Historical Review The American Nurses Association has been in existence since 1896. The following is a compilation of some of the events and happenings of the ANA and the nursing profession since 1896. 1896 On September 2, 1896, delegates from ten alumnae associations met at Manhattan Beach Hotel, near New York City, for the purpose of organizing a national professional association for nurses. 1897 On February 11-12, 1897, the constitution and bylaws were completed and the Nurses' Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada was organized. Isabel Adams Hampton Robb, from Ohio, elected president of the Nurses’ Association Alumnae of the United States and Canada, 1897 – 1901. 1898 The Nurses' Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada held its first annual convention, April 28 – 29, in New York, N.Y. 1899 The Nurses’ Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada held its second convention in New York, N. Y., May 1 – 3. 1900 On October 1, 1900, the first issue of the American Journal of Nursing was distributed. The third convention was held May 3 – 5, in New York, N.Y. In 1900 there were 11,892 nurses (graduates and students). 1901 The first state nurses' associations were organized to work toward state laws to control nursing practice. The fourth convention was held September 16 – 17, in Buffalo, N.Y. New York State Nurses Association (April), Virginia Nurses Association (June), Illinois Nurses Association (July), and New Jersey State Nurses Association (December) were the first states to become constituent associations of the Nurses’ Association Alumnae. The Nurses’ Associated Alumnae helped to secure passage of a bill creating the Army Nurse Corps, Female. The Nurses' Associated Alumnae of the United States and Canada was incorporated under the laws of the state of New York, making it necessary to drop the reference to Canada in the association's title. Annie Damer (New York) elected president of the Nurses’ Associated Alumnae, 1901 – 1902. The Nurses' Associated Alumnae affiliated with the American Society of Superintendents of Training Schools for Nurses to form the American Federation of Nurses for the purpose of applying for membership in the National Council of Women. 1902 Linda L. Rogers of New York City becomes the first school nurse. Mary M. Riddle (Massachusetts) elected president of the Nurses’ Associated Alumnae, 1902 – 1905. The fifth convention was held May 1 – 3, in Chicago, IL. North Carolina Nurses Association becomes a constituent association of the Nurses’ Associated Alumnae. 1903 The first bills concerning registration for nurses were enacted in North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (June), Minnesota Nurses Association (November), District of Columbia Nurses Association (November), and Maryland Nurses Association (December) become constituent associations of the Nurses’ Associated Alumnae. The sixth convention was held June 10 – 12, in Boston, MA. 1904 Indiana State Nurses Association (January), Ohio Nurses Association (January), Connecticut Nurses Association (February), Louisiana State Nurses Association (March), Michigan Nurses Association (May), Colorado Nurses Association (spring), Iowa Nurses Association (May) become constituent association of the Nurses’ Associated Alumnae. The seventh convention was held May 12 – 14, in Philadelphia, PA. 1905 The Nurses' Associated Alumnae joined with Great Britain and Germany to become the three charter members of the International Council of Nurses. Annie Damer (New York) elected for a second time as president of the Nurses’ Associated Alumnae, 1905 – 1909. The eighth convention was held May 4 – 5, in Washington, DC. Rhode Island State Nurses Association (January), West Virginia Nurses Association (February), Oregon Nurses Association (fall) become constituent associations of the Nurses’ Associated Alumnae. 1906 The office of Interstate Secretary was created to handle correspondence and assist in organizing state associations. New Hampshire Nurses Association (May), Missouri Nurses Association (October), Washington State Nurses Association (November), Kentucky Nurses Association (November), Nebraska Nurses Association (November) become constituent associations of the Nurses’ Associated Alumnae. The ninth convention was held June 5 – 7, in Detroit, MI. 1907 Mary Adelaide Nutting was appointed professor of institutional administration at Teachers College, Columbia University, and the first nurse to occupy a university chair. Texas Nurses Association (February), Georgia Nurses Association (May), South Carolina Nurses Association (fall) become constituent associations of the Nurses’ Associated Alumnae. The tenth convention was held May 14 – 16, in Richmond, VA. 1908 On August 25, 1908, 52 Negro nurses met in New York City and founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses. Martha Franklin of Connecticut, a graduate of the Women's Hospital in Philadelphia, was chosen first president of this group which proposed to work for higher professional nursing standards, the elimination of discrimination, and the development of leadership among Negro nurses. It merged with ANA in 1951. Oklahoma Nurses Association (September), Wyoming Nurses Association (November) become constituent associations of the Nurses’ Associated Alumnae. The 11th convention was held May 5 – 8, in San Francisco, CA. The Nurses Corps of the United States Navy was founded. 