Sarah McCarron
Papers, 1917-1964
MC 10

Extent:1.7 linear feet

Provenance:Emily Belringer

Access:This collection is unrestricted.

Citation:Sarah McCarron Papers, Center for the Study of the History of Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania.

Biographical Sketch. Born in Brooklyn, Sarah McCarron was a graduate of Williamsburg Hospital School of Nursing in 1909. A year later, she entered the New York City Public Health Service. In 1914, she became a member of the American Red Cross's Nursing Service and sailed to Europe on the "Mercy Mission". At that time, she worked in Cosel, Germany near the Russian and Austrian frontiers, where the Red Cross nurses administered to all the sick and wounded. She returned to the U.S. in April, 1915.

In 1917, she served at the Base Hospital in Fort Bliss, Texas, near the Mexican border in the Army Nurses Corp. From July, 1918 to June, 1919, Miss McCarron was assigned service to the American Ambulance Hospital France, at Chateau Theirry, Neuilla, Joug and then in the Balkans.

She retired in 1942, after decades of participation in various organizations espousing the causes of nurses and veterans. She was a past commander of the Brooklyn Post 967 of the American Legion and acted as its delegate to their convention in France in September in 1927. She was a member of the National Organization of World War Nurses, Women's Oversees Service League, and the National Council of Catholic Nurses. She was the recipient of many medals and certificates which testify to her dedication and remarkable work in nursing.

Sarah McCarron spent the last nine years of her life in the VA Hospital in East Orange, NJ and transferred to New York City. She died on January 8, 1964 at the age of 85.

Summary. Sarah McCarron's papers are noteworthy because of the inclusion of her two war diaries from 1914 and 1918 in which she relates her daily activities, patient population, modes of treatment, and describes the anxiety and paranoia within a war torn community. Postal correspondence, Bon Voyage messages, and newspaper articles document the relationships between Miss McCarron and her family, friends, coworkers, and the nursing community. Also included in this collection are records of her certification as a registered nurse, oath to the Army, military orders, and death certificate. Artifacts include numerous pictures and various medals awarded to Miss McCarron for her outstanding participation in nursing and veteran organizations.

Series Description. This collection has been arranged into four series:

Series I. Personal and Service Records, 1917-1964. This series includes a brief biographical sketch by Sarah McCarron's niece Lillian Behringer, her death certificate, and obituary. Also included is incoming correspondence ranging from the War Department and the University of the State of New York to notes from several friends regarding her retirement in 1942.

Series II. Organizations (1912-1943), Correspondence (1914-1918). Series two contains information about Miss McCarron's war nursing with the Red Cross Nursing Service and the Army Nurse Corps. Included are the diaries from her 1914 and 1918 trips with typed versions of both. Additionally, many postcards and other travel memorabilia including Bon Voyage messages and A Soldier's French Course are documented. Several programs from organizations and schools such as the Women's Overseas Service League and the PS73 annual influenced by Miss McCarron are contained in this series.

Series III. Photographs, 1909-1954. Most of the photographs are group shots of Alumnae Association dinners and other nursing groups. There is a shot of an operation being personal and observed in 1929 as well as 35 small photos from Ft. Bliss.

Series IV. Artifacts. This series includes ten American Legion Convention Pins, a Red Cross Arm Band and a Registered Nurse Diploma as well as a framed memorium collection of medals and pins commemorating her career in the Red Cross during World War I.

Series I. Personal and Service Records, 1917-1964
Box 1
f.1 Biographical Notes
f.2 Correspondence and records

Series II. Organizations (1912-1943), Correspondence (1914-1918)
f.1 Directories of the collection

f.2 Correspondence: records of retirement, foreign service certification.

f.3 Diary of trip, 1914
f.4 Diary (typed),travel notes
f.5 Postcards, 1914
f.6 Army Nurse Corp, 1917

f.7 Diary of Trip, 1918
f.8 Diary (typed)
f.9 Bon Voyages
f.10 French course, postals
f.11 American Legion, organizations, newsletters
f.12 Relatives' letters, 1961

Series III. Photographs, (1909-1954)
p.1 Brooklyn Hospital, 1905
p.2 Class Picture, 1909
p.3 Ft. Bliss, (women) 1917
p.4 Ft. Bliss, (men) 1917
p.5 Class picture, 1920
p.6 Operation, 1929
p.7 American Legion, 1932
p.8 Williamsburg Hospital (NY), 1934
p.9 Women's Overseas League, 1937
p.10 Alumnae Assoc. PGH 1941
p.11 Alumnae Assoc. 1941
p.12 Alumnae Assoc. 1940's
p.13 World War Nurses 1947
p.14 National Council of Catholic Nurses, 1954
p.15 "Mercy Mission" News Clip, 1914
p.16 "The German Front" News Clip, 1915
p.17-53 Misc. Small Photos, Ft. Bliss, 1917

Series IV. Artifacts
10 American Legion Convention Pins (Medals), 1925-1949
Piece of US flag
Red Cross Arm Band
Red Cross Patch
Memorium collection of medals and pins of career during WWI

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