"Douglass Memorial Hospital"(8-28-1895-1973)

The Frederick Douglass Memorial Hospital and Training school was founded in Philadelphia by Dr. Nathan F.Mossell,an African American doctor.This full medical facility was established for those who were interested in the welfare and progress of the city's African American Community.Along with Dr.Mossell,Professor Jacob C.White and others were instrumental in its creation.The hospital's purpose was to care for the sick,to afford hospital opportunities for physicians,and to train nurses.Minnie Clemons,the first African-American nurse graduate graduate of Penn's Training school for Nurses,supervised the first approved Negro Nurse Training School located at Douglass.The Philadelphia African-American community initially funded Frederick Douglass Hospital.It gathered financial support from notable auxiliaries including individuals such as Mrs.William Jenks,Miss Susan Wharton,entrepreneurs such as Madame C.J. Walker and ordinary individuals.Organizations such as churches,fraternal groups like the Progressive Club,also provided financial support totaling $77,000.Later,the Hospital received $104,000 from Republicans because African American constituted major voting blocs supportive of them.Futhermore,the Pennsylvania commonwealth granted Douglass $18,000 in annual subsides,which was 50 percent of its funds and was more than that given to any other voluntary hospital.Douglass Memorial was later merged with Mercy Hospital,establishing Mercy/Douglass Hospital.It closed in 1973.