Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first African American registered nurse in the United States. She enrolled in the New England Hospital for Women and Children on March 26, 1878. Out of the 18 trainees who enrolled, nine continued the training. Mary was one of the four to receive a diploma. In 1879, after she graduated, she opened the doors for other African American nurses.

In 1908, Mary co-founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN). In later years, Mary was an active participant in the Women’s Suffrage Movement. When the 19th Amendment was passed, she was one of the first African American women in Boston to register to vote.

Mary Eliza Mahoney Coloring Page