Dr. Stephen Rice Jenkins was born on November 12, 1858 in Charlottetown, PEI. Stephen went to school in Charlottetown, including the St.Peter's Church School from 1872-1875. He went to Kings College in Nova Scotia. He then went on to study medicine at the University of Pennsylvannia and graduated in 1884. Stephen did a year's internship before returning home to PEI.

The doctor's medical bag was usually used for holding the doctor's medicines and tools. It was black and sometimes made from leather. The bag was used every day.