New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-05-20
Miss Maxwell Sees
Her Last Glass OF
Nurses Graduated
Head of Presbyferian Hos
pital School to Retire
After Years of Service
Both i'm Peace and War


Miss Anna G. Maxwell, superinten-
dent of the School OF Nursing at Pres
byterian Hospital for many. years, re-
viewed her last graduating class last
night wh,n exercises were held for
thirty OF her pupils in the Madison
Avenue Presbyterian Church. Miss
Maxwell is seventy years old, and has
announced that she will retire at the
head Of the nursing school which she
founded thirty years ago on July /
next.
Miss Carolyn e. Gray, president of
the New York City League for Nursing
Education, with which organization
beginnings Miss Maxwell also was iden-
titled, expressed regret yesterday that
Miss Maxwell was retiring as the head
of the School Of Nursing, but hailed the
opportunity Of seeing her free after
next month to devote some Of her time
to the work Of the league and the nurs-
ing profession generally.
Miss Maxwell established the school
Of which she is the head in this CITY
IN 1892. During this time 706 students
have basn graduated from the, institu-
ton. She was one CT the committee of
nurses who worked for state registra-
ton OF nurses, which was accomplished
by legislation in this state in 1908.
This law has been revised in the last
year, and on January / registration of
nurses became compulsory.
In 1898 call came from Washington
to the Red Cross asking that Miss Max
we'll take charge Of the nursing in
Sternburg Hospital, Camp Thomas
Chlckamauga Park, Ga. In this camp
of instruction, where there were $4,000
men, an epidemic Of typhoid fever had
broken out. Miss Maxwell and he1
NURSES arrived July 20, and the first
patieaos were received early in August
Through Miss Maxwell's EFFORTS il was
demonstrated that well trained and dis.
ciplined nurses could give aid to che
government in time OF war. Later the
Administration presented q bill, which
became Law, and the Army Nurse Corps
was established under the direction of
Anita NewcoInbe Magee in May, 1900
Miss Maxwell was a member of the
committee from this city which helped
to secure this legislation.
When the World War broke out, and
long before this country entered it,
Miss Maxwell organized for the Pres
byterian Hospital the first nursing unit
to go abroad. In company with Miss
Given Wilson she visited three battle
fronts, bringing back reports of the
work and q better understanding of
the conditions under which the nurses
worked under military organization. In
the spring Of 1917 the governors of
Columbia University conferred che de-.
gree OF master Of arts on Miss MAJ
well. In 1918 she worked arduously Co
obtain military rank for members Of
the Army Nurse Corps, and this was
effected in 1926.
Besides being member Of many
nursing organizations, Miss Maxwell is
a member Of the Cosmopolitan Club
the Women's City Club and the Ma
tional Institute Of Social Science. She
is an honorary member OF the New
York City League for Nursing Educa-
tion and also of the National League
for Nursing Education.
After the exercises in the church last
night the nurses marched to Florence
Nightingale Hall, where a reception
was held. The commencement address
WAS delivered by the Rev. Harry Elmer
son Fosdick. Superintendents, head
nurses and graduates in the order OF
the classes from 1894 to 1920 took part
in the professional.