In
Anna M. L. Huber
Born on August 3, 1874, Anna Huber would become a passionate civic leader. She would dedicate her life to helping the poor. She was a strongly felt that medical establishments did not do enough to alleviate their suffering. The first thing Huber did was organize St. Annes Guild to sew for the poor maternity ward of York Hospital (Legacies, pg 48). Though this was helpful, Huber still felt it wasn't enough. So the Guild decided to start a nursing program. After three years, the Visiting Nurse Service became its own association with Huber as president(Legacies, pg 48). In 1920, the VNA did a study on milk. This led to an ordinance which required the pasteurization of all milk sold in York. This was to ensure that the milk was safe for the consumption of children. The VNA would also create a baby clinic, a Milk and Ice Fund, and a dental clinic. The group would also teach nutrition, work with orthopedically handicapped children, and visited the chronically ill. Part of the reason the VNA was so successful, was because of the co-operation between industry and volunteer groups that Huber advocated for (Legacies, pg 48).
Anna Huber was an alumna of the York Collegiate Institute, was a member of the Women's Club of York, a member of the the York YWCA and the Historical Society (Legacies, pg 49). She was active in the First Presbyterian Church and even served as a church deaconess. Huber received the Pennsylvania District of Kiwanis Club's Distinguished Service Award in 1924, a citation from the Business and Professional Women's Club in 1930, was made a member of the National Association for Public Health Nursing in 1943, the Exchange Club of York gave her its Golden Deeds Award in 1945, the Ministerial Citation and the Benjamin Rush Award in 1952 (Legacies, pg 48).
Anna Huber was an alumna of the York Collegiate Institute, was a member of the Women's Club of York, a member of the the York YWCA and the Historical Society (Legacies, pg 49). She was active in the First Presbyterian Church and even served as a church deaconess. Huber received the Pennsylvania District of Kiwanis Club's Distinguished Service Award in 1924, a citation from the Business and Professional Women's Club in 1930, was made a member of the National Association for Public Health Nursing in 1943, the Exchange Club of York gave her its Golden Deeds Award in 1945, the Ministerial Citation and the Benjamin Rush Award in 1952 (Legacies, pg 48).
Anna Dill Gamble
Born in Paris in 1877, Anna Dill Gamble came to York a few years later. Her mother, Serephine Miller Gamble, established an art studio in York after studying abroad in France (Legacies, pg 36). Her father, William Gamble III, was an Irish man from the County of Donegal (Legacies, pg 36). He invented a system of printing the bible in Chinese. Through his achievements, the founder of the York Collegiate Institute Anna Gamble received most of her education from the Institute and graduated in 1893 (Legacies, pg 36).
In 1904, Gamble helped found the Women's Club of York and served as president for three years. She was also the county chairman of the Women's Suffrage Association and volunteered with Girl Scouts (Legacies, pg 36). She was a trustee of the Historical Society of York County and was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (Legacies, pg 36).
Later on in her life, Anna became a devout Catholic. She joined the church in 1917 when she was forty years old. Gamble would go on to attend the Geneva Disarmament Conference as a representative of the National Council of Catholic Women (Legacies, pg 36). She founded the Catholic Women's Club of York in 1922. She would also found Catholic Women's Clubs in Harrisburg and Lancaster and served as the director of the Harrisburg Diocesan Council of Catholic Women for five years(Legacies, pg 36). Gamble was also secretary of the National Council of Catholic Women. In partaking in these organizations, she became a known writer and leader in the Catholic Church so much so was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice decoration by Pope Pius XII on July 3, 1942 (Legacies, pg 37).
World peace and international relations were of much interest to Gamble. As she helped organize the Catholic Association of International Peace. She would lecture in Argentina, South America, and throughout the United States on the importance of peace between nations (Legacies, pg 37).
Being a writer, Gamble wrote many different religious pamphlets. Her most notable work being Struggle for the Gateway. This was a historical book of the battles for the possession of the lower Susquehanna River and the history of the Roman Catholic Church Diocese of Harrisburg (Legacies, pg 36). Her work has not been forgotten, with a scholarship given out yearly in her name to a Catholic girl in the York Deanery. Anna Dill Gamble died January 11, 1956.
In 1904, Gamble helped found the Women's Club of York and served as president for three years. She was also the county chairman of the Women's Suffrage Association and volunteered with Girl Scouts (Legacies, pg 36). She was a trustee of the Historical Society of York County and was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (Legacies, pg 36).
