Chesta Dillard Dean

Friends Intelligencer of Philadelphia Vol. 69, July 27, 1912 issue: "Chesta Dillard Dean was born on a little farm in Virginia in 1885, being the tenth child of Horace and Barbara Dillard. When she was 7 months old her father died, and soon afterward she went to live with an older sister in Jersey City, New Jersey. At the age of 14 she made her home with a married sister, Mrs. Walker C Thomas in Providence, Rhode Island. Here she later entered Brown University, but at the end of two years her sister's husband died and she was thrown upon her own resources."

Five years ago she came to Philadelphia, where as soon as she was able, she entered Temple College, from which she graduated in pharmacy in June, 1911. While studying at the Temple, whenever she found time which she was not required to work for her support, she practiced pharmacy in the Garretson Hospital dispensary, but could not get a sufficient number of hours to satisfy the State examining board in order to become a registered pharmacist. After graduation she tried unsuccessfully to secure a position in a drugstore as clerk, so as to get the required experience. Finally with the assistance of her sister, who had married again, she purchased a drugstore of twenty-five years standing, at the corner of 16th and Christian streets, facing Cherry Memorial Church. She now enjoys the distinction of being, out of three colored druggist owning a store in the city. She employs a registered pharmacist and a student pharmacist and will be ready for her State board examination in June 1912.

Dean's photo appeared in the 1912 "Who's Who in Philadelphia: A Collection of Thirty Biographical Sketches of Philadelphia Colored People," By Charles Frederick White