Cora Elm facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cora Elm
Cora Elm in nurse's uniform in 1916
Born	February 18, 1891 Oneida reservation, Wisconsin
Died	June 9, 1949 North Carolina
Other names	Cora Sinnard (married name)
Occupation	Nurse

Cora Elm (born February 18, 1891 – died June 9, 1949) was a brave American nurse. She was a member of the Oneida Nation. Cora attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School for several years. She later served as a Red Cross nurse. Her important work took her to France during World War I.

Early Life and School Days

Cora Elm was born on the Oneida Reservation in Wisconsin. She was one of eleven children in her family. Her parents were Nicholas Elm and Jane Hill Elm. Cora's first language was Oneida. Her father was a farmer. Her grandmother was a midwife, helping people with births. Her grandfather, Jacob Hill, was a respected leader in the Oneida Nation.

Cora went to the Carlisle Indian School from 1906 to 1913. This school helped Native American children learn different skills. After Carlisle, she trained to be a nurse. She studied at the Episcopal Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia. Cora finished her nursing training in 1916.

A Career Helping Others

After graduating, Cora Elm worked at the Episcopal Hospital. She was a supervisor, helping to manage the hospital wards. In 1917, Cora took part in a special event. She joined a demonstration for women's suffrage at the White House. This was a movement to gain voting rights for women.

Serving in World War I

In December 1917, Cora volunteered for a very important job. She sailed to France to help during World War I. There, she worked as a Red Cross nurse. She cared for soldiers at a base hospital in Nantes. Cora wrote about her experiences during the war. She shared her stories in the Carlisle Arrow magazine. She later said, "My life overseas was not very easy." She saw many difficult things. She helped soldiers who were badly hurt.

Post-War Relief Work

After the war, Cora continued her important work. In 1920, the Red Cross sent her to help people in other countries. She did relief work in Russia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Cora Elm was one of only two known Native American nurses. She served in Europe during World War I. The other nurse was Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture. Other Native American nurses helped in hospitals in the United States.

After getting married and having a child, Cora kept working. She was a ward supervisor at Fort Bayard in New Mexico. She also worked at Wood Veterans Hospital in Milwaukee.

Personal Life

Cora Elm married James E. Sinnard in 1921. They had a son named James Jr., who was born in 1926. Cora and James later divorced. Her son, James Jr., served in World War II.

Cora Elm passed away on June 9, 1949. She was 58 years old. She died at a veterans' hospital in North Carolina. Cora was buried with special military honors. Her gravesite is at Holy Apostles Church Cemetery in Oneida. Her headstone shows her service in the military.