Later on in her life, Anna became a devout Catholic. She joined the church in 1917 when she was forty years old. Gamble would go on to attend the Geneva Disarmament Conference as a representative of the National Council of Catholic Women (Legacies, pg 36). She founded the Catholic Women's Club of York in 1922. She would also found Catholic Women's Clubs in Harrisburg and Lancaster and served as the director of the Harrisburg Diocesan Council of Catholic Women for five years(Legacies, pg 36). Gamble was also secretary of the National Council of Catholic Women. In partaking in these organizations, she became a known writer and leader in the Catholic Church so much so was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice decoration by Pope Pius XII on July 3, 1942 (Legacies, pg 37).
World peace and international relations were of much interest to Gamble. As she helped organize the Catholic Association of International Peace. She would lecture in Argentina, South America, and throughout the United States on the importance of peace between nations (Legacies, pg 37).
Being a writer, Gamble wrote many different religious pamphlets. Her most notable work being Struggle for the Gateway. This was a historical book of the battles for the possession of the lower Susquehanna River and the history of the Roman Catholic Church Diocese of Harrisburg (Legacies, pg 36). Her work has not been forgotten, with a scholarship given out yearly in her name to a Catholic girl in the York Deanery. Anna Dill Gamble died January 11, 1956.
Martha L. Bailey
Born in Dillsburg in 1882, Martha Bailey M.D. was one of York's first women doctors. She was the daughter of a Civil War surgeon and inherited his passion for medicine (Legacies, pg 12). Bailey would graduate from Wilson College in 1903, from there she would become a teacher for eleven years (Legacies, pg 12). At this point, she decided that she wanted to become a physician. She attended the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1917 (Legacies, pg 12). The first patients she treated where soldiers during the flu epidemics. In 1925, Bailey studied gynecology and endocrinology in Vienna (Legacies, pg 12).
Bailey describes what it was like being a doctor in the early 1900s:
" I learned to practice medicine with a flashlight under my arm, because the oil lamps were always going out when I visited homes, especially for the delivery of babies." (Legacies, pg 12).
Bailey's main interest was the improvement of public health. She was active in the Pennsylvania Health Department and would establish many child and maternal health care centers in small communities. Bailey believed in the importance of community service and even transported food to families during the Great Depression. She was also the director of civil defense medical service for York County in World War II and was a member of the advisory board of York County Civil Defense (Legacies, pg 12).
.
Bailey would later pass the legalization of yellow margarine in Pennsylvania (Legacies, pg 13).
She was active in the establishment of the Dillsburg Public Library and Salvation Army (Legacies, pg 13).
She was a member of Pennsylvania and Cumberland Medical Societies and was vice commander of the Women's Field Army for Cancer Control (Legacies, pg 13). Though most of her efforts were local, she did some work with a Presbyterian mission school for black children in Alabama and also advocated for self-government for Native Americans (Legacies, pg 13).Bailey died on November 28, 1965.
Bailey describes what it was like being a doctor in the early 1900s:
" I learned to practice medicine with a flashlight under my arm, because the oil lamps were always going out when I visited homes, especially for the delivery of babies." (Legacies, pg 12).
Bailey's main interest was the improvement of public health. She was active in the Pennsylvania Health Department and would establish many child and maternal health care centers in small communities. Bailey believed in the importance of community service and even transported food to families during the Great Depression. She was also the director of civil defense medical service for York County in World War II and was a member of the advisory board of York County Civil Defense (Legacies, pg 12).
.
Bailey would later pass the legalization of yellow margarine in Pennsylvania (Legacies, pg 13).
She was active in the establishment of the Dillsburg Public Library and Salvation Army (Legacies, pg 13).
She was a member of Pennsylvania and Cumberland Medical Societies and was vice commander of the Women's Field Army for Cancer Control (Legacies, pg 13). Though most of her efforts were local, she did some work with a Presbyterian mission school for black children in Alabama and also advocated for self-government for Native Americans (Legacies, pg 13).Bailey died on November 28, 1965.
Ethel Cowles
In 1905, Ethel Cowles becomes the only black woman holding a skilled job in a York manufacturing power plant (Almost Forgotten, pg 35). She was employed after a white woman seamstress became ill and recommended Cowles. When the women recovered the plant superintendent was impressed with her work and decided to retain her. No one objected to her presence.
While this may seem like a small notation, this was large feat for Cowles and the black community in York. Her position paved the way for future black women and will not go un-noticed.
While this may seem like a small notation, this was large feat for Cowles and the black community in York. Her position paved the way for future black women and will not go un-noticed.
