Zipporah Parks Hammond facts for kids

Zipporah Parks Hammond (1924–2011) was an amazing woman who broke barriers and helped many people. She was the very first African-American person to graduate from the University of Colorado College of Nursing. She also became the first Black Director of Medical Records in Colorado. Zipporah was known for her kindness, her generous spirit, and for fighting for equal rights for everyone.

Zipporah's Early Life

Zipporah Parks Hammond, often called "Zippy," was born on March 1, 1924, in Denver, Colorado. She was the only child of William Edward Parks and Zipporah Marcella Joseph. Her family had a special history, as she was a descendant of William Syphax and Maria Carter Syphax.

Zipporah's mother was a very smart woman. She was the first Black girl to be the top student (valedictorian) at a public high school in Denver. Sadly, Zipporah's mother passed away when Zipporah was only 10 years old. This difficult time, and the help her family received from their community, inspired Zipporah to become a nurse.

She went to school in Denver, attending Whittier Elementary, Morey Junior High, and Manual Training High Schools.

Her Amazing Career

In 1941, Zipporah was accepted into the University of Colorado School of Nursing. She made history by becoming the first Black person to graduate from a nursing program in Colorado. Even though she was very talented, she faced many unfair challenges because of her race. She was not allowed to live on campus with other students. She couldn't study with white students, and she was even stopped from getting hands-on practice in some areas.

In 1943, Zipporah joined the Cadet Nurse Corps. This program helped train nurses during World War II. Out of 1600 student nurses, Zipporah was the only Black nurse.

After graduating, her first job was as a surgical nurse at Colorado General Hospital. She worked in the operating room, helping with surgeries.

Helping Polio Patients

After one year, a doctor named John Chenault asked her to come to the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. She became the Chief Surgical Nurse for the Infantile Polio Paralysis Unit at the John A. Andrew Memorial Hospital. In this important role, she took care of young Black patients who had polio. These children often couldn't get treatment at other hospitals because of their skin color. Zipporah also helped create new ways to treat the disease.

A New Path: Medical Records

In 1947, Zipporah became sick with tuberculosis. She returned to Denver, and this illness meant she could no longer work as a nurse. She was treated at National Jewish Health.

Even though she couldn't be a nurse anymore, Zipporah found another way to help. In 1951, she earned a certificate to become a medical records librarian from the University of Colorado. She then became the Director of Medical Records at Presbyterian/St. Luke's medical center. She was the first Black woman to hold such a high leadership position in this field in Colorado. During her time there, she taught and guided over 200 medical students and professionals. In 1956, she decided to leave her leadership job to focus on raising her two sons.

Giving Back to Her Community

Zipporah Hammond was very active in her local Denver community. She volunteered for 17 years at the Denver Public Library. She helped save and organize important historical materials from Five Points, Denver, a historic Black neighborhood. She also gave money to many different charities. These included groups that help with mental health, support homeless people, assist seniors, and more.

Family Life

Zipporah met her husband, Sheldon Hammond, when they were both in the hospital being treated for tuberculosis. They got married in 1952. They had two sons, Stephen and Darrell.

Her Legacy and Recognition

Zipporah Hammond passed away on July 6, 2011, at the age of 87. Her life and work continue to inspire many.

She received many awards and honors for her contributions:

• The Zipporah Parks Hammond Memorial Nursing Scholarship was created in her name.
• She was inducted into the Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame in 2022.
• The CU College of Nursing Alumni Association gave her the Pathfinders Award.
• The University of Colorado College of Nursing honored her with the Diversity Leadership Award in 2004.
• Her peers, other Black women in Denver, gave her a "Living Legend Award" in March 2009.
• She was honored at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial.
• She was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 2022.

See also

• Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame
• National Black Nurses Association