Mary Eliza Mahoney
America's first professionally trained African American nurse and civil rights pioneer
In 1879, Mary Eliza Mahoney (1845-1926) broke racial barriers by graduating from New England Hospital for Women and Children's nursing program - the first African American to earn a professional nursing license. Of 42 candidates that year, only 4 completed the rigorous 16-month program, with Mahoney being the sole Black graduate.
Her career revolutionized healthcare through:
- Co-founding the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (1908)
- Campaigning against racial discrimination in nursing schools
- Pioneering private-duty nursing standards
Mahoney's 1896 Boston address to the Nurses Associated Alumnae (now ANA) marked the first major speech by a Black nurse to mixed-race professionals. Her legacy includes:
| Milestone | Impact |
|---|---|
| 1910 | First nurse inducted into NACGN Hall of Fame |
| 1936 | NACGN establishes Mary Mahoney Award |
| 1976 | Inducted into American Nurses Association Hall of Fame |
Today, the Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization continues her fight for healthcare equality.
Literary Appearances
No literary records found
Cinematic Appearances
No cinematic records found