Florence Meda Gipe; Nurse
Florence Meda Gipe was born on September 10, 1895 in Chanceford Township (Legacies, pg 40). She would grow up to become a known educator and administrator in the field of nursing. Through her extensive career her work would reach to the Washington-Baltimore area and into some southern states. She started training at York Hospital and worked her way up to the director of nursing. She held this position for 7 years. A student nurse recalls her as, "brilliant and strict with new ideas. We jumped to our feet when she came into the room. In those days we had a lot of respect for our elders." (Legacies, pg 40).
Florence held a series of degrees, which included--a B.S. from Catholic University of Washington and an M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania, both in nursing, and a Doctor of Science in Education from the University of Maryland in 1952 (Legacies, pg 40). She had a pattern of always studying to achieve a higher position. She began this process when given the opportunity to study anaesthesiology at Grace Hospital in Detroit leading to her first achievement and instructor at York Hospital (Legacies, pg 40). She focused more on the educational aspect of Nursing. After leaving York, she headed the departments of Nursing and schools of Nursing at Reading Hospital, Maryland General, and the University of Maryland Hospital (Legacies, pg 40). She was also an instructor at Catholic University in 1936-37 (Legacies, pg 40). But her high point was when she was named Professor and Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing in 1952, she held this position until 1966 (Legacies, pg 41).
Florence also co-wrote a book on Ward Administration and Clinical Teaching in 1949 and wrote many articles for professional journalists (Legacies, pg 41). She was cited in editions of "Who's Who" and was a consultant to the University of Virginia, South Baltimore Hospital, and the Kellogg Foundation's Southern Regional Education Board (Legacies, pg 41). York College of Pennsylvania celebrated her achievements by giving her an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 1979 (Legacies, pg 41). She was noted as an "educator, innovator and leader in the profession of nursing".
Later in her life, she returned to York. She began to take interest in history and religion so much so that she wrote the history for Luke's Lutheran Church in New Bridgeville (Legacies, pg 41). She taught Sunday School and belonged to both the York and the Gettysburg historical society (Legacies, pg 41). Florence even had 2 certificates of historical research from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Innsbruck (Legacies, pg 41).
Florence died in York, June 12, 1983 after a sixty-four year career.
Florence held a series of degrees, which included--a B.S. from Catholic University of Washington and an M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania, both in nursing, and a Doctor of Science in Education from the University of Maryland in 1952 (Legacies, pg 40). She had a pattern of always studying to achieve a higher position. She began this process when given the opportunity to study anaesthesiology at Grace Hospital in Detroit leading to her first achievement and instructor at York Hospital (Legacies, pg 40). She focused more on the educational aspect of Nursing. After leaving York, she headed the departments of Nursing and schools of Nursing at Reading Hospital, Maryland General, and the University of Maryland Hospital (Legacies, pg 40). She was also an instructor at Catholic University in 1936-37 (Legacies, pg 40). But her high point was when she was named Professor and Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing in 1952, she held this position until 1966 (Legacies, pg 41).
Florence also co-wrote a book on Ward Administration and Clinical Teaching in 1949 and wrote many articles for professional journalists (Legacies, pg 41). She was cited in editions of "Who's Who" and was a consultant to the University of Virginia, South Baltimore Hospital, and the Kellogg Foundation's Southern Regional Education Board (Legacies, pg 41). York College of Pennsylvania celebrated her achievements by giving her an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 1979 (Legacies, pg 41). She was noted as an "educator, innovator and leader in the profession of nursing".
Later in her life, she returned to York. She began to take interest in history and religion so much so that she wrote the history for Luke's Lutheran Church in New Bridgeville (Legacies, pg 41). She taught Sunday School and belonged to both the York and the Gettysburg historical society (Legacies, pg 41). Florence even had 2 certificates of historical research from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Innsbruck (Legacies, pg 41).
Florence died in York, June 12, 1983 after a sixty-four year career.
Cliriece Bridgette Schell; Civic Leader
Born in 1920, Clirience Brigette Schell would spend most of her life fighting for racial justice within the southwest area of York. She graduated from William Penn High School and attended the Thompson Business School at the Harrisburg Area Community College (Legacies, pg 82). She would go on to graduate from Lincoln University with a Master of Human Services degree (Legacies, pg 82).
