Lucinda Canty

Date of Award

Spring 5-1994

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

First Advisor

Helen Varney Burst

Second Advisor

Heather D. Reynolds

Abstract

A historical study was conducted to identify the achievements and contributions of the graduates of the Tuskegee School of Nurse-Midwifery to the nurse-midwifery profession and the impact they had on obstetrical and general health care in the United States. The first step of the process was identifying the number and names of the graduates. The sample consisted of the 31 graduates of Tuskegee School of Nurse­ Midwifery. The names of 26 of the 31 graduates were identified. Information was obtained on a total of 10 of the 26 graduates whose names are known. All are black women between approximately seventy-five to one hundred years of age. An oral history was obtained on two graduates. Primary and secondary sources were located and analyzed. The results revealed the ten graduates worked as clinical nurse-midwives, general public health practitioners, educators in nursing and nurse-midwifery; instructors and supervisors of granny midwives; and functioned as maternal-child consultants. They were able to overcome racial, economic, and cultural barriers to provide improved health care to women and children. Limitations of the study and implications for future research are presented.

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