Lillian Wald
Encyclopedia
Lillian D. Wald was a nurse; social worker; public health official; teacher; author; editor; publisher; activist for peace, women's, children's and civil rights; and the founder of American community nursing. Her unselfish devotion to humanity is recognized around the world and her visionary programs have been widely copied.
-Jewish middle-class family in Cincinnati, Ohio
, (her father was an optical dealer). In 1878, she moved with her family to Rochester, New York
. She attended Miss Cruttenden's English-French Boarding and Day School for Young Ladies; upon graduation she tried to enter Vassar College
but was denied, as the school thought her too young at 16. In 1889, she attended New York Hospital's School of Nursing
. She graduated from the New York Hospital Training School for Nurses in 1891, then took courses at the Woman’s Medical College.
In 1893 after a period of working at the New York Juvenile Asylum–an orphanage
where children were kept and conditions were poor–Wald started to teach a home class on nursing for poor immigrant families on the Lower East Side
(New York
). Not long after, she began to care for sick residents of the Lower East Side as a visiting nurse. Along with another nurse, Mary Brewster, she moved into a spartan room near her patients, in order to care for them better. In 1893 she also coined the term "public health nurse" to describe nurses whose work is integrated into the public community.
Wald extended this mission as founder of the Henry Street Settlement
which later attracted the attention of Jacob Schiff
, a prominent Jewish philanthropist
who secretly provided her the means to help more effectively the "poor Russia
n Jews" whose care she provided. She was able to expand her work later, having 27 nurses on staff by 1906, and succeeded in attracting broader financial support from such gentiles as Elizabeth Milbank Anderson
. By 1913 the staff had grown to 92 people. Wald worked in this area for 40 years.
Wald authored two books relating to this work, the first being The House on Henry Street, first published in 1911, followed by Windows on Henry Street in 1934. Both books went through numerous printings; modern reprints are available in both hard and paperback editions. Today, Lillian Wald is regarded as the founder of visiting nursing
in the United States and Canada.
The Henry Street Settlement eventually expanded into the Visiting Nurse Service of New York
. As an advocate for nursing in public schools her ideas led to the New York Board of Health's organizing and running the first public nursing system in the world. She was the first president of the National Organization for Public Health Nursing. Wald established a nursing insurance partnership with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company that became a model for many other corporate projects, suggested a national health insurance plan, and helped found Columbia University’s
School of Nursing.
in 1903 and later served as a member of the executive committee of the New York City League. In 1910, Wald and several colleagues went on a six-month tour of Hawaii, Japan, China, and Russia, a trip that increased her involvement in worldwide humanitarian issues.
In 1915, Wald founded the Henry Street Neighborhood Playhouse to serve as a cultural center. She also lobbied for laws against child labor, to allow all children to attend school. She helped establish the United State Children’s Bureau, helped President Theodore Roosevelt create the Federal Children’s Bureau, and advocated for education of the mentally handicapped.
An advocate for women's suffrage and for peace, Wald organized New York City campaigns for suffrage, marched to protest the United States’ entry into World War I, joined the Woman's Peace Party
and helped establish the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. In 1915 she was elected president of the newly formed American Union Against Militarism (AUAM) and after United States joined the war she remained involved with the AUAM's daughter organizations, the Foreign Policy Organization and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Wald never married. She died in 1940 of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of seventy-three. Thousands mourned her passing at private and public meetings. Rabbi Stephen Wise of the Free Synagogue led a service at Henry Street's Neighborhood Playhouse. Dr. John L. Elliott led a private service at her Westport home. A few months later, 2,500 people filled Carnegie Hall to hear statements from the president, governor, mayor, and others testifying to Wald's ability to bring people together and effect change. She was interred at Mount Hope Cemetery
in Rochester.
A BBYO chapter was later named after Wald. This is a chapter in North Florida Region named Waldflowers BBG #326.
The Lillian Wald Houses on Avenue D in Manhattan
were named for her. The Henry Street Settlement and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York continue the work she started more than a hundred years ago.
