In 1949 the Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization was begun by 13 African-American nurses in Seattle to support each other and to help young women who wanted to become nurses. Inspired by Mary Eliza Mahoney (1845-1926), the first African-American woman to earn a nursing degree in the U. S., the organization has helped African American women and men in their nursing careers through the scholarships and financial aid.
In this image 12 of the 13 organization founders pose together in their nursing uniforms. These 13 women were the only African-American nurses in Seattle at the time, the first having been hired by Harborview in 1943. Several of the individuals are identified as: Ann Foy Baker, Juanita Alexander Davis, Gertrude Dawson, Maxine Haynes, Verna Hill, Mary Scott Hooks, Rachel Pitts, Lois Price Spratlen, Frances Terry, and Ernestine Williams.
Caption information source: http://www.blackpast.org/aah/mahoney-mary-eliza-1845-1926 Caption information source: The Seattle Times, April 8, 1999, p. E1 Caption information source: The Seattle Times, March 30, 2009, p. B1
ID Number: 1985.62.1
Date: Circa 1949
Physical Description: 1 copy negative : b&w ; 4 x 5 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant.
