Adah Belle Thoms
Encyclopedia
Adah Belle Samuels Thoms (January 12, 1870 – February 21, 1943) was an African American
nurse who cofounded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses, was acting director of the Lincoln School for Nurses (New York), and fought for African Americans to serve as army nurses during World War I. She was among the first nurses inducted into the American Nurses Association
Hall of Fame when it was established in 1976.
, to Harry and Melvina Samuels.
As a young woman, she married briefly, and kept the surname Thoms. She taught in Virginia, and then in the 1890s, she went to New York, to study elocution and speech at Cooper Union
. She then studied nursing at the Women's Infirmary and School of Therapeutic Massage, graduating in 1900 as the only black woman in a class of thirty.
Thoms continued her education at the Lincoln Hospital and Home School of Nursing, a school for black women, graduating in 1905. Although she served as acting director between 1906 and 1923, racist policies prevented her receiving the official title of director.
Thoms became involved in international efforts to advance the nursing profession, attending the International Council of Nurses
in 1912.
In the first part of the twentieth century, Thoms worked with Martha Franklin and Mary Mahoney to organize the National Association of Colored Nurses. The organizing meeting was held at Lincoln Home and Hospital, and hosted by Thoms, in 1907. The organization, founded in 1908 by a group of 52 black nurses, aimed to secure the full integration
of black women nurses into the nursing profession. Focused on the American Nurses' Association, nursing education programs, employment opportunities, and equal pay, the organization was ultimately dissolved by president Mabel Keaton Staupers
in 1950, after successfully integrating the US Armed Forces (WWII) and the American Nurses' Association (1948).
Thoms served as president of the NACGN from 1916-1923, and played a critical role in lobbying for the rights of African American women to serve in the United States military during World War I. During World War I, Thoms campaigned the American Red Cross
to permit black nurses to enroll. Introduced to President Warren G. Harding
and First Lady Florence Kling Harding, she presented them with a basket of roses, and told them that 2000 black nurses were ready to serve their country. These efforts ultimately led to the creation of the United States Army Nurse Corps.
In 1923, she remarried, to Henry Smith, who died within the year.
Adah Belle Samuels Thoms died in New York City, February 21, 1943.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
nurse who cofounded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses, was acting director of the Lincoln School for Nurses (New York), and fought for African Americans to serve as army nurses during World War I. She was among the first nurses inducted into the American Nurses Association
American Nurses Association
The American Nurses Association is a professional organization to advance and protect the profession of nursing. It started in 1896 as the Nurses Associated Alumnae and was renamed the American Nurses Association in 1911...
Hall of Fame when it was established in 1976.
Biography
Thoms was born Adah Belle Samuels in Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, to Harry and Melvina Samuels.
As a young woman, she married briefly, and kept the surname Thoms. She taught in Virginia, and then in the 1890s, she went to New York, to study elocution and speech at Cooper Union
Cooper Union
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly referred to simply as Cooper Union, is a privately funded college in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States, located at Cooper Square and Astor Place...
. She then studied nursing at the Women's Infirmary and School of Therapeutic Massage, graduating in 1900 as the only black woman in a class of thirty.
Thoms continued her education at the Lincoln Hospital and Home School of Nursing, a school for black women, graduating in 1905. Although she served as acting director between 1906 and 1923, racist policies prevented her receiving the official title of director.
Thoms became involved in international efforts to advance the nursing profession, attending the International Council of Nurses
International Council of Nurses
The International Council of Nurses is a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations. It was founded in 1899 and was the first international organization for health care professionals...
in 1912.
In the first part of the twentieth century, Thoms worked with Martha Franklin and Mary Mahoney to organize the National Association of Colored Nurses. The organizing meeting was held at Lincoln Home and Hospital, and hosted by Thoms, in 1907. The organization, founded in 1908 by a group of 52 black nurses, aimed to secure the full integration
Racial integration
Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely...
of black women nurses into the nursing profession. Focused on the American Nurses' Association, nursing education programs, employment opportunities, and equal pay, the organization was ultimately dissolved by president Mabel Keaton Staupers
Mabel Keaton Staupers
Mabel Keaton Staupers was a pioneer in the American nursing profession. Faced with racial discrimination after graduating from nursing school, Staupers became an advocate for racial equality in the nursing profession....
in 1950, after successfully integrating the US Armed Forces (WWII) and the American Nurses' Association (1948).
Thoms served as president of the NACGN from 1916-1923, and played a critical role in lobbying for the rights of African American women to serve in the United States military during World War I. During World War I, Thoms campaigned the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
to permit black nurses to enroll. Introduced to President Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
and First Lady Florence Kling Harding, she presented them with a basket of roses, and told them that 2000 black nurses were ready to serve their country. These efforts ultimately led to the creation of the United States Army Nurse Corps.
In 1923, she remarried, to Henry Smith, who died within the year.
Adah Belle Samuels Thoms died in New York City, February 21, 1943.
Recognitions
- American Nursing Association, Hall of Fame - Original inductee, in 1976
- Mary Mahoney Medal, 1936, the first recipient of the award from the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses
See also
- National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses
- Harlem Hospital School of NursingHarlem Hospital School of NursingHarlem Hospital School of Nursing is a training school for African-American women established in 1923. It was founded due to the lack of nursing schools in New York that accepted African American women...