Young life and education
Wald was born into a comfortable and liveable, GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-Jewish middle-class family in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, (her father was an optical dealer). In 1878, she moved with her family to Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. She attended Miss Cruttenden's English-French Boarding and Day School for Young Ladies; upon graduation she tried to enter Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
but was denied, as the school thought her too young at 16. In 1889, she attended New York Hospital's School of Nursing
Nursing school
A nursing school is a type of educational institution, or part thereof, providing education and training to become a fully qualified nurse. The nature of nursing education and nursing qualifications varies considerably across the world.-United Kingdom:...
. She graduated from the New York Hospital Training School for Nurses in 1891, then took courses at the Woman’s Medical College.
Nursing career
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
where children were kept and conditions were poor–Wald started to teach a home class on nursing for poor immigrant families on the Lower East Side
Lower East Side, Manhattan
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
(New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
). Not long after, she began to care for sick residents of the Lower East Side as a visiting nurse. Along with another nurse, Mary Brewster, she moved into a spartan room near her patients, in order to care for them better. In 1893 she also coined the term "public health nurse" to describe nurses whose work is integrated into the public community.
Wald extended this mission as founder of the Henry Street Settlement
Henry Street Settlement
The Henry Street Settlement is a not-for-profit social service agency in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City that provides social services, arts programs and health care services to New Yorkers of all ages. It was founded in 1893 by Progressive reformer Lillian Wald.The...
which later attracted the attention of Jacob Schiff
Jacob Schiff
Jacob Henry Schiff, born Jakob Heinrich Schiff was a German-born Jewish American banker and philanthropist, who helped finance, among many other things, the Japanese military efforts against Tsarist Russia in the Russo-Japanese War.From his base on Wall Street, he was the foremost Jewish leader...
, a prominent Jewish philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
who secretly provided her the means to help more effectively the "poor Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Jews" whose care she provided. She was able to expand her work later, having 27 nurses on staff by 1906, and succeeded in attracting broader financial support from such gentiles as Elizabeth Milbank Anderson
Elizabeth Milbank Anderson
Elizabeth Milbank Anderson , philanthropist and advocate for public health and women's education, was the daughter of Jeremiah Milbank , a successful commission merchant, manufacturer and investor, and Elizabeth Lake...
. By 1913 the staff had grown to 92 people. Wald worked in this area for 40 years.
Wald authored two books relating to this work, the first being The House on Henry Street, first published in 1911, followed by Windows on Henry Street in 1934. Both books went through numerous printings; modern reprints are available in both hard and paperback editions. Today, Lillian Wald is regarded as the founder of visiting nursing
Home health nursing
Home health nursing is a nursing specialty in which registered nurses provide home care to patients. Home health nurses also supervise home health aides. The professional nursing organization for home health nurses is the Home Healthcare Nurses Association ....
in the United States and Canada.
The Henry Street Settlement eventually expanded into the Visiting Nurse Service of New York
Visiting Nurse Service of New York
Visiting Nurse Service of New York is the largest and oldest not-for-profit home health care provider in the United States.Lillian Wald, the founder of VNSNY, began making home nursing visits in 1893....
. As an advocate for nursing in public schools her ideas led to the New York Board of Health's organizing and running the first public nursing system in the world. She was the first president of the National Organization for Public Health Nursing. Wald established a nursing insurance partnership with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company that became a model for many other corporate projects, suggested a national health insurance plan, and helped found Columbia University’s
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
School of Nursing.
Community outreach
Not content to improve people's lives just through nursing, Wald also taught women how to cook and sew, provided recreational activities for families, and got involved in the labor movement. Out of her concern for women's working conditions, she helped to found the Women's Trade Union LeagueWomen's Trade Union League
The Women's Trade Union League was a U.S. organization of both working class and more well-off women formed in 1903 to support the efforts of women to organize labor unions and to eliminate sweatshop conditions...
in 1903 and later served as a member of the executive committee of the New York City League. In 1910, Wald and several colleagues went on a six-month tour of Hawaii, Japan, China, and Russia, a trip that increased her involvement in worldwide humanitarian issues.
