Western New York State was the home of nursing visionaries who shaped the profession and promoted the importance of nursing to families, the health of the population, and the care of those most in need. Susan B. Anthony’s reform work and the development of the nursing profession intersected at many points, fueling a symbiotic relationship that furthered each cause.
Clara Barton organized nurses during the American Civil War (1861–1865) and established the American Red Cross in 1881. She met Susan B. Anthony after the Civil War and joined her working for women’s rights. Barton frequently visited Susan and Mary Anthony at their home, and Barton spoke at many suffrage conventions. In turn, in 1902, Susan B. Anthony was the keynote speaker at the New York State nurses convention, advocating for professional education and the licensing of nurses. Read Clara Barton’s speech on woman suffrage.
Rochester, NY was also the home of Lillian Wald (1867–1940), a nurse who transformed the care of the poor, immigrants, women, and children by originating the concept of public health and school nursing in the United States.
WATCH “SUSAN B. ANTHONY: AN ADVOCATE FOR NURSING” TO LEARN More about WHY SUSAN B. ANTHONY IS IMPORTANT TO NURSES!
Read about Susan B. Anthony’s experiences nursing her family members.
Read about Rochester, NY’s role in the the nursing profession.
Read about the nurses who cared for Susan B. Anthony in her last illness.
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