St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1954-05-14

as follows.
1. Delegates passed a resolu-
ton as part Of the ANA platform
calling for all nurses and all state
and local associations to work for
more inter-group harmony in
memberships and hiring policy in
their areas.
2. Mrs. Elizabeth X. Porter OF
Cleveland, national president OF
the ANA, cited this question as
one of the great challenges to the
nursing profession in her opening
address to the convention.
3. For the first time the Mary
Mahoney Award for the nurse
making most significant contribu-
tons to nursing and democracy in
the field went to a white person.
4. Miss Grace z. Mari, assistant
executive secretary of the ANA
in charge of the intergroup rela-
tons unit, through interviews and
discussions, outlined progress
made in the ANA in this field, and
explained problems yet unsolved
by the ANA.
In it's 1856 platform, the
House of Delegates, governing
body of the ANA, passed the fol-
lowing plank ON intergroup rela-
tons:
The ANA will aid nurses to be-
come more effective and more Sc
cure members of their professions
by: Promoting the inclusion and
full participation of minority
groups in association activities,
and eliminating discrimination in
job opportunities. salaries and
other working conditions"
Citing intergroup relations as
one of the big challenges of ANA,
Mrs. Porter reported:
"On the home front we are NOV
ing as rapidly as possible to re-
move barriers that prevent full
development and full employment
of nurses belonging to minority
racial groups"
AS progress during the past
eight years since the ANA first
took a stand on indignation, Mrs.
Porter reported that 10 of 1900
schools of nursing accept Negro
students, and only one state nur-
ses association (Georgia) still re-
fuses to accept Negroes. (Three
district associations, however, also
refuse Negro members in La
Shortcomings To Overcome
She also reported shortcomings
as follows:
Too infrequently is Ne
gro nurse appointed to member
ship or Craftsmanship of a COM
mittee, or elected to office. No
matter how high the qualification,
colored persons are seldom con-
sidered for a position above the
level of general duty, and too
frequently they do not receive the
equal salary for equal work.
"Intergroup relations in nurs-
ing is of vital concern to all of us,
both as nurses and as citizens of
our United States and of the
world"
The Mary Mahoney Award. pre-
scented in honor of the nations
first Negro nurse, went to Miss
May NJ. Maloney, executive direc-
tor Of the West Virginia State
Nurses Association. because OF her
constant fight for the indignation
of Negro nurses, which last year
resulted in three of West vir-
ginia's 20 nursing schools admit
ting Negro students for the first
time.
A member of the ANA inter
group relations program since its
origin in 1850, Miss Maloney a
nurse for IL years, was unable to
receive hsr award in person. Mrs.
Mabel X. Staupers. former presi-
dent of the National Association
of Colored Graduate Nurses, origi-
majors Of the award, presented II
to Miss Julion Ritter for the win
ner.
Was First Negro Nurse
The ANA presented the award
for the first time this year be-
cause the MACON disbanded in
1851 when the two groups agreed
to merge. The late Miss Mahoney
became the first Negro nurse Aug,
/, 1879 when she was graduated
from the New England Hospital
for Women and Children.
She was the welcome address
speaker at the founding meeting
of the MACON in 1909 and is
first chaplain. Born in Boston In
ls45, she was a nurse for 4C
years.
Miss Mari, who Is in charge OF
the ANA intergroup relations pro.
gram with offices at Two Pars
Av. New York. outlined a de
tailed report Of past progress
made by Negro nurses and pre-.
sented picture Of what Negrc