In 1915, Wald founded the Henry Street Neighborhood Playhouse to serve as a cultural center. She also lobbied for laws against child labor, to allow all children to attend school. She helped establish the United State Children’s Bureau, helped President Theodore Roosevelt create the Federal Children’s Bureau, and advocated for education of the mentally handicapped.
Advocacy
Another of her concerns was the treatment of African-Americans. As a civil rights activist, Wald insisted that all Henry Street classes be racially integrated. She was one of the founders, in 1909, of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The first major public conference to create the organization opened with a meeting at the Henry Street settlement.An advocate for women's suffrage and for peace, Wald organized New York City campaigns for suffrage, marched to protest the United States’ entry into World War I, joined the Woman's Peace Party
Woman's Peace Party
The Woman's Peace Party was an American pacifist organization formally established in January 1915 in response to World War I. The organization is remembered as the first American peace organization to make use of direct action tactics such as public demonstration...
and helped establish the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. In 1915 she was elected president of the newly formed American Union Against Militarism (AUAM) and after United States joined the war she remained involved with the AUAM's daughter organizations, the Foreign Policy Organization and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Legacy
The New York Times named Wald as one of the 12 greatest living American women in 1922 and she later received the Lincoln Medallion for her work as an "Outstanding Citizen of New York.” In 1937 a radio broadcast celebrated Wald's 70th birthday; Mrs. Sara Delano Roosevelt read a letter from her son, President Franklin Roosevelt, in which he praised Wald for her “unselfish labor to promote the happiness and well being of others.”Wald never married. She died in 1940 of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of seventy-three. Thousands mourned her passing at private and public meetings. Rabbi Stephen Wise of the Free Synagogue led a service at Henry Street's Neighborhood Playhouse. Dr. John L. Elliott led a private service at her Westport home. A few months later, 2,500 people filled Carnegie Hall to hear statements from the president, governor, mayor, and others testifying to Wald's ability to bring people together and effect change. She was interred at Mount Hope Cemetery
Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester
Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, New York, founded in 1838, is the United States' first municipal rural cemetery. Situated on 196 acres of land adjacent to the University of Rochester on Mount Hope Avenue, the cemetery is the permanent resting place of over 350,000 people...
in Rochester.
A BBYO chapter was later named after Wald. This is a chapter in North Florida Region named Waldflowers BBG #326.
The Lillian Wald Houses on Avenue D in Manhattan
Avenue D (Manhattan)
Avenue D is the easternmost named avenue in the East Village neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, though several thoroughfares are closer to the East River. This area is also known as Alphabet City. Avenue D runs between East 12th Street and Houston Street, and continues south...
were named for her. The Henry Street Settlement and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York continue the work she started more than a hundred years ago.
Biographical References
- Brody, Seymour. Jewish Heroes & Heroines of America: 150 True Stories of American Jewish Heroism. Floriday: Lifetime Books, Inc., 1996.
- Coss, Claire. Lillian D. Wald: Progressive Activist. New York: The Feminist Press at CUNY, 1989.
- Daniels, Doris Groshen. Always a Sister: The Feminism of Lillian D. Wald. New York: The Feminist Press at CUNY, 1995.
- Duffs, Robert Luther. Lillian Wald, Neighbor and Crusader. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1938.
- Eiseman, Alberta. Rebels and reformers: Biographies of four Jewish Americans: Uriah Philips Levy, Ernestine L. Rose, Louis D. Brandeis, Lillian D. Wald. Zenith Books, 1976.
- Wagenknecht, Edward. Daughters of the Covenant: Portraits of Six Jewish Women. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1983.
External links
- Visiting Nurse Service of New York
- The House on Henry Street Lillian Wald's 1915 memoir, H. Holt and company. (full text from Google Books.)
- Nursing Leaders (Santa Fe Community College)
- Women in the Progressive Era (National Park ServiceNational Park ServiceThe National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
) - The National Women's Health Information Center
- Lillian Wald Biography at the Jewish-American Hall of Fame
- PDF guide to the Wald papers
- Marjorie N. Feld, Biography of Lillian Wald, Jewish Women Encyclopedia
- National Women's Hall of Fame profile of Lillian D. Wald