1909 The Nurses' Associated Alumnae cooperated with the American Red Cross in establishing the Red Cross Nursing Service. Jane A. Delano (New York) elected president of the Nurses’ Associated Alumnae, 1901 – 1911. The 12th convention was held June 10 – 11, in Minneapolis, MN. The first complete university school of nursing was organized at the University of Minnesota. Tennessee Nurses Association (January), Idaho Nurses Association (spring) become constituent associations of the Nurses’ Associated Alumnae. 1910 Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, dies August 13th in London, England at the age of 90. 1911 The Nurses' Associated Alumnae changed its name to the American Nurses' Association. The 13th convention was held May 31 – June 3, in Boston, MA. Sarah E. Sly (Michigan) elected president of the American Nurses Association, 1911 – 1913. ANA established a relief fund for nurses in need of financial assistance. ANA established an Advisory Council composed of the officers of the national organization and the presidents of state nurses' associations. Mississippi Nurses Association (June) becomes a constituent association of the American Nurses Association. Number of nurses in 1910 (graduates and students): 76,508 women and 5,819 men for a total of 82,327. 1912 ANA purchased all the stock of the American Journal of Nursing Company with the "Journal Purchase Fund" contributed by nurses, plus a note of $1,600. American Society of Superintendents of Training Schools for Nurses, founded in 1894, changed its name to the National League of Nursing Education. Membership in the league was extended to headworkers of social, educational, and preventive nursing. ANA helps to organize the National Organization for Public Health Nursing; it dissolved in 1952. Kansas State Nurses Association (February), North Dakota Nurses Association (May), Delaware Nurses Association (June), Florida Nurses Association (August), Montana Nurses Association (October) become constituent associations of the American Nurses Association. The 14th convention was held June 5 – 7, in Chicago, IL. ANA accepted into membership the National League of Nursing Education and the National Organization for Public Health Nursing. 1913 The War Department formally accepted the Red Cross enrollment as a reserve for the Army Nurse Corps and the Navy Nurse Corps. Genevieve Cooke (California) elected president of the American Nurses Association, 1913 – 1915. Arkansas Nurses Association (April) becomes a constituent association of the American Nurses Association. The 15th convention was held June 25 – 27, in Atlantic City, NJ. 1914 ANA established the Central Information Bureau for Legislation and Information to supply data concerning the work of state boards of nurse examiners. Utah Nurses Association (March), Alabama State Nurses’ Association (March), Vermont State Nurses Association (May) become constituent associations of the American Nurses Association. The ANA convention was held April 23 – 29, in St. Louis, MO. 1915 Annie W. Goodrich (New York) elected president of the American Nurses Association, 1915 – 1918. The ANA convention was held June 20 – 25, in San Francisco, CA. 1916 The membership basis of ANA was changed from that of membership in the alumnae association to membership in the state association. Membership in the ANA became a prerequisite for active membership in the National League of Nursing Education. The ANA convention was held April 24 – May 3, in New Orleans, LA. Nursing organizations and representatives of allied fields organized the National Emergency Committee on Nursing, later part of the Council of National Defense. ANA incorporated in the District of Columbia. South Dakota Nurses Association (July) becomes a constituent association of the American Nurses Association. ANA delegates authorized the organization of association sections. The first sections to be established were on private duty nursing and mental hygiene. Through an amendment to the ANA Bylaws, the House of Delegates was created as the governing body of the organization. 1917 The ANA convention was