Mary Merritt And Her Dream

" Her eyes speak of her kindness," that's how most who knew Mary Eliza Merritt described her. She is believed to be the first African American registered nurse in Kentucky. Merritt was born in Berea, Kentucky and as a young adult she attended Berea College until 1903 when the Kentucky Day Law forced the college to refuse admission of African American students. Merritt must have been very saddened by this horrible and unjust law. But, she was strong willed, hardworking and desired a medical profession.

Determined, Merritt entered nurses training at Freedman's Hospital in Washington D.C., where she became a registered nurse in 1906. After graduating, Merritt worked for a short time as a private nurse at the home of prominent Kentuckian Cassius M. Clay. But, Merritt wanted more for her life and soon joined the Mitchell hospital in Leavenworth, Kansas where she worked as the hospital superintendent for twenty- five dollars a month plus expenses.

After two years in Kansas, Merritt returned to Berea where she met Lucy Belknap a wealthy woman from a well-to-do Louisville family. Belknap was impressed with Merritt and asked her to move to Louisville, Kentucky to become superintendent of the Red Cross Hospital. Merritt accepted the post in 1911, and was paid thirty dollars a month plus expenses.

The Red Cross Hospital at 1436 S. Shelby was a segregated hospital serving only African Americans. The building was old. Merritt described the conditions "... after the first trip through the building, my heart sank. This couldn't be the place; the flooring wasn't covered, the kitchen stove was warped, the operating room was upstairs, everything was so discouraging... but I didn't want them to feel I didn't want to do something for my own people. I then and there decided that I would stay one year."

Fortunately, one year turned into thirty-four years of service as the superintendent of the hospital. Under her supervision, the hospital grew from a small two-story wood frame building to a large sprawling facility for 100 patients. Her care and perseverance brought about many improvements such as the installation of gas and electricity, new linoleum floors and strict hospital standards.

In 1949, Merritt received the coveted Mary Mahoney Award for distinguished service in the field of nursing. Merritt retired from nursing in 1945. She died in 1953 and upon her death was honored by the press and other community members for a lifelong dedication to the service of others.

 

 

 Source:

Dunnigan, Alice, The Fascinating Story of Black Kentuckians: Their Heritage and Traditions, Washington, D.C.1976

Above Photograph: Mary Merritt in her Red Cross uniform circa 1942, courtesy of the Center of Excellence for the Study of Kentucky African-Americans.

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