Katharine Densford Champion For Racial Integration

Katharine Densford Director, School of Nursing, 1930-1959     By Grace G. Peterson, MNA, RN. Ms. Peterson attended the ANA Biennial Convention in 1948. The topic at hand was the restructuring of the ANA.

During World War II complaints had been voiced in Washington about the variety of nursing organizations - wasn't there one organization which could speak for nursing? As it was, besides the ANA, there was the National League for Nursing Education, The American Association of Colleges of Nursing, The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the Industrial Nurses' Association, the Colored Graduate Nurses' Association, and The American Association of Public Health Nurses. After WWII there was a movement within the ranks of nursing to lower the number of nursing organizations in the anticipation that there would be one nursing organization that would officially speak for nurses and nursing.

Nursing organizations began studying themselves. Membership in the ANA then, as now, was of registered nurses without regard to race, color, creed, or national origin and was through district, state to national (and international). Paying dues to the district nurses' association automatically provided membership to the state nurses' association and the national association - the American Nurses Association. In January 1946 only 35 of the 48 state nursing associations admitted Negro nurses to membership.¹ In those 13 states which did not (most of them in the South), colored graduate nurses could not obtain membership in the ANA because they could not belong to the district nurses' association. By 1948, however, the ANA through its efforts in those states to change that membership restriction, was making headway but not rapidly. So it was that an amendment to the constitution and by-laws of the ANA was brought to the floor of the convention to permit nurses to become members of the ANA by applying directly to the national headquarters. This amendment was brought to the floor without the required prior notice to its delegates and therefore required unanimous approval of the 1500 delegates according to the constitution and by-laws in force at that time.

Miss Densford was the President of the ANA and conducted the meeting in the formal manner expected of the President of that august organization. Miss Densford heard the motion and its second, to approve the amendment to permit individual membership directly at the national level. The debate that followed was primarily in favor of the amendment and when Miss Densford ascertained that the time had arrived for the vote she asked for "Those in favor say 'Aye'." There was a resounding chorus of 'ayes'. Miss Densford then asked for "Those opposed to the amendment say 'No'." One lone voice sang out 'no'! There was a moment of shocked silence, then murmurs of voices began all over the room. Miss Densford turned around and spoke to the parliamentarian. After a brief exchange, Miss Densford came back to the microphone. In a very calm voice she stated that in talking with the parliamentarian it was recognized that the issue was of great importance to the black nurses and she would like to again take a vote on the issue. "Would those in favor of the amendment, please rise." The delegates stood up; it looked as though everyone was on the floor. She asked the delegated to be seated. Then Miss Densford asked, "Would those opposed to the amendment, please rise." One delegate stood up in the hushed silence.

Miss Densford said, "Thank you. You may be seated." She again turned to the parliamentarian and had another murmured discussion. Back at the microphone, Miss Densford spoke. She commended the individual for her stand. "You are a very courageous person who has voted by her convictions, even being the only individual among the 1500 delegates to oppose the amendment. Could I ask you to reconsider? As you have heard from the discussion prior to the vote, this amendment means a great deal to the people involved. Would you vote for this amendment?"

The nurse made her to the nearest microphone. "Yes, I do feel very strongly about the amendment. However, if another vote is taken, and I am sill the only one voting against the amendment, I will recast my vote." Miss Densford's reply was to say, "Thank you. We appreciate very much your willingness to reconsider."

Again the delegates voted. Those in favor stood. When seated, those opposed rose. Again, it was the same individual who had voted 'no' the previous times. When she realized, looking around, that she was the lone dissenter, she made her way to the microphone and announced, " I recast my vote for the amendment." She sat down to applause. Miss Densford said, "Thank you very much. That was a courageous and generous action. The amendment has passed."

As a young delegate to my first ANA Biennial Convention I was impressed: the courage of the nurse to stand alone in opposition to that large body of delegates; the polite, even manner in which Miss Densford handled the situation and spoke to the delegate, commending her for her stand and yet seeking for a reversal of that delegates vote. It was memorable for many reasons but the most important to me was the graciousness of Miss Densford in a situation that might have had a far different outcome if she had not spoken and acted in such a calm and dignified manner.

Note: 1. "The Biennial." American Journal of Nursing, July 1948, 48:7, p. 730.

Author's note:

In an attempt to reference this story, the author sought out the American Journal of Nursing. She found only a statement that several ANA By-laws were revised in order to set up the machinery by which Negro nurses who are denied membership in their state associations may become individual members of the ANA. ¹ There was no mention of this remarkable incident. Ms. Peterson then contacted ANA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and received a copy of the minutes of the pertinent section of the proceedings.² (All proceedings of business of the Biennial were recorded verbatim by an individual using a recorder.) Ms. Peterson found nothing in the minutes that supported her recollection of the event.

In October 1999, Ms. Peterson met Dr. M. Elizabeth Carnegie at a convention. Dr. Carnegie had been instrumental in working with the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses on the issue of membership in the ANA and dissolution of NACGN. She recalled the Biennial meeting, and when asked about the lack of documentation in the ANA minutes, explained that the "Board of Directors had deleted it from the minutes."

1. "The Biennial." American Journal of Nursing, July 1948, 48:7, pp. 450-466.
2. American Nurses' Association. Proceedings. Vol. 1, House of Delegates, Thirty-sixth Biennial convention, May 31-June 4, 1948, Chicago, Illinois.