Washington University School of Medicine Oral Histories
Ella B. Brown Oral History
Interviewer
James Carter and William M. Geideman
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Summary
Ella B. Brown was interviewed by James Carter and William M. Geideman on July 27, 1990, for approximately 22 minutes. Brown discusses her experiences at Homer G. Phillips Hospital, where she served as director of nursing service.
Scope and Content
Ella Brown discusses her experiences at Homer G. Phillips Hospital, where she served as director of nursing service at the time of its closure, and the effect the closing of the hospital had on health care for the Black community.
Brown relates her memories of the closure of Homer G. Phillips Hospital and the pain she felt. She discusses the political and economic issues at play, and later explains the logistics involved in closing the hospital and provides details from its last day of operation.
She also discusses the connection between the hospital and Washington University, and the merger of the Homer G. Phillips School of Nursing with St. Louis City Hospital Training School for Nurses in 1966.
Biographical Information: Interviewee
Ella B. Brown was born in Fort Worth, Texas. She graduated from the Homer G. Phillips School of Nursing in 1947. She received her B.S.N. from St. Louis University, and in 1959 received a master’s degree in nursing from Washington University School of Nursing. Later, she received a master’s degree in nursing and administration from Webster University and a Certificate in Pediatric Nursing from the University of Chicago.
Brown began working at Homer G. Phillips Hospital in 1947 and held a variety of positions, including staff nurse, supervisor, instructor, and assistant director of education in the nursing school. She was on the faculty of Homer G. Phillips School of Nursing when it merged to become the St. Louis Municipal School of Nursing.
She was Director of Nursing Services at Homer G. Phillips Hospital when it closed 1979. She transferred her position as director of nursing to St. Louis City Hospital No. 1 and remained there until her retirement in 1984, when City Hospital closed. She was the first Black person to be inducted into the Missouri Nurses Association Hall of Fame.
Biographical Information: Interviewer
James Carter is an anesthesiologist who received his bachelor's from Washington University in 1989 and graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in 1993.
William M. Geideman is an orthopedic surgeon who graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in 1993. He completed his internship and orthopedic residency training at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
Interview Date
1990-07-27
Collection Identifier
OH100 (PC054-S03)
Length
Approximately 22 minutes.
Restrictions
Users wishing to publish (in whole, or in part) content taken from the audio or transcript of this oral history interview must request, sign, and return a Statement of Use form to the Becker Archives. For detailed information regarding publication and use of this oral history, contact the Becker Archives (arb@wusm.wustl.edu).
Recommended Citation
Ella B. Brown Oral History, OH100 (PC054-S03), Bernard Becker Medical Library Archives, Washington University in St. Louis.
Disclaimer
The Becker Archives provides access to this oral history interview as a record of the past. This interview reflects the attitudes, perspectives, and beliefs of the interview participants, which may reflect outdated, biased, and offensive views and opinions. The Becker Archives does not endorse the views expressed in this interview, which may contain materials offensive to some users.
Notes
Post-interview edits made by Brown have been incorporated into the transcript. There may be discrepancies between the audio recording and the transcript.