Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital and Training School charter and certificate of incorporation
Collection
Identifier: MSS 6/001
Dates
- 1896-04-10
Creator
- Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital (Philadelphia, Pa.) (Organization)
Biographical / Historical
The Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital and Training School was founded in 1895 by Dr. Nathan Francis Mossell and incorporated in June of 1896. It opened at 1512 Lombard Street with 15 beds, though moved to 1534 Lombard Street with 75 beds in 1909. It was Philadelphia’s first hospital for Black residents and the second hospital in the country for African Americans.
In addition to providing affordable and accessible treatment for Black patients, the hospital also served as a place for Black doctors and nurses to gain practical medical training. In 1905 a group of doctors left Douglass Memorial and created Mercy Hospital, which opened in 1907. The two hospitals continued serving the community despite financial strain. In 1947, a joint committee conducted a survey and concluded that neither institution could survive on its own. In 1948, the two hospitals merged to establish the Mercy-Douglass Hospital in West Philadelphia. The training school recessed from 1957-to 1958, reopened in 1959, and graduated its last class in 1960. The Mercy-Douglass Hospital closed in 1973.
In addition to providing affordable and accessible treatment for Black patients, the hospital also served as a place for Black doctors and nurses to gain practical medical training. In 1905 a group of doctors left Douglass Memorial and created Mercy Hospital, which opened in 1907. The two hospitals continued serving the community despite financial strain. In 1947, a joint committee conducted a survey and concluded that neither institution could survive on its own. In 1948, the two hospitals merged to establish the Mercy-Douglass Hospital in West Philadelphia. The training school recessed from 1957-to 1958, reopened in 1959, and graduated its last class in 1960. The Mercy-Douglass Hospital closed in 1973.
Extent
1 folder
Language of Materials
English
Alternate Form Available
Manuscript copy available at. City of Philadelphia Department of Records.
Bibliography
Locklear, Jessica Markey. “Mercy-Douglass Hospital School of Nursing | Exhibits - Explore the Story of Women’s Activism through Documents & Images.” In Her Own Right, PACSCL, inherownright.org/spotlight/featured-exhibits/feature/mercy-douglass-hospital-school-of-nursing. Accessed 23 June 2026.
Creator
- Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital (Philadelphia, Pa.) (Organization)
- Title
- Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital and Training School charter and certificate of incorporation
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2026 June 23: Rayna Andrews updated the historical note and added information about conservation.
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Repository
Contact:
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
