Sebastian Medical Museum

History of L. Richardson Memorial Hospital      

 In January of 1923, a group of individuals met and organized the Greensboro Negro Hospital Association. Shortly afterwards a charter was formed of seventy-two members. A Board of Directors consisting of an equal number of white and black individuals were formed. Board of Directors were, C. W. Angle, (Chairman), Dr. G. H. Evans (Secretary), J. A. Tarpley, Dr. Jean McAlister, Mrs. C. I. Carlson, Dr. W. C. Johnson, Dr. C.C. Stewart, George Bridges, Dr. David D. Jones, Mr. Julian Price, Dr. C. B. Banner, Rev. J.T. Hairston, Dr. F. D. Bluford, L. Richardson, Professor Charles H. Moore, C.A. Hines and Dr. B. W. Barnes.

Then on May 4, 1927, L. Richardson Memorial Hospital opened. The hospital received sizable donations from families in Greensboro. Mrs. Lunsford Richardson's family donated $50,000 to assist with building the hospital. Mrs. Emanuel Sternberger contributed $10,000 to purchase equipment for the operating room and X-Ray Department. Additionally, donations received from the Rosenwald and Duke Funds were used to finance a nurses’ residence built in 1929. 

The Training School for Nurses graduated one hundred and forty nurses. Those nurses found careers throughout the United States, the Virgin Islands and Bermuda. Interns and residents serving the hospital practiced successfully in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. L. Richardson Training School for Nurses was one of the finest in the area. Editor of the “The Guiding Light”, Laura Young, noted, “We do not feel that this history will be complete without mentioning the name of one of the finest women we’ve ever met and known, Mrs. Grace Ruffin Hinnant. Mrs. Hinnant was Cashier and Bookkeeper for the institution from the day the hospital opened until December 1947. With Mrs. Hinnant’s help and advice the hospital maintained an efficient office force.”

    L. Richardson Memorial Hospital reached its goal by serving the community well. Thanks to such great team of doctors, nurses, maintenance and dietary department the hospital can be remembered proudly as an institution of excellence.  

Historian: Linda D. Parker

Source Cited:  Laura Young, editor, The Guiding Light( Nursing School Yearbook), 1948.