Louisa Lee Schuyler

Louisa Lee Schuyler (October 26, 1837 – October 10, 1926) was an early American leader in charitable work, particularly noted for founding the first nursing school in the United States.

Louisa Lee Schuyler
Portrait by Léon Bonnat (1879)
Born(1837-10-26)October 26, 1837
DiedOctober 10, 1926(1926-10-10) (aged 88)
NationalityAmerican
Known forFounding the first nursing school in the United States

Charitable work

During the Civil War, at the relatively young age of 24,[1] Schuyler was appointed as the corresponding secretary in the Woman's Central Association of Relief (WCAR) in New York City.[2] The mission of WCAR was to coordinate the efforts of the volunteers on the home front, including distribution of millions of dollars of supplies, and providing training materials.[3]

In 1873 she organized the New York State Charities Aid Association and in the following year established the first training school for nurses in the United States in connection with Bellevue Hospital. She also worked on projects to address tuberculosis and blindness.[4] In 1907 she was appointed one of the original trustees of the Russell Sage Foundation, founded by Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage.[5]

Recognition

In recognition of her 40 years of activity in charitable work, she received in 1915 the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Columbia University.[6] In 2000, the State Charities Aid Association was renamed the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy in her honor.[3]

Family and personal life

Schuyler was the great-great-granddaughter of Gen. Philip Schuyler and the great-granddaughter of Alexander Hamilton, and the granddaughter of James Alexander Hamilton.[4]

Schuyler never married, living with her sister Georgina for most of her adult life.[1] She died shortly before her 89th birthday.

References
  1. Giesberg, Judith Ann (2006-07-01). Civil War Sisterhood: The U. S. Sanitary Commission and Women's Politics in Transition. UPNE. p. 60. ISBN 9781555536589.
  2. Attie, Jeanie (1998). "Northern White Women and the Mobilization for War", Major Problems in American Women's History (4th ed.) Boston: Houghton-Mifflin, pp. 226–228.
  3. "Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy Records, 1872-2004". New York State Library: Manuscripts and Special Collections. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  4. Goodrich, Anne W. (1915-09-01). "Louisa Lee Schuyler - An Appreciation". The American Journal of Nursing. J.B. Lippincott Company. p. 1081.
  5. Cole-Misch, Sally (2002). "Schuyler, Louisa Lee". Women in World History, Vol. 14: Schu-Sui. Waterford, CT: Yorkin Publications. pp. 19–20. ISBN 0-7876-4073-5.
  6. Columbia Alumni News. Alumni Council of Columbia University. 1915-01-01. p. 9.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Schuyler, Louisa Lee" . New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
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