Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Story
September 10, 1949
The Ohio Daily Express
Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio
What is this article about?
At the 35th NACGN convention in Louisville, over 400 Black nurses voted unanimously to merge with the white American Nurses Association, despite some southern opposition. Officers were elected, a drive for military nurses planned, and Mary Mahoney award given to Mary E. Merritt. Merger expected by 1951.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Negro Nurses to Merge with Whites
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ANP) More than 400 nurses attending the 35th convention of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses in Louisville last week voted to merge the NACGN with the white American Nurses association.
Other features of the meeting included the election of officers, the planning of a drive to get more Negro nurses to serve in the armed forces, the awarding of the Mary Mahoney award to Miss Mary E. Merritt of Louisville, and numerous discussions and addresses by guest speakers.
The big business of the meeting, however, was the vote to merge with the ANA. Several delegates from certain southern states whose local ANA societies still bar Negroes preferred to wait a while before voting this step. Despite the hot debate, the vote to unite with the white group was unanimous.
Next step for the NACGN is to work out the machinery for the merger, Groundwork already has been laid by Mrs. Estelle Massey Osborne of New York, a board member of both nursing organizations. She is basing her plan on the following assumptions:
The nursing profession is ahead of other professional groups in the integration of Negro members. Only eight southern state ANA groups keep Negroes out. A colored nurse (Mrs. Osborne, herself) has been elected to the ANA board of directors. Colored nurses will make final decision as to whether a separate organization is still needed.
Mrs. Mabel K. Staupers of New York was elected president of the NACGN. Other officers are: Mrs. Lucille Z. Williams, Durham, N. C., vice president; Mrs. Viola Turner, Charleston, S. C., second vice president, and Mrs. Willa O. Evans, Chicago, financial secretary.
Miss Mary E. Merritt, superintendent of nurses at Red Cross hospital in Louisville 1911-1944, earned the highest award of the organization, the Mary Mahoney medal for distinguished service in nursing.
Speaking of the merger Miss Alma Vessels, executive secretary of the NACGN, said immediate merger will not be possible. "It will be 1951 at the earliest before any positive action can be taken," she said.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ANP) More than 400 nurses attending the 35th convention of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses in Louisville last week voted to merge the NACGN with the white American Nurses association.
Other features of the meeting included the election of officers, the planning of a drive to get more Negro nurses to serve in the armed forces, the awarding of the Mary Mahoney award to Miss Mary E. Merritt of Louisville, and numerous discussions and addresses by guest speakers.
The big business of the meeting, however, was the vote to merge with the ANA. Several delegates from certain southern states whose local ANA societies still bar Negroes preferred to wait a while before voting this step. Despite the hot debate, the vote to unite with the white group was unanimous.
Next step for the NACGN is to work out the machinery for the merger, Groundwork already has been laid by Mrs. Estelle Massey Osborne of New York, a board member of both nursing organizations. She is basing her plan on the following assumptions:
The nursing profession is ahead of other professional groups in the integration of Negro members. Only eight southern state ANA groups keep Negroes out. A colored nurse (Mrs. Osborne, herself) has been elected to the ANA board of directors. Colored nurses will make final decision as to whether a separate organization is still needed.
Mrs. Mabel K. Staupers of New York was elected president of the NACGN. Other officers are: Mrs. Lucille Z. Williams, Durham, N. C., vice president; Mrs. Viola Turner, Charleston, S. C., second vice president, and Mrs. Willa O. Evans, Chicago, financial secretary.
Miss Mary E. Merritt, superintendent of nurses at Red Cross hospital in Louisville 1911-1944, earned the highest award of the organization, the Mary Mahoney medal for distinguished service in nursing.
Speaking of the merger Miss Alma Vessels, executive secretary of the NACGN, said immediate merger will not be possible. "It will be 1951 at the earliest before any positive action can be taken," she said.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
Justice
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
Nurses Merger
Nacgn
Ana
Racial Integration
Mary Mahoney Award
Black Nurses
Armed Forces Recruitment
What entities or persons were involved?
Mrs. Estelle Massey Osborne
Mrs. Mabel K. Staupers
Mrs. Lucille Z. Williams
Mrs. Viola Turner
Mrs. Willa O. Evans
Miss Mary E. Merritt
Miss Alma Vessels
Where did it happen?
Louisville, Ky.
Story Details
Key Persons
Mrs. Estelle Massey Osborne
Mrs. Mabel K. Staupers
Mrs. Lucille Z. Williams
Mrs. Viola Turner
Mrs. Willa O. Evans
Miss Mary E. Merritt
Miss Alma Vessels
Location
Louisville, Ky.
Event Date
Last Week
Story Details
Over 400 Black nurses at the NACGN convention voted unanimously to merge with the ANA despite southern opposition; officers elected including Mabel K. Staupers as president; Mary Mahoney award to Mary E. Merritt; plans for more Black nurses in armed forces; merger by 1951 earliest.