Dr. Albert C. Johnston

Located at 167 Washington St., Keene, NH

Dr. Albert C. Johnston, Keene’s first radiologist, practiced medicine here from 1940 until he retired to Hawaii in 1966. He and his wife, Thyra, raised their four children at 127 Washington Street and were active members of the community.

Born in Chicago, Albert and Thyra, who was born in New Orleans, were multiracial and of African descent. In order to secure employment and protect their family during a period of widespread racial discrimination that reached every part of the country, the Johnstons were able to keep their racial background a secret and passed for white.

During World War II, Dr. Johnston was accepted as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy, but his commission was later revoked after officials learned of his racial background. Following this experience, the Johnston family publicly acknowledged their racial identity. Their story inspired the 1948 book Lost Boundaries and the 1949 film of the same name. Dr. Johnston died in 1988 and is buried in Saint Joseph’s Cemetery in Keene, NH.