europe. He taught dermatology at Northwestern from 1924 to 1941. In 1954, Lawless was awarded the Spingarn Medal, the highest honor given by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He died on May 1, 1971.
