Mary Eliza Mahoney
Introduction
Mary Eliza Mahoney was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1945. Her parents were Charles and Mary Jane Stewart Mahoney. She grew up in Boston with her parents. She had one sister and one brother. Mary became interested in nursing when she was a teenager. She began working at the New England Hospital for Women and Children in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Her work there included being a cook, janitor, washerwoman, and an unofficial nurses aid. She worked there 15 years. In March 1878, she was admitted to the nursing program there. There were forty two students that entered the program and she was one of the four that completed the program. She was the first African American in history to earn her nursing license.
After graduating, she left the New England Hospital for Women and Children to do private duty nursing. In 1896, she became a member of the predominately white Nurses Associated Alumnae of the United States of America and Canada. Because of the prejudice and very few blacks being in this association, she became a cofounder of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses in 1908. Mary gave the first welcoming address of the organization a year later. In 1911, she was working as director of the Howard Orphan Asylum for Black Children in Kings Park, Long Island. That year she was awarded a lifetime membership to the NACGN.
Mary never married. She retired in 1922. She remained a member of the NACGN until her death from breast cancer in 1926. In 1936, the association created an award in her honor. Fifty years after her death, Mary was inducted into the American Nurses's Association's Hall of Fame.
After graduating, she left the New England Hospital for Women and Children to do private duty nursing. In 1896, she became a member of the predominately white Nurses Associated Alumnae of the United States of America and Canada. Because of the prejudice and very few blacks being in this association, she became a cofounder of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses in 1908. Mary gave the first welcoming address of the organization a year later. In 1911, she was working as director of the Howard Orphan Asylum for Black Children in Kings Park, Long Island. That year she was awarded a lifetime membership to the NACGN.
Mary never married. She retired in 1922. She remained a member of the NACGN until her death from breast cancer in 1926. In 1936, the association created an award in her honor. Fifty years after her death, Mary was inducted into the American Nurses's Association's Hall of Fame.
Summary
Roles in History
- She was the First African American registered nurse in the United States
- She was one of the original members of a predominately white Nurse Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada
- She was cofounder of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses
- She was inducted into the Nursing Hall of Fame
Educational Background
- In 1878, when she was 31 years old, she was admitted into the hospital's nursing program
- This program was 16 months long and 4 students completed the program
Her Drive for the Nursing Profession and Trailblazing
- She was the first African American nurse to graduate
- She helped to establish high standards of practice and character for nurses
- She helped to pave the way for African American Nurses
1896 Racial discrimination in the South made it harder for Mary to become a member of the predominately with Nurse Associated Alumnae of the United Stated and Canada. It didn't stop Mary from becoming a member. Her belief in God gave her the strenghht and determanation to break the racial barrier. Mary understood during that time there should be a organization for colored nurses.
The first organization for colored nurses in 1908 National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses(NACGN)
- More opportunities for formal training for African-America
- NACGN's first conventional welcoming address
- Awarded lifetime membership of the NACGN
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1 comments:
Joann,
Mary Mahoney paved a way for me, she is the reason I am a nurse!
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