Mary Elizabeth Carnegie facts for kids
Mary Elizabeth Carnegie (born April 19, 1916 – died February 20, 2008) was a very important nurse, teacher, and writer. She is famous for helping to break down racial barriers in nursing. She was the first Black nurse to be a full voting member on the board of a state nursing association. Later, she became the president of the American Academy of Nursing. She also edited a well-known journal called Nursing Research.
Her Early Life and Education
Mary Elizabeth Carnegie was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States. She loved learning and went to many schools.
She earned a diploma from the Lincoln School for Nurses. Then, she got her first college degree from West Virginia State College. She continued her studies, earning a master's degree from Syracuse University. Later, she received a special doctorate degree in public administration from New York University.
Making a Difference in Nursing
After finishing her college degree, Mary Carnegie started working at a hospital in Richmond, Virginia. She became a clinical instructor at St. Philip Hospital School of Nursing. This meant she taught new nurses. Working in the South, she saw how different the nursing world was for Black nurses.
In 1945, Carnegie joined the Florida Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (FACGN). This group helped Black nurses. Three years later, she was chosen to be the president of this important organization.
Because of her great work, the Florida State Nurses Association (FSNA) made a big change. They decided to give her full voting rights on their board. Before this, Black nurses were only "courtesy" members, meaning they couldn't vote. Mary Carnegie became the first Black nurse to have a full voting role on a state nursing association board. This was a huge step forward for equality in nursing.
Between 1945 and 1953, Carnegie was a professor and dean of the nursing school at Florida A&M University. She helped many students learn and grow.
Later in her career, she became the president of the American Academy of Nursing. This is a very high honor in the nursing world. She also worked as the editor of Nursing Research, a journal where new ideas and studies about nursing are shared.
Mary Carnegie received eight special honorary doctorates for her amazing contributions. She was also added to the hall of fame of the American Nurses Association. In 2009, she was honored again by being inducted into the Virginia Nursing Hall of Fame.
Mary Elizabeth Carnegie passed away in 2008 in Chevy Chase, Maryland. She had lived there for 25 years. She was married once, but her husband passed away in 1954. Her legacy continues to inspire nurses and educators today.
See also
- Carnegie (disambiguation)
- List of Living Legends of the American Academy of Nursing
