William Alan Jones was the first person to be granted a licence to practice dentistry (June 26,1886) under the British Columbia Dental Act. William received a degree at Oberlin College in 1857. He was the oldest of three brothers who came with the Black pioneers in 1858. After the American Civil War, he returned to Oberlin College to complete his dental studies and then returned to the gold rush town of Barkerville, where he had the nickname of “Painless Jones.” “Painless Jones: The Barkerville Dentist”
Image is a pencil sketch by Gene Grooms, local artist (1994); BC Black History Awareness Society Collection
