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Photo Galleries:
Mercy-Douglass Hospital School of Nursing
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Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital Training School Application, Student: Evelyn Barnum, 1915
Letter of support for student applicant Evelyn Barnum, 1915
Letter of support for student applicant Evelyn Barnum
Letter of support, physician verification of student's acceptable physical condition and good health
Correspondence with training school's superintendent of nurses regarding the student's application and additional background information, page 1 of 5
Correspondence with training school's superintendent of nurses regarding the student's application and additional background information, page 2 of 5
Correspondence with training school's superintendent of nurses regarding the student's application and additional background information, page 3 of 5
Correspondence with training school's superintendent of nurses regarding the student's application and additional background information, page 4 of 5
Correspondence with training school's superintendent of nurses regarding the student's application and additional background information, page 5 of 5
Student Transcript,Evelyn Barnum, 1915-1917page 1 of 2
Student Transcript, Evelyn Barnum, 1915-1917page 2 of 2
Student Transcript,Effie Bowman, 1915-1918page 1 of 2
Student Transcript,Effie Bowman, 1915-1918 page 2 of 2
Student Photo, Mildred Lillian Ennis
Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital Training School Application, Student: Mildred Lillian Ennis, 1916
Correspondence with training school's superintendent of nurses, page 1 of 2
Correspondence with training school's superintendent of nurses, page 2 of 2
Correspondence, physician verification of student's acceptable physical condition
Letter of support for student applicant Mildred Lillian Ennis, 1915
Student Transcript, Mildred Lillian Ennis, 1916-1918 page 1 of 2
Student Transcript, Mildred Lillian Ennis, 1916-1918 page 2 of 2
Student Transcript,Magnolia Hooper, 1916-1918 page 1 of 2
Student Transcript,Magnolia Hooper, 1916-1918 page 2 of 2
Student Photo, Lovice Jones
Student Photo, Lovice Jones
Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital Training School Application, Student: Lovice Jones, 1917
Letter of support for student applicant Lovice Jones from her pastor, 1917
Correspondence regarding application requirements for the training school with additional background information about the applicant, Lovice Jones, 1917
Correspondence, physician verification of student physical exam, 1917
Student Efficiency Record 1918, page 1 of 14
Student Efficiency Record 1918, page 2 of 14
Student Efficiency Record 1917-1918, page 3 of 14
Student Efficiency Record 1917, page 4 of 14
Student Efficiency Record 1919, page 5 of 14
Student Efficiency Record 1919, page 6 of 14
Student Efficiency Record 1919, page 7 of 14
Student Efficiency Record 1919, page 8 of 14
Student Efficiency Record 1919, page 9 of 14
Student Efficiency Record 1918-1919, page 10 of 14
Student Efficiency Record 1918,page 11 of 14
Student Efficiency Record 1918,page 12 of 14
Student Efficiency Record 1918,page 13 of 14
Student Efficiency Record 1918,page 14 of 14
Hospital Duty Record, 1917-1920page 1 of 2
Hospital Duty Record, 1920page 2 of 2
Student Transcript,Lovice Jones, 1917-1920page 1 of 2
Student Transcript,Lovice Jones 1917-1920page 2 of 2
Typewritten Student Transcript, Intended for University of Pennsylvania Director of Nursingpage 1 of 2
Typewritten Student Transcript, Intended for University of Pennsylvania Director of Nursingpage 2 of 2
Student Transcript,Lovice Jones, 1917-1920page 1 of 2
Student Transcript,Lovice Jones 1917-1920page 2 of 2
Typewritten Student Transcript, Intended for University of Pennsylvania Director of Nursingpage 1 of 2
Typewritten Student Transcript, Intended for University of Pennsylvania Director of Nursingpage 2 of 2
Student Efficiency Record 1919,page 1 of 11
Student Efficiency Record 1919,page 2 of 11
Student Efficiency Record 1918,page 3 of 11
Student Efficiency Record 1918,page 4 of 11
Student Efficiency Record 1918,page 5 of 11
Student Efficiency Record 1918,page 6 of 11
Student Efficiency Record 1918,page 7 of 11
Student Efficiency Record 1918,page 8 of 11
Student Efficiency Record 1918,page 9 of 11
Student Efficiency Record 1917-1918,page 10 of 11
Student Efficiency Record 1918,page 11 of 11
Hospital Duty Record, 1917-1920page 1 of 2
Hospital Duty Record, 1920 page 2 of 2
Student Transcript, Edith Estelle Junior, 1917-1920page 1 of 2
Student Transcript, Edith Estelle Junior, 1917-1920page 2 of 2
Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital Training School Application, Student: Helen H. Reid, 1916
Correspondence, physician verification of student's acceptable physical condition and good health, 1916
Letter of support for student applicant Helen H. Reid, 1916
