Anna C. Maxwell was a nursing pioneer active in many activities
crucial to the emergence of professional nursing. During her lifetime
she was referred to as the "American Florence Nightingale".
Some highlights of her career:
-
Entered Boston Training School for Nurses
at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1878, finishing in 1880.
- Superintendent of Boston Training Schoool at Massachusetts
General Hospital from 1881-1889.
- Director of nursing service and school of nursing at Presbyterian
Hospital (New York) from to 1892-1921.
- During Spanish American War she urged the Surgeon General to hire
trained nurses for the military. She was appointed to organize
nurses and was sent to Camp Thomas in Chickamauga Georgia.
-
Instrumental in establishing an Army Nurse Corps and later to
secure officer rank for military nurses.
-
Active in recruiting nurses for military work through the Red Cross
Nursing Service.
- Helped design uniform for army nurses.
- During World War I served as chief of Presbyterian's hospital unit
and visited hospitals at the military front in Europe. France awarded Miss Maxwell
the Public Health Medal of Honor (Medaille de l'Hygiene Publique) for
her work.
- Co authored with Amy E. Pope Practical Nursing: A textbook for
nurses
>
- Awarded honorary master of arts degree from Columbia University.
- Charter member of Society of Superintendents of Training Schools
- A mover and shaker in:
- Formative years of Nurses Associated Alumnae,
- Founding of the American Journal of Nursing,
- Active in International Congress of Nursing,
- Hospital Economics Course at Teachers College.
Sources:
Downer, J.L.B (1988). Anna Caroline Maxwell. In: American nursing:
A biographical dictionary. V.L. Bullough, O.M., Church, &
A.P. Stein, (Eds.). New York: Garland.
Higgins, L.P. (1988). Anna C. Maxwell. In M. Kaufman, M. (Ed).
Dictionary of American Nursing Biography. Westport, CT: Greenwood.
