Evening star., 1940-12-03
Miss Gibson Praised
For Achievements Of
ChiIdren's S Hospital
c. D. Droyton, President
Of Boord, Outlines 20
Years as Superintendent

The 20 years during which Miss
Matte M. Gibson has been super
intendent of Children's Hospital
have been years packed with ac-
complishment, hospital growth and
service to Washington's youngsters
Yesterday the members of the
hospital at their 10th annual meet
ing took time out to do honor and
give praise to Miss Gibson for her
work. Although the meeting largely
was concerned with the annual re-
ports of Charles D. Drayton, presi-
dent of the Board of Directors: of
Miss Gibson, of DR.. Joseph S. Wall
chief of the medical staff, and heads
and representatives of the hospitals
various auxiliary groups, its un-
usual feature was the tribute paid
Miss Gibson.
The membership includes the di-
rectors, annual members and per-
manent honorary members.
Thomas B. Sweeney, vice presi-
dent, was the one chosen to speak
in Miss Gibson's honor.
TT is safe to say" he said. that
no individual in the long history
of the Children's Hospital has ex-
ercised a more potent influence
than Miss Gibson on its growth in
beneficence. on its physical expan-
sion, on its ability to serve flnan-
cially, on the spirit of loyal service
on the part of its Board of Direc-
tors, it's medical staff, its members
the ladies who comprise its various
auxiliaries and the nurses and en-
ployes who have come and gone
and others who are still here.
Rises Quickly in Classification.
From what has been described as
a more or less nondescript home for
INDECENT children, it qualified in one
year as a Grade A hospital, due
entirely to the house cleaning and
rejuvenation given it by the new
superintendent" he said.
He told the directors and members
of the hospital that in 1919, the year
in which Miss Gibson took over,
there were less than $500 patients
treated in the house and less than
5000 children brought into the dis
pensary. During 1910, he said, there
we're 1900 bed patients and $4,000
treated in the dispensary. Chiefly
through Miss Gibson's persistence,
he said, the hospital plant has been
enlarged to accommodate this
volume Of service to the community
Following the speech Mrs. Mary
Kelly presented Miss Gibson with an
armful Of red roses from the alumnae
of the nursing school; Miss Ashby
Taylor, superintendent of nurses,
presented her with desk set on be-
half of the nursing staff and DR..
A. M. Grossman, chief resident
physician, presented her with a gift
from the resident medical staff.
Mr.. Drayton told the more than
$50 members and directors present
that the hospital is in the best
financial shape since 1884.
Quoting from the report of the
hospitals auditors he said, THE
current fiscal period is the first
in which the hospital has shown
an excess of income over expenses
since the siX-month period ended
December 81, 1884"
Draws on Permanent Fund.
He cautioned, however, that the
hospital had found it necessary to
draw on its permanent investment
fund to liquidate its building debt
and to paying the hospitals bills.
Some paying securities had to be
sold to accomplish this, he said.
Total reduction of the fund has
been S226,000 but that substantial
amounts in legacies and gifts have
gone into it.
I'VE now hope that the permanent
investment fund may be gradually
restored" he said.
Mr.. Drayton paid tribute to the
work of the hospitals auxiliaries
and to the Board CT Lady Visitors,
the Washington Post and Station
WJSV for their work in creating
the hospitals blood bank. Mr..