Today in History: Remembering Mary Adelaide Nutting

Mary Adelaide Nutting (November 1, 1858 – October 3, 1948) was a Canadian nurse, educator, and leader in the field of hospital health care. She was one of six children born to Vespasian and Harriet Sophia Nutting in present-day Quebec, and lived humbly with her family.

At the age of 31, Miss Nutting joined the inaugural class for the training of nurses at Johns Hopkins University and graduated in 1891. Her interest in hospital economics and physiology drew the attention of James Earl Russell, Dean of Teachers College, who promoted her from a part-time teaching position to a full time professorial one, as well as Chair of the Department of Nursing and Health. Nutting's humanistic vision for hospital administration and nursing education would profoundly influence the development of the field of modern nursing and establish Teachers College as a pioneer in nursing education and health related areas. 

Mary Adelaide Nutting was herself greatly influenced by the teaching of Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), British social reformer, statistician and the founder of modern nursing, who was also known as "Lady With the Lamp."

The voluminous History of Nursing written jointly by Miss Nutting and Miss Lavinia Dock, also a nurse, feminist,  pioneer in nursing education and social activist, is still considered the authoritative work on this subject. During the first World War, as chairman of the Nursing Committee appointed by President Woodrow Wilson, Miss Nutting left a brilliant record of swift and efficient organization to increase the supply of nurses and co-ordinate their services. In 1921, in recognition of Miss Nutting's conspicuous service to nursing education and public health, she was awarded an honorary Master of Arts degree by Yale University. In 1944, Nutting was awarded a medal in her name, presented by the National League of Nursing.

The following articles are drawn from Proquest Historical Newspapers, which informs and inspires classroom teaching and learning.

• Nursing School Problems. (1927, Aug 21). New York Herald Tribune (1926-1962) 
• Barnard Traces Rise of Women in Education: 1889 Picture Portrays the Launching of College with Only 36 Enrolled Nurse Professor in 1906 Petition to Columbia to Open School Made in '82. (1929, Oct 27). New York Herald Tribune (1926-1962) 
• Nurses Opposed to Title 'Trained': They Are 'Educated' to Act with Responsibility, Dr. W.H. Kilpatrick Tells Them. 1,000 at Convention Here 75th Anniversary of Founding of Florence Nightingale School Is Celebrated. (1935, Jun 05). New York Times (1923-) 
• Nursing Told It Must Fill World Need. (1943, Jun 16). Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) 
• Honors Nursing Teacher: National Group Presents Medal to Mary Adelaide Nutting, 86. (1944, May 05). New York Times (1923-) 
• Miss Nutting Dies; Educator in Nursing, 90: First Nurse in the U. S. to Hold Professorship Was on Teachers College Staff. (1948, Oct 05). New York Herald Tribune (1926-1962) 
• Roberts. M. (1948, Oct 16). Mary Adelaide Nutting: Tribute Paid to a Pioneer and Leader in Nursing Education. New York Times (1923-) 
• Bishop, A. (1948, Nov 14). Nursing's Diamond Jubilee. The Sun (1837-) 
• Nurses Plan 2-Day Session: Progress, Week' Theme Will Emphasize Responsibility. (1948, Nov 17). The Sun (1837-) 
• Special to The New York Times. (1949, May 03). Mary A. Nutting Award Is Given to Nurse-Editor. New York Times (1923-) 

Tips:

• Marshall, Hélène. Mary Adelaide Nutting, Pioneer of Modern Nursing. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1972. TCANA RT37.N87 M37 
• Nutting, M. Adelaide. A History of Nursing; the Evolution of Nursing Systems from the Earliest Times to the Foundation of the First English and American Training Schools for Nurses, by M. Adelaide Nutting ... and Lavinia L. Dock. New York (State): G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1907-12, 1912.
• Nutting, M. Adelaide (Mary Adelaide). A Sound Economic Basis for Schools of Nursing and Other Addresses. New York: Garland, 1984. TCANA RT71 .N85 1984

Images:

• Portrait of Mary Adelaide Nutting, 1858-1948. Teachers College. (February, 1932), from Historical Photographs of Teachers College, Courtesy of Teachers College, Columbia University
• Special News Slide, Courtesy of the Gottesman Libraries 

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