Mary E. Merritt facts for kids
Mary Eliza Merritt (born April 27, 1881 – died 1953) was an amazing American nurse. She was the very first African American nurse to get her license in Kentucky. In 1949, she received a special award called the Mary Mahoney Medal. This award was for her excellent work in nursing.
Mary Merritt spent most of her career teaching and supervising nurses. She worked at the Red Cross Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. Back then, most African American nurses in Kentucky learned their skills there. Until 1937, the Red Cross Hospital was the only place in Kentucky where African Americans could train to become nurses.
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Early Life and Education
Mary Eliza Merritt was born on April 27, 1881. She grew up near Berea, Kentucky. She was the only child of Thomas and Catherine Merritt.
When she was 12, Mary went to Berea College. She earned a special paper that allowed her to teach school. She taught in Manchester, Kentucky for several years. Later, Berea College started a nursing program. Mary went back to school and finished her nursing degree in 1902.
In 1904, a law called the Day Law made colleges in Kentucky separate people by race. Because of this, Mary finished her nursing training at Freedman's Hospital in Washington, D.C. This hospital was connected to Howard University.
Nursing Career
In 1906, Mary Merritt finished her training at Freedman's Hospital. She returned to Kentucky. She worked as a private nurse for a retired politician named Cassius M. Clay. She was the first African American to work as a registered nurse in Kentucky.
In 1907, Mary moved to Leavenworth, Kansas. She worked as a nursing supervisor at Protective Home and Mitchell Hospital. She even started a new nursing training program there. She stayed in Kansas until the first group of nurses graduated from her program.
Red Cross Hospital
The Red Cross Hospital in Louisville was started by African Americans. This was during the Jim Crow era. During this time, laws kept people of different races separate. This meant many African Americans could not get medical care at other hospitals. The Red Cross Hospital was the only place in Kentucky where African Americans could train to be nurses until 1937.
Mary Merritt spent most of her career teaching nurses at the Red Cross Hospital. Most African American nurses in Kentucky learned their skills there. She was the Superintendent of nursing from 1914 to 1945. Mary retired in 1945.
Helping During World War I
When World War I started, African American nurses were not allowed to volunteer because of their race. But in 1918, a terrible sickness called the "Spanish flu" spread. African American soldiers who got sick were treated at Camp Taylor in Louisville.
African American nurses, including Mary Merritt, were hired to care for these soldiers. For her hard work at Camp Taylor during World War I, Mary received a special award. It was a certificate of merit from United States President Woodrow Wilson.
Later Life and Recognition
Mary Merritt retired from nursing in 1945. She passed away in Louisville in 1953.
A building at Central State Hospital is named the Merritt Building in her honor. Mary Merritt was also added to the Kentucky Hall of Fame.
