Anna DeCosta Banks

Anna DeCosta Banks (September 2, 1869 – November 29, 1930) was employed at the Hospital and Training School for Nurses in Charleston, South Carolina, where she was the first head nurse. Banks is known for her nursing career, as well as a later position held as superintendent for 32 years at the same training school for nurses. Specifically designed for women of color, this hospital was later renamed McClennan-Banks Memorial Hospital in her honor.

Anna DeCosta Banks
BornSeptember 2, 1869 Charleston, South Carolina
DiedNovember 29, 1930
EducationVirginia Hampton Institute, 1891 Hampton's Dixie Hospital of Nursing, 1895
OccupationNurse

Early life and education

Anna DeCosta Banks was born on September 2, 1869, in Charleston, South Carolina. She attended Charleston Public Schools for her primary education. In 1891 she graduated from Virginia's Hampton Institute, now known as Hampton University, where she was one of the first students to earn a diploma.[1][2] Afterwards, she enrolled in Hampton's Dixie Hospital of Nursing, where she was one of the school's first graduates.[3]

Career

Banks was the first head nurse at the Hospital and Training School for Nurses in Charleston, South Carolina, located at 135 Cannon Street. This hospital was later renamed to McClennan-Banks Memorial Hospital. She became the Superintendent of Nurses, a position she held for 32 years.[4] Throughout her career she focused on seeking more equitable health care for African Americans, caring for many impoverished African-American patients while only charging them the cost of board and medicine.[3]

Additionally, Banks wrote an article in 1899 regarding the issues African-American nurses faced for the Hampton Training School for Nurses and Dixie Hospital. At this time, segregation affected where African-American nurses were able to work. Banks stressed the need for funding and donations at various hospitals to provide practical training for African-American nurses.[2]

Meanwhile, Banks also privately worked as a visiting public-health nurse for the Ladies Benevolent Society for Charleston.[5] She served this society for twenty-four years and as a collector interacting with black policyholders for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.[2]

Personal life

Banks was the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth DeCosta.[3] She married Issiah Banks, and in 1889 she gave birth to Evangeline Banks Harrison in Hampton, Virginia.[6] Harrison went on to become the Medical Records Librarian at McClennan-Banks Memorial Hospital, which was partly named in honor of her mother.[7]

Legacy

When Banks died, the society gave her the tribute: "All ages, classes, races, called her blessed". Banks had such a significant effect on nursing within the state of South Carolina that the Medical University of South Carolina named a wing of their hospital after her.[6] In 1930, Banks passed away and was known as the oldest nurse working in South Carolina at the time.[2] In addition, the name of the Hospital and Training School for Nurses was changed to McClennan-Banks Hospital. However, this hospital closed in 1977.[8]

References
  1. Buhler-Wilkerson, Karen (2001). No Place Like Home. Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 72–79. ISBN 0-8018-7318-5.
  2. Schafer, Elizabeth D. (May 17, 2016). "Banks, Anna DeCosta". South Carolina Encyclopedia. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  3. "Anna DeCosta Banks, RN". South Carolina African American. January 2004. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  4. "Anna DeCosta Banks". Hospital and Training School for Nurses McClennan-Banks Memorial Hospital. 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  5. Walker, Donna Isbell (February 3, 2015). "Anna DeCosta Banks spent her life caring for those in need". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  6. Walker, Donna Isbell (February 3, 2015). "Anna DeCosta Banks spent her life caring for those in need". Greenville Online. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  7. "Inventory of the Helen Evangeline Banks Harrison Papers, circa 1850 - 1985". avery.cofc.edu. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
  8. "Anna DeCosta Banks: First African-American Head Nurse of the Hospital and Training School for Nurses". Black Then. 2017.
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