Roberts Clinic: A Landmark of Care in Austin
historic place
The Roberts Clinic, located in Austin, Travis County, Texas, is a historic Colonial Revival building completed in 1937. It was conceived by Dr. Edward L. Roberts and constructed by architect John R. Bingham. The clinic was the first medical facility in Austin established to provide hospital rooms and care exclusively for Black patients during the Jim Crow era. Dr. Roberts opened this facility to offer treatment for acute and chronic illnesses, preventive care, minor surgeries, and labor and delivery services to Austin's Black community. The first floor served as the medical clinic, while the Roberts family resided on the second floor. Roberts Clinic closed in 1967, following the death of Dr. Edward L. Roberts. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 12, 2019. Today, it stands as the only remaining example in Austin of a medical clinic built by a Black physician during the period of segregated medical practices in the United States.