Mary Sitler Cooper
Mary Sitler Cooper was born in 1895, and went into teaching at the Children's Home of York after graduating high school (Legacies, pg 24). The home was established after the Civil War for orphans (Legacies, pg 24). When Cooper arrived she found the horrible conditions in which these children were living in. The home ran similar to workhouses popular during the Victorian times, which were often the last place anyone wanted to end up. The children wore gray uniforms, had cut hair, and were not allowed to play outside to not wear out their shoes. Boys were brought up to be either cobblers or farmworkers, while girls were taught common housework. The institution ran on work and religion.
Cooper did not stand for this and did what she could to make changes, soon she was appointed superintendent. When given this position she worked to make the institution more like a home. It would then include a living room, outside play areas, recreational rooms, and even stables with donkeys and goats (Legacies, pg 24). Ms. Cooper was able to make such improvements through her connections within the community. People would donate anything from soda fountains to prom dresses. At this time the home could hold up to 68 children and was located at the southeast corner of E. Philadelphia and Pine Streets (Legacies, pg 24). Because of her improvements the children gave her the nickname of "Aunt Mame," in regards to her being a comforting figure (Legacies, pg 24).
Perhaps the most notable part of her work was in preparing the children to an independent life. The children attended public schooling and would attend local churches on Sunday (Legacies, pg 25). The older children were allowed to get jobs and manage their own money. If a teenager wanted to go to college, the home would help find scholarships and part-time jobs (Legacies, pg 24). They would also provide clothes and transportation. The children were encouraged to join Girl Scouts and participate in the YMCA or YWCA and even went to summer camp( Legacies, pg 24).
However, by the 60s the child care system within the US had changed. There became an increase in family counseling and adoption agencies and less children were attending the home. This led to Cooper's retirement. Today, the Children's Home of York is a group home and foster care organization.
Cooper did not stand for this and did what she could to make changes, soon she was appointed superintendent. When given this position she worked to make the institution more like a home. It would then include a living room, outside play areas, recreational rooms, and even stables with donkeys and goats (Legacies, pg 24). Ms. Cooper was able to make such improvements through her connections within the community. People would donate anything from soda fountains to prom dresses. At this time the home could hold up to 68 children and was located at the southeast corner of E. Philadelphia and Pine Streets (Legacies, pg 24). Because of her improvements the children gave her the nickname of "Aunt Mame," in regards to her being a comforting figure (Legacies, pg 24).
Perhaps the most notable part of her work was in preparing the children to an independent life. The children attended public schooling and would attend local churches on Sunday (Legacies, pg 25). The older children were allowed to get jobs and manage their own money. If a teenager wanted to go to college, the home would help find scholarships and part-time jobs (Legacies, pg 24). They would also provide clothes and transportation. The children were encouraged to join Girl Scouts and participate in the YMCA or YWCA and even went to summer camp( Legacies, pg 24).
However, by the 60s the child care system within the US had changed. There became an increase in family counseling and adoption agencies and less children were attending the home. This led to Cooper's retirement. Today, the Children's Home of York is a group home and foster care organization.
Carrie Ford
Born on September 11, 1910, Carrie Ford was a teacher and a missionary (Almost Forgotten, pg 73). She got a Bachelor's degree from Livingstone College with a certificate to teach language arts (Almost Forgotten, pg 73). She also attended Millersville State Teachers College and York Collegiate Institute (Almost Forgotten, pg 73).
She was known to many as Mother Ford, and dedicated her life to helping others. She taught French at York City Schools before she retired in 1972 (Almost Forgotten, pg 73). From there she would travel to Liberia, where she would teach children English and religion (Almost Forgotten, pg 73). She spent 17 years there teaching, building homes and spreading the word of god.
Her daughter, Diane Scott, describes her local impact. " Locally she was a role model for many people, especially the children she taught. Everyone looked up to her." (Almost Forgotten, pg 73)
Photo by "Almost Forgotten".
She was known to many as Mother Ford, and dedicated her life to helping others. She taught French at York City Schools before she retired in 1972 (Almost Forgotten, pg 73). From there she would travel to Liberia, where she would teach children English and religion (Almost Forgotten, pg 73). She spent 17 years there teaching, building homes and spreading the word of god.
Her daughter, Diane Scott, describes her local impact. " Locally she was a role model for many people, especially the children she taught. Everyone looked up to her." (Almost Forgotten, pg 73)
Photo by "Almost Forgotten".
All photos on this page published courtesy of the York County History Center, unless otherwise credited.