Correspondence, 1949, notification of the closure of Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital's School of Nursing
Student Transcript, Helen H. Reid, 1916-1918page 1 of 2
Student Transcript, Helen H. Reid, 1916-1918page 2 of 2
Student Transcript, Mary Elene Stewart, 1915-1918page 1 of 2
Student Transcript, Mary Elene Stewart, 1915-1918page 2 of 2
Correspondence, verification of student enrollment at Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital
Correspondence, statement from student record, verification of student enrollment at Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital
Reference Request sent to Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital
Student Transcript, Alice Florence Wainwright, 1913-1915, page 1 of 2
Student Transcript, Alice Florence Wainwright, 1913-1915page 2 of 2
Student Photo,Lillian E. Welch
Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital Training School Application, Student: Lillian E. Welch, 1915
Correspondence regarding student's application, superintendent of nurses requesting additional verification of applicant's past education
Correspondence regarding application, applicant's response to superintendent of nurses, page 1 of 2
Correspondence regarding application, applicant's response to superintendent of nurses,page 2 of 2
High School Course Report, Student: Lillian Welch
Correspondence, physician verification of student's acceptable physical condition and good health, 1915
Letter of support for student applicant Lillian E. Welch, 1915
Student Transcript, Lillian E. Welch, 1915-1918page 1 of 2
Student Transcript, Lillian E. Welch, 1915-1918page 2 of 2
Student Photo, Mabel Williams
Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital Training School Application, Student: Mabel Williams, 1915
Correspondence with superintendent regarding training school application, 1915
Correspondence with superintendent regarding training school application, 1915
Correspondence, physician verification of student physical exam and student's good physical health
Letter of support for student applicant Mabel Williams from her pastor, 1915
Student Transcript, Mabel Williams, 1915-1918 page 1 of 2
Student Transcript, Mabel Williams, 1915-1918 page 2 of 2
Student Photo, Camilla Alberta Grant
Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital Training School Application, Student: Camilla Alberta Grant
Envelope addressed to the Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital Superintendent of Nurses, contains correspondence regarding Camilla Grant's application to Lincoln Hospital, 1921
Correspondence regarding Camilla Grant's application to Lincoln Hospital, 1921
Correspondence regarding Camilla Grant's performance in training school and application to Lincoln Hospital, 1922
Correspondence, physician verification of student physical exam and student's good physical health, page 1 of 2
Correspondence, physician verification of student physical exam and student's good physical health, page 2 of 2
Correspondence, notification of student's change of address
Letter of support for student applicant Camilla Alberta Grant from her pastor, 1917
Application for registration for appointment in the Freedman's Hospital, Applicant: Camilla Alberta Grant, 1917 page 1 of 5
Application for registration for appointment in the Freedman's Hospital, Applicant: Camilla Alberta Grant, 1917 page 2 of 5
Application for registration for appointment in the Freedman's Hospital, Applicant: Camilla Alberta Grant, 1917 page 3 of 5
Application for registration for appointment in the Freedman's Hospital, Applicant: Camilla Alberta Grant, 1917 page 4 of 5
Application for registration for appointment in the Freedman's Hospital, Applicant: Camilla Alberta Grant, 1917 page 5 of 5
Student Efficiency Record, 1921page 1 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1921page 2 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1921page 3 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1921page 4 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1919page 5 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1919page 6 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1919page 7 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1919page 8 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1918-1919page 9 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1918page 10 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1918page 11 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1918page 12 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1918page 13 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1918page 14 of 14
Hospital Duty Record, Camilla A. Grant, 1918-1920,page 1 of 2
Hospital Duty Record, Camilla A. Grant, 1920-1921,page 2 of 2
Student Transcript, Camilla Alberta Grant, 1918-1921page 1 of 2
Student Transcript, Camilla Alberta Grant, 1918-1921page 2 of 2
Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital Training School Application, Student: Inez May Hoyt
