Daisy Hill Northcross facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Daisy Hill Northcross
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Daisy Hill Northcross, from a 1942 book
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| Born | December 9, 1881 Montgomery, Alabama, US
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| Died | January 10, 1956 (aged 75) Detroit, Michigan, US
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| Occupation | Physician, hospital administrator |
| Known for | Co-founder of Detroit's Mercy General Hospital in 1917 |
Daisy Hill Northcross (born December 9, 1881 – died January 10, 1956) was an amazing American doctor and hospital leader. She lived and worked in Detroit, Michigan, and helped many people throughout her life.
Growing Up and Learning
Daisy L. Hill was born in Montgomery, Alabama. Her parents were William M. Hill and Frances Fair Hill. She started her education by training to be a teacher in Montgomery in 1899.
Later, she went to Temple University in Philadelphia and earned a bachelor's degree in 1902. But Daisy wanted to do even more! She decided to become a doctor and completed her medical degree in 1913 at Bennett Medical College in Chicago. She was one of the very first Black women to apply for a medical license in Alabama.
Her Important Work
Before becoming a doctor, Daisy Northcross taught public speaking (elocution) and singing. She and her husband, who was also a doctor, ran a special health center called a sanitarium in Alabama.
In 1916, Daisy and her husband moved from Montgomery to Detroit. This was part of a big movement called the Great Migration, when many African Americans moved from the Southern states to cities in the North.
The very next year, in 1917, they opened Detroit's first hospital owned and run by Black people. It was called Detroit Mercy General Hospital. This was a huge step for the community! They also managed a drugstore, a hotel, and even a training program for nurses.
After her husband passed away in 1933, Daisy Northcross bravely took over the hospital's management all by herself. Other doctors in her family helped her, including her nephew Remus G. Robinson, and her son David and his wife.
Daisy was also very active in her church and in different community groups in Detroit, like the YWCA. She even helped judge a "Healthiest Baby Contest" in 1954, showing her dedication to community well-being.
Her Family
Daisy Hill married another doctor from Alabama, David Caneen Northcross, in 1909. They had three children named Gloria, David, and Wilson. Their son, David Jr., also became a doctor in Detroit, and his wife, Ophelia Burnett Northcross, was a nurse.
Daisy Hill Northcross passed away in 1956 at the age of 75. She left behind a powerful legacy of caring for others and building important healthcare services for her community.
