Aileen Cole Stewart facts for kids

Aileen Cole Stewart (born in 1893, died in 1997) was a very important and groundbreaking African American nurse. She served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during World War I. She was one of the first African American nurses to join the U.S. Army. Stewart is famous for her article "Ready to Serve." This article shared details about her life as a nurse during the war and after.

Early Life and Nursing School

Aileen Cole Stewart was born in 1893 in Piqua, Ohio. Her family were descendants of enslaved Africans. Not much is known about her early childhood.

In 1914, Stewart started a three-year nursing program. She studied at the Howard University College of Medicine’s nursing school. This school was part of Freedmen's Hospital in Washington, D.C..

To join the program, Stewart had to complete a three-month trial period. During this time, she helped patients with their daily needs. She cleaned, served meals, made beds, and took temperatures. After this trial, she officially became a nursing student. The program had strict rules. Stewart worked 12-hour shifts. She was not allowed to socialize with medical students or other hospital staff.

In 1917, Stewart finished her nursing certificate. She also passed her state exams in both Maryland and Washington, DC.

Helping During the Spanish Flu

During World War I, the United States faced a big problem. There were not enough doctors and nurses. This was because of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. This flu spread worldwide and killed millions of people.

At first, the U.S. government did not want to hire African American nurses. This was due to unfair Jim Crow segregation laws. But in October 1918, the flu got much worse. Nearly 200,000 Americans died that month. The government had to change its mind.

The American Red Cross asked Stewart and two other nurses for help. They needed to stop the flu from spreading in West Virginia’s coal mining towns. These towns were important because West Virginia coal helped power trains. These trains carried U.S. troops to France for World War I. The mayor of Charleston, West Virginia knew that keeping the miners healthy was key to winning the war.

Stewart traveled by train to places like Bretz and Putney, West Virginia. She visited about twenty homes every day. She took temperatures and gave medicine to mining families. In November 1918, Stewart helped open a temporary hospital. This hospital was in Cascade, West Virginia. It helped many people sick with the flu.

Serving in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps

Soon after opening the hospital in Cascade, Stewart received an important letter. The American Red Cross asked if she wanted to join the U.S. Army Reserve Nurse Corps. Stewart said yes right away.

After military training, she became a 1st Lieutenant on November 29, 1918. Aileen Cole Stewart was one of the first 18 African American women to become a nurse in the U.S. Army Reserve Nurse Corps. She earned $50 a month.

On December 1, 1918, the U.S. Army sent Stewart and eight other African American nurses to Camp Sherman. This was a very large Army training camp during World War I. It was also a place hit hard by the Spanish Flu.

At Camp Sherman, Stewart and the other African American nurses lived in separate areas. They cared for African American soldiers and German prisoners of war. Stewart stayed at Camp Sherman until August 16, 1919. That's when the U.S. Army discharged her and her fellow nurses.

Life After the War

After World War I, Stewart worked as a night supervisor. She was at the Booker T. Washington Sanitarium in New York City, New York. After two years, she became a public health nurse in New York. She worked there for 34 years, retiring in 1956.

In 1928, Stewart married George Stewart. They had one daughter. Their daughter grew up to be a school teacher and writer in Seattle, Washington.

After retiring in 1956, Aileen and George Stewart moved to Seattle, Washington. There, she worked as a general duty nurse at Seattle's Swedish Hospital. When she was 68 years old, Stewart earned a Bachelor of Science degree. She studied public health nursing at the University of Washington. She also often volunteered with the American Red Cross.

Aileen Cole Stewart lived in a nursing home in Tacoma, Washington until she passed away in 1997.

Writings

In 1963, Stewart wrote an article for a journal. It shared details about her life as an African American nurse. She wrote about her time during World War I and her work in civilian life.