Correspondence regarding student's application materials page 1 of 2
Correspondence regarding student's application materials page 2 of 2
Correspondence, physician verification of student physical exam and student's good physical health
Letter of support for student applicant Inez Hoyt from her pastor, 1918
Letter of support for student applicant Inez Hoyt from her parents' pastor, 1918
Board of Registration Results, Inez Hoyt, 1923
Student Efficiency Record, 1919page 1 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1919page 2 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1919page 3 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1919page 4 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1919page 5 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1919page 6 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1919page 7 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1919page 8 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1919page 9 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1918-1919page 10 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1918page 11 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1918page 12 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1921page 13 of 14
Student Efficiency Record, 1921page 14 of 14
Hospital Duty Record, Inez May Hoyt 1918-1921, page 1 of 2
Hospital Duty Record, Inez May Hoyt 1918-1921, page 2 of 2
Student Transcript, Inez May Hoyt, 1918-1921page 1 of 2
Student Transcript, Inez May Hoyt, 1918-1921page 2 of 2
Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital Training School Application, Student: Cora Geraldine Williams
Correspondence with superintendent of nurses regarding training school application and materials, 1918page 1 of 2
Correspondence with superintendent of nurses regarding training school application and materials, 1918page 2 of 2
Letter of Support for student applicant Cora Geraldine Williams regarding her moral character and former employment as a teacher
Letter of support for student applicant Cora Geraldine Williams from her pastor, 1918
Correspondence, physician verification of student physical exam and student's good physical health, 1918
Correspondence, student requesting written proof of her nursing training at the Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital Training School, 1938
Student Efficiency Record,Cora Geraldine Williams, 1919page 1 of 13
Student Efficiency Record,Cora Geraldine Williams, 1919page 2 of 13
Student Efficiency Record,Cora Geraldine Williams, 1919page 3 of 13
Student Efficiency Record,Cora Geraldine Williams, 1919page 4 of 13
Student Efficiency Record,Cora Geraldine Williams, 1918-1919page 5 of 13
Student Efficiency Record,Cora Geraldine Williams, 1918-1919page 6 of 13
Student Efficiency Record,Cora Geraldine Williams, 1918page 7 of 13
Student Efficiency Record,Cora Geraldine Williams, 1918page 8 of 13
Student Efficiency Record,Cora Geraldine Williams, 1918page 9 of 13
Student Efficiency Record,Cora Geraldine Williams, 1918page 10 of 13
Student Efficiency Record,Cora Geraldine Williams, 1918page 11 of 13
Student Efficiency Record,Cora Geraldine Williams, 1918page 12 of 13
Student Efficiency Record,Cora Geraldine Williams, 1921page 13 of 13
Hospital Duty Record, Cora Geraldine Williams, 1918-1921page 1 of 2
Hospital Duty Record, Cora Geraldine Williams, 1918-1921page 2 of 2
Student Trancript, Cora Geraldine Williams, 1918-1921page 1 of 2
Student Trancript, Cora Geraldine Williams, 1918-1921page 2 of 2
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The Mercy-Douglass Hospital School of Nursing, a product of the merger of two institutions, Mercy Hospital and Fredrick Douglass Hospital, was an African-American hospital and the first training school for black nurses in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It operated from 1895-1960.
The school of nursing records are predominately student files and photographs that document the black experience in nursing. This series of images from Fredrick Douglass Hospital are pre-1920 student records, including applications, letters from potential students, and references, transcripts, and photographs. Students applying to the school were expected to be well-educated and of good moral standing, neat, and pleasing in appearance, and both obedient yet assertive. By drawing on these many values, young black women were able to exercise their agency.
These sources document the demographics of nursing students, including age, educational and employment background, location, and religion. The records also include performance evaluations, employment after graduation, the subjects required for training, and the qualities associated with a successful nurse.
This week the Bates Center staff started preparing for an exhibit on Black hospitals and nurse training schools in Philadelphia. Click to learn more about what we’re working on!