Leadership, Innovation and Influence
In 1893 the World’s Fair was held in Chicago and included a Nurses Congress, which created an opportunity for leaders of the new profession of nursing to exchange ideas and plan for the future.
Led by many Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) nurses, this group formed the American Society of Superintendents of Training Schools, which would later become the National League of Nursing Education.
The American Society of Superintendents of Training Schools recommended establishing Alumnae Associations to organize and protect the trained nurse and the public from nurses claiming to be trained.
In 1895, Sophia Palmer and Mary E. P. Davis founded the MGH Nurses Alumnae Association.
The following year, Palmer and colleagues formed the Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada, uniting these newly formed Alumnae Associations into the precursor of the American Nurses Association.
Also from this meeting came recognition of the need for standards of practice.
The following year, the various local alumnae associations formed a national group, which became the American Nurses’ Association in 1911.
Graduates of the MGH school took leadership roles in actualizing registration standards in Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Missouri, Washington and California.
In the first 50 years, alumni founded schools in over 15 states:
Alumni have founded schools in four different countries:
Founding of the American Journal of Nursing
In 1900, Mary E.P. Davis and Sophia Palmer led a committee to create the American Journal of Nursing, which was the first professional nursing journal to be owned and operated by nurses. Davis became its first business manager and Sophia Palmer became its first editor.
Through the journal, they were able to reach, influence and advance the profession of nursing.
As an editor, Palmer traveled extensively speaking to nurses at state, national and international conventions.
Palmer's experience in business helped the journal succeed in its early years.
Timeline of events: Founding of the school through the first 50 years.
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1872
Proposing a means for women's independence
Sarah Cabot and members of the Woman’s Education Association proposed starting a nursing school in Boston to provide a means for women’s economic independence and quality nursing care for patients. Mrs. Samuel Parkman visited Florence Nightingale in London and discussed founding a nursing school in Boston based on the Nightingale model.
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1873
Opening of the Boston Training School at MGH
The first three nursing schools in the United States based on the principles of Florence Nightingale opened, including The Boston Training School at MGH.
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1875
First Class of Students Graduate
Boston Training School graduated its first class consisting of three members who completed its two year program.
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1878
Two Distinguished Graduates
Sophia Palmer and Mary E.P. Davis graduated from the Boston Training School. They later became founders of the American Society of Superintendents of Training Schools (the precursor of the NLN) the MGHNAA, the Nurses Associated Alumnae of The United States and Canada (the forerunner of the ANA) the American Journal of Nursing and the state nursing organizations in New York and Massachusetts respectively.
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1893
The Formation of Associations Begins
The World’s Fair in Chicago included for the first time a Nurses Conference. Eighteen superintendents of nursing schools met separately and formed the American Association of Superintendents of Training Schools. Mary E.P. Davis and Sophia Palmer were elected first and second vice presidents respectively. Annie Hintz (1883) also attended as did former superintendents of the BTS, Linda Richards and Anna Maxwell. This association evolved into the National League of Nursing Education and then the NLN. The first initiatives were to standardize curriculums and form alumnae associations.
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1895
The Foundation of the MGH Nurses Alumnae Association
Mary E.P. Davis and Sophia Palmer formed the MGH Nurses Alumnae Association.
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1900
The Launching of the American Journal of Nursing
Mary E.P. Davis chaired a committee to successfully create the American Journal of Nursing and became its first business manager. Sophia Palmer became the first editor and remained so until her death in 1920.
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1901
The Founding of the Army Nurse Corp
1901 The Army Nurse Corp was formed and Dita Kinney (1892) was named the first Superintendent of the Corp.
Recent Stories
AUTHORSHIP:
Nicoletta Valenzano, MPH, Senior Communications Specialist, Mass General Brigham
Susan Fisher, RN, Nurse Historian, MGH Nurses’ Alumni Association
Mary Larkin, RN, Chair, MGH Nurses’ Alumni Association History Committee
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