The York race riots of 1968 hit Schell so deeply that she founded the Better Community Association/Neighborhood Improvement Corporation (BCA/NIC) (Legacies, pg 82). As president she helped organize her three-hundred-family-neighborhood into blocks with each block having a block captain.The first major project of the BCA/NIC was to move all the debris left over from the riots. In order to do this, Schell had to convince the police and fire departments to help (Legacies, pg 82). Now, every year there is an annual Spring Clean up to revitalize this sector of York. The BCA/NIC also has an annual street fair which raises money for a bus trip for neighborhood children (Legacies, pg 82). This often is the only opportunity for those children to leave the York area.
Schell has been instrumental in rehabilitating neighborhood houses. HUD block funds were used to repair a few houses with some buildings being donated by the city of York. Another big project of the BCS/NIC was the creation of a training program for unemployed black youths ages 18-25. With Schell's hard work and dedication, the program received state funding. The program included carpentry, masonry, painting, and electrical work (Legacies, pg 82). Volunteers would teach the many trainees. This program lessened the high unemployment rate among the black youth in York.
Schell was also president of the NAACP from 1977 to 1992 and achieved success in an active organization (Legacies, pg 83). She was employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and was also a financial secretary for the Lebanon Cemetery Association, which is a black-owned business (Legacies, pg 83). Before she worked for the state, she was an insurance underwriter and received the Agent of the Year award five times for her sales efforts (Legacies, pg 83).
Because of her work in the community she has been awarded with various honors and recognitions. She was given the Liberty Bell Award by the York County Bar Association, the Knights of Columbus award, and the Spirit of York Award in 1983 (Legacies, pg 83). The last being the fifth of her mayor's award. She has also been listed in Who's Who of American Women. Schell died in 1998 (Legacies, pg 83).
The York race riots of 1968 hit Schell so deeply that she founded the Better Community Association/Neighborhood Improvement Corporation (BCA/NIC) (Legacies, pg 82). As president she helped organize her three-hundred-family-neighborhood into blocks with each block having a block captain.The first major project of the BCA/NIC was to move all the debris left over from the riots. In order to do this, Schell had to convince the police and fire departments to help (Legacies, pg 82). Now, every year there is an annual Spring Clean up to revitalize this sector of York. The BCA/NIC also has an annual street fair which raises money for a bus trip for neighborhood children (Legacies, pg 82). This often is the only opportunity for those children to leave the York area.
Schell has been instrumental in rehabilitating neighborhood houses. HUD block funds were used to repair a few houses with some buildings being donated by the city of York. Another big project of the BCS/NIC was the creation of a training program for unemployed black youths ages 18-25. With Schell's hard work and dedication, the program received state funding. The program included carpentry, masonry, painting, and electrical work (Legacies, pg 82). Volunteers would teach the many trainees. This program lessened the high unemployment rate among the black youth in York.
Schell was also president of the NAACP from 1977 to 1992 and achieved success in an active organization (Legacies, pg 83). She was employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and was also a financial secretary for the Lebanon Cemetery Association, which is a black-owned business (Legacies, pg 83). Before she worked for the state, she was an insurance underwriter and received the Agent of the Year award five times for her sales efforts (Legacies, pg 83).
Because of her work in the community she has been awarded with various honors and recognitions. She was given the Liberty Bell Award by the York County Bar Association, the Knights of Columbus award, and the Spirit of York Award in 1983 (Legacies, pg 83). The last being the fifth of her mayor's award. She has also been listed in Who's Who of American Women. Schell died in 1998 (Legacies, pg 83).
Mary Gorman Stephenson; Journalist
Born in 1920, Mary Gorman Stephenson would become a known local journalist which was rare for her time. She gained the position of women's editor of the York Sunday News in 1964 (Legacies, pg 96). She would continue to hold this position throughout most of her life. Her responsibilities included feature articles, editing, layouts, and writing a weekly column as well as theatre reviews (Legacies, pg 96). Stephenson's writings often showed how she cared for the York community. There was a section of the paper called, "York Montage," which reflected on the diversity of life and activities in York (Legacies, pg 96).This of course was edited by Stephenson. With her position in the paper she was able to give coverage to women's groups and activities that wouldn't have been covered otherwise.
