Remembering Lillian Wald: Remembering Our Roots

MARILYN D. HARRIS, RN, MSN, CNAA-BC, FAAN

I have been a home health nurse, the ‘Bunker Hill’ of playgrounds, supervisor, and/or administrator as it was called after the first bat- for 49 years. Over the years, I tle of the American Revolution.” read books about Lillian Wald, The playground continues in founder of the Henry Street Set- use in 2008. I had the opportunity tlement House (HSSH) on the to visit some of the other sites Lower East Side of New York, writ- that continue today such as the ten by Siegel (1983) and Rogow day care, the mental health clinic, (1966). I shared my admiration and the thrift shop. for Ms. Wald, credited with found- My experience of HSSH was en- ing public health nursing and one hanced by a visit to the Lower of my professional heroines, in a East Side Tenement Museum previous commentary, “The Lillian Wald (LESTM). This museum offers Power of One” (Harris, 2005). I various programs that enable had the opportunity to realize one of my profes- participants to experience life in the early 1900s sional goals—to visit HSSH—when the Museum when Ms. Wald provided services. of Nursing History, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, spon- The 1.5-hour program that I experienced was a sored a trip to HSSH during National Nurses Week visit with an actress who portrayed 14-year-old 2008 (Syverson, 2008). Victoria Confino, who in 1916 lived in an apart- I had the opportunity to visit the house where ment in a 5-story tenement with 4 small 3-room Ms. Wald and the nurses lived and sit in the din- apartments on each floor. ing room that remains the same as when Ms. Victoria welcomed our group to her apart- Wald and the nurses lived and worked there, in- ment. The apartment door opens into a small cluding the furniture used more than 100 years kitchen that has a sink with cold water, a coal ago, the result of her will. stove, stationery tubs to do laundry, and a small “In 1930, Ms. Wald put her personal affairs in table. The family did not have an ice box or refrig- order and made out a will. . . . In the disposal of erator. The doorway to the left of the kitchen her estate, she requested that the ‘brasses and leads into the small bedroom with 1 bed that was coppers’ and other antiques at Henry Street used by the parents and small children. The should remain there undisturbed, ‘for the things small area to the right of the kitchen is the living I have put there, I think, give it some of its atmos- room with a bed, some chairs, and a trunk. Visi- phere’.” (Siegel, 1983, p.162). Ms. Wald’s expecta- tors and other family members were expected to tion was realized by this visitor. pay “board” to sleep several to the bed, on During the tour of HSSH, I saw one area de- chairs, or on a mat on the floor—hence the term scribed by Siegel (1983, p. 53): “the small play- “room and board.” ground that Ms. Wald created by combining There is a common bathroom on each floor for Henry Street’s small backyard with two adjoining the 4 apartments, but chamber pots are in com- ones. The safe, bright, clean, cheerful space— mon use. Victoria noted that the laundry that this first playground on the Lower East Side hung in the kitchen was there to protect it from marked a new era. Residents lined up to get into other tenants who might not use the bathroom to

vol. 27 • no. 1 • January 2009 Home Healthcare Nurse 67 challenging but did not rise to the level experi- “In 1930, Ms. Wald put her personal affairs enced by the HSSH nurses. It is easy to convey the in order and made out a will. . . . In the sense of pride I feel in Ms. Wald’s many accom- plishments after visiting both of these museums. disposal of her estate, she requested that Although nurses in various areas of the coun- the ‘brasses and coppers’ and other try may not have the opportunity to visit histori- antiques at Henry Street should remain cal sites, we can read about these early heroines and visit Web sites where virtual tours may be there undisturbed, ‘for the things I have available. It is educational and enjoyable to take put there, I think, give it some of its time to appreciate our home care roots rather atmosphere’.” than get mired in the many challenges experi- enced in providing home health nursing care in the 21st century. empty their chamber pots but may choose to empty them from the fire escape to the area Marilyn D. Harris, RN, MSN, CNAA-BC, FAAN, is below, possibly soiling the washed clothes! Former Executive Director, Abington Memorial Victoria shares that she has limited schooling Hospital Home Care, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. because this usually was available only for boys. Address for correspondence: Marilyn D. Harris, Most of her time is occupied with house work, RN, MSN, CNAA-BC, FAAN, 39 Franklin Avenue, cooking, and helping to care for other family Hatboro, PA 19040 (e-mail: Mharris 555@com members. cast.net). Our visit with Victoria ends too soon! I am ready to return to the LESTM to visit some of the REFERENCES other restored apartments and meet other immi- Harris, M. (2005, May). The power of one. Home Health- grants who lived and worked there during Ms. care Nurse. 23(5), 340. Wald’s lifetime. Rogow, S. (1966). Lillian Wald: The nurse in blue. Several nurses reflected on their positive ex- Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society of periences during the ride home: America. Siegel, B. (1983). Lillian Wald of Henry Street. New York: Macmillan. Seeing and experiencing Lillian Wald and her Syverson, N. (2008). A nurse for all. ADVANCE for work and her abode were important experi- Nurses, 10(13), 27, 41. ences. The experience at the Tenement Mu- seum gave me added appreciation of the early struggles of my grandparents. The visit to Henry Street was a wonderful day. Resources Thank you for a wonderful trip to New York. The Museum of Nursing History, Inc. Not only was it fun; it was so very interesting C/O Friends Hospital and informative. 4641 Roosevelt Boulevard Thank you for putting together the trip to New Philadelphia, PA 19124 York. It was wonderful. Ms. Wald was one of 215-831-7819 the reasons I accepted the Education/Quality www.nursinghistory.org Assessment supervisory position in 1984. Ms. Henry Street Settlement House Wald believed you could reach more and influ- 265 Henry Street ence more from an administrative position. New York, New York 10002 Thank you for a wonderful day! My mother 212-766-9200 (age 80) and I had a great time and enjoyed www.henrystreet.org every minute. Lower East Side Tenement Museum 91 Orchard Street During my half century in home care, I have had New York, NY many wonderful and challenging experiences as I 212-431-0122 provided care for patients and families. Some of www.tenement.org my home visits were in areas and homes that were

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