African American Nursing Education: Mercy Douglas School of Nursing

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Philadelphia's Mercy Douglas Hospital closed the year I graduated High School. Four years later in 1977, I had the pleasure of working with many of their graduates at my first nursing "home" Misericordia Hospital, now Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia. Many nurses today might not be aware that hospitals were segregated through the late 1960-70's. The nurses graduating from hospital programs such as Mercy Douglas, Grady Hospital School of Nursing Atlanta,GA, Howard University, Washington DC, etc. were often the first black nurses hired within a facility breaking the color barrier, a feat similar to Jackie Robinson's intergration of baseball. Karen

Photo: UPenn Archives

From Thomas Jefferson Univ. archives:

Mercy Hospital and School for Nurses

Philadelphia's second "Negro hospital" was co-founded by Jeffersonians Dr. Henry Minton and Dr. Algernon Jackson in 1907 at 17th and Fitzwater Streets. In 1919 the hospital moved to a larger structure, formerly an Episcopal Divinity School at 50th Street and Woodlawn Avenue, and operated there until 1948.

In 1948, Mercy Hospital merged with the city's first hospital for African Americans, Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital and School for Nurses (founded in 1895 by the University of Pennsylvania's first black medical school graduate, Dr. Nathan F. Mossell) to form Mercy-Douglass. Soon afterward the combined hospital built a new and fully modern facility. Through much of its existence this institution was largely funded by the community it served, until its closing in 1973.

Philadelphia Tribune

April 28, 2014

Written by Ayana Jones

Mercy Douglass School of Nursing remembered, honored

Mercy Douglass School of Nursing alumni pose after being recognized by the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing.- PHOTO BY I. GEORGE BILYK

Twenty-five alumni from the historic Mercy Douglass School of Nursing were honored for their contributions to health care.

Located in West Philadelphia, Mercy Douglas Hospital was one of more than 100 historically Black health care institutions which existed during the era of segregation. Many of the Mercy Douglass School of Nursing alumni were instrumental to civil rights efforts in desegregating health care.

Officials from the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing and the University School of Nursing hosted an afternoon tea on April 23 to honor some the Mercy Douglas alumni for their service and contributions in shaping the nation's health. After graduating from the Mercy Douglass School of Nursing, many of the alumni in attendance left their mark on health care institutions, education and the armed forces.

"They have a truly vibrant alumni association. We just thought that it was timely to honor them and recognize them,"said Julie A. Fairman, director of the Barbara Bates Center.

"These ladies are amazing leaders in the Philadelphia and across the country. They were some of the first Black people to integrate Philadelphia health care. They have really great stories to tell about health care in this country."...

..."The Mercy Douglas collection is one of our most valuable collections and we have always wanted to do more in terms of getting the history of African American professional nurses out there before the public because we believe that it is a history that has not been told. We believe that not too many people, particularly young people, realize that we had a segregated health care system," said Jean C. Whelan, adjunct associate professor of nursing and assistant director of the Barbara Bates Center.

"Many of the women who are assembled here today would have been the first African American nurse to work in a hospital and that was not an easy thing to be. It would be comparable to Jackie Robinson getting on the Brooklyn Dodgers."

Pinterest Page: https://www.pinterest.com/nursinghistory/mercy-douglass-son/

1924 Graduating Class

Class of 1950:

[tamiasma]

Thank you sooo much for posting this. I needed encouragement. I'm now encouraged and fearless. God bless you!!!

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Your so welcome. One step at a time....

I'll be posting more about African American nurses later this week..doing one story/thread a day as my contribution to Nurses Week.

[Flnolegirl]

This is great motivation I enjoyed it so much!!! Thx for posting such a great thing....

[grad2012RN]

Great read! Thanks for sharing this NRSKarenRN.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I've had the privilege to learn from a Mercy-Douglass graduate, who was my clinical instructor.

I'm looking forward for more info NRSKarenRN...always informative!