Besides her newspaper career, she was very active in various organizations. She was a charter member of the Central Pennsylvania chapter of women in communication, Inc and even served as president (Legacies, pg 96). She also worked at the Child Guidance Center, the York College Library, and the Community Greeting service (Legacies, pg 96).
Stephenson became the coordinating chairman of the committee to preserve the Barnett Bobb log house, saving the structure for future generations to enjoy (Legacies, pg 96). She served on the task force for the study of traffic and police in Springettsbury township (Legacies, pg 96). She was also a past president for both the Young Women's club and of Alpha lota business sorority (Legacies, pg 96).
Two other organizations Stepshenson took interest in are the American Field Service and the York Twinning Association (Legacies, pg 96). She even got to switch homes with an English family for a year.
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society gave Stepshenson an honorary membership for women educators for her service to education (Legacies, pg 96). She also received Communications Matrix Awards in 1979, 1980, and 1981. Stephenson was listed in the 1982 edition of "The World Who's Who of Women". (Legacies, pg 96)
On top of all of her accomplishments she married and had three children. (Legacies, pg 97)
Delma Millain Rivera; Civic Leader
Delma Millain Rivera was born on April 15, 1929, in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (Legacies, pg 78). She did most of her schooling in Puerto Rico before moving to York. She got a B.S. in Home Economics at Inter-American University in San-German and a teaching certification in secondary education from the University of Puerto Rico (Legacies, pg 78).
Before moving to the U.S., Rivera taught economics, science, mathematics, and art. Then after her husband got an internship at the Harrisburg Hospital, they permanently moved to York (Legacies, pg 78). Her husband then opened his own medical practice in the city.
Living in York Rivera became aware of the needs of latino people who came for a better life. She and her husband would serve as counselors, interpreters and advisors to the hispanic population. Rivera founded the York Spanish Council to help the Spanish immigrants (Legacies, pg 78). Through this effort they were able to open the first Spanish community center in of York in 1974 (Legacies, pg 78). It would operate as an independent agency with a staff of around twenty people. It offers bilingual and career resource programs, transportation, and social work internships to bilingual college students (Legacies, pg 79). They also provide self-help services with job opportunities, education, health and welfare referrals (Legacies, pg 79). Rivera served as both secretary and president of the center's Advisory Board, fundraising chairman, resource person and was acting director of the center for three months in 1981 (Legacies, pg 79).
She was also involved with Leadership York, the Salvation Army, York/Adams County Mental Health and Mental Retardation, York Vocational-Technical High School, Girl Scouts of America Council, and York County Medical Auxiliary (Legacies, pg 79). She served on the United Way Board, York Health Corporation Board, Long-Range Planning Committee for Central York School District, Hospital Fete committees, PTA, and Girl Scouts (Legacies, pg 79).
Her honors include being appointed to the Governor's Council on the Hispanic Community in 1978, the Sunday News Exceptional Citizen Award, Christian Award of the Council of Churches, and the Citizenship Award of the NAACP (Legacies, pg 79).
Rivera felt as though her faith brought her to York to help their people. Her last wish was for Puerto Rico to gain statehood within the U.S. Photo by York Daily Record.
Before moving to the U.S., Rivera taught economics, science, mathematics, and art. Then after her husband got an internship at the Harrisburg Hospital, they permanently moved to York (Legacies, pg 78). Her husband then opened his own medical practice in the city.
Living in York Rivera became aware of the needs of latino people who came for a better life. She and her husband would serve as counselors, interpreters and advisors to the hispanic population. Rivera founded the York Spanish Council to help the Spanish immigrants (Legacies, pg 78). Through this effort they were able to open the first Spanish community center in of York in 1974 (Legacies, pg 78). It would operate as an independent agency with a staff of around twenty people. It offers bilingual and career resource programs, transportation, and social work internships to bilingual college students (Legacies, pg 79). They also provide self-help services with job opportunities, education, health and welfare referrals (Legacies, pg 79). Rivera served as both secretary and president of the center's Advisory Board, fundraising chairman, resource person and was acting director of the center for three months in 1981 (Legacies, pg 79).
She was also involved with Leadership York, the Salvation Army, York/Adams County Mental Health and Mental Retardation, York Vocational-Technical High School, Girl Scouts of America