Wald, Lillian D., 1867-1940

Lillian D. Wald (March 10, 1867 – September 1, 1940) was an American nurse, humanitarian, human rights activist and author. An early advocate for nurses in public schools, she started American community nursing and founded the Henry Street Settlement in New York City. After growing up in Ohio and New York, Wald became a nurse. She briefly attended medical school and began to teach community health classes. After founding the Henry Street Settlement, she became an activist for the rights of women and minorities. She campaigned for suffrage and advocated racial integration. She was involved in the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Lillian Wald was a pioneering nurse and social reformer who played a crucial role in establishing public health nursing in the United States. She emphasized the importance of community-based nursing, hygiene education, and disease prevention, which became fundamental principles in modern nursing. Wald died in 1940 at the age of 73.