New England Hospital

Hospital founded in 1862 as New England Hospital for Women and Children in Boston, Mass.; nursing school established in 1872; name of hospital changed to New England Hospital in 1952; closed in 1969.

The New England Hospital, formerly the New England Hospital for Women and Children, was founded in Boston in 1862 by Dr. Marie Zakrzewska. The Hospital's objectives were: "1) to provide for women medical aid of competent physicians of their own sex; 2) to assist educated women in the practical study of medicine; and 3) to train nurses for the care of the sick." NEH was the first hospital staffed entirely by women physicians, and began the first nursing school in the U.S., graduating the first American trained nurse (Linda Richards, in 1872) as well as the first black nurse (Mary Eliza Mahoney, in 1879). The name of the Hospital was officially changed in 1951 to reflect the fact that men were also being admitted as patients.

By early 1950 the Hospital was beset with financial difficulties, leading to a report by the Board of Directors urging the abandonment of a hospital operated by women and the inclusion of men on the active staff. This recommendation caused a split between the Board and the staff, who felt morally and legally bound by the chartered objectives of the Hospital, and by Article 10(a) of the By-laws: "The medical officers of the Hospital shall consist of one or more resident physicians...all of whom must be women." For a brief period the Board prevailed, and men were appointed to the staff, but this policy was reversed in 1952. Lack of funds also led to the closing of the School of Nursing in 1951. The discontinuance of funding from United Community Services was a further blow to the Hospital. Disagreements over staffing and funding continued throughout the early 1950's. Although financial difficulties continued on and off for several years, NEH survived. By 1962 the By-laws had been rewritten and men were once more serving on the active staff. In November 1969 the name was changed again, this time to the Dimock Community Health Center.