African African American and Native American nurses in Appalachia 1900-1965

Lula Gloyne, Ernestine Walkingstick, Ernest Grant Frances Davis ... these names are rarely familiar to Appalachian Studies scholars or students because nurses have received scant academic attention in the field of Appalachian studies. Yet, nurses are all around us. They attend our births and deaths, administer healing treatments when we are ill and help us promote well-being through public health and mental health programs. Almost every family can identify a nurse or two on its family tree. Nurses are members of and care for members of every racial, religious and cultural group. For over a century, Appalachian nurses have worked in rural and urban areas, provided care in chrome trimmed surgical suites and tumble down cabins and have navigated legal, political and economic currents to improve the health of the public while continuously upgrading the profession. This power point presentation will highlight the lives and careers of a few significant African American and Native American Appalachian nurses from 1900-1965