Hopkins Jumps into the Breach and Awards Thomas an Honorary LL.D. Degree

When Thomas learned that he would not receive a degree that year from Maryland, the Johns Hopkins commencement committee already had finished voting on who would be its honorees for its 1976 commencement. After having been alerted to the University of Maryland’s interest in Thomas, a special faculty committee at Hopkins was then formed to recommend Vivien Thomas for an honorary degree. Thomas and his family were certain that Hopkins only acted to recognize him once it learned that Maryland might do so.

Rather than giving Thomas the honorary Doctor of Science that Maryland was considering awarding, Hopkins instead awarded a Doctor of Law degree (LL.D.), which is less prestigious and, in this country, is generally given to someone for a general contribution to society. The May 21,1976 commencement ceremony at John Hopkins was a wonderful day for Vivien Thomas. He would describe it as “a truly great day in my life.” This photo shows Thomas, on left, receiving his degree from Dr. Steven Muller, Hopkins’s president, far right, with Dr. Harry Woolf, Hopkin’s provost, looking on.

But the graduation ceremony honors were somewhat confounding. Helen Taussig, who was the stimulus for the blue baby surgery, was also receiving an award on commencement day. Taussig’s written citation contains numerous references to her collaboration with Dr. Blalock in developing the surgery, but completely ignores the role played by Vivien Thomas. It must have been surreal for Thomas to sit in front of a large audience while Taussig’s award was read and not hear any mention of his own work. In contrast, the citation for Thomas credits the team of Blalock, Taussig, and Thomas.

Thomas was deeply proud of his honorary degree and, after his death, his family had his headstone inscribed “Dr. Vivien Thomas.”