College Education and Work in the Medical Lab

After graduating from Grinnell High School she attended Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee in 1920. She faced discrimination while attending Fisk University, and decided to leave the University.

In 1924 she decided to continue her studies at the University of Iowa. She graduated from the University of Iowa. While attending the University of Iowa, she served as the president of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority supports public service programs that benefit the African American community. Helen graduated from the University of Iowa in 1928.

During the 1940’s Helen worked as a research technician in the Department of Internal Medicine, at the UI College of Medicine. Dr. Elmer DeGowIn hired Helen to work in his medical research laboratory. She worked in Dr. Elmer DeGowin’s lab that was doing pioneering research in blood preservation, storage and transfusion. This lab helped create blood typing procedures, transfusion techniques and developed methods to transport and safely store blood. This research was put to use on battlefields during World War II. Because of the research conducted at this lab, blood transfusions and blood bank storage practices were in place to support soldiers on the battlefield. Dr. DeGowin created the Shock and Transfusion Service in 1942 for the U.S. Army and Navy.

Helen Lemme work at Dr. Gowin Blood Bank Lab at the Univerity of Iowa Medical School

The Univerity of Iowa DeGowin Blood Bank Reserach Lab Where Helen Lemme Worked in the 1940's.

The University of Iowa Dr. DeGowin Blood Bank Research Lab

Article about the University of Iowa Dr. DeGowin Blood Bank Research Lab Where Helen Lemme Worked as a Medical Research Assistant

Article on the University of Iowa Medical School Dr. DeGowin's Blood Bank Reserach Lab Where Helen Lemme Worked as a Medical Research Assistant

Article about the University of Iowa Medical Dr. DeGowin Blood Bank Reserach Lab Where Helen Lemme Worked as a Medical Reseracher

paper about Dr.DeGowin and the blood bank

Article on the University of Iowa Medical School Dr. DeGowin Blood Bank

University of Iowa Article about Dr. DeGowin's Blood Bank Where Helen Lemme Worked in the 1940's.

Article about the Brass Scales Used in the University of Iowa Medical School Dr. DeGowin Blood Bank Research Lab.

Helen Lemme in the University of Iowa Blood Bank Medical Reserach Lab in the 1940's.

Photograph of Helen Lemme in the University of Iowa Medical School Dr. DeGowin's Blood Bank Reserach Lab in the 1940's.

Photograph of Helen Lemme in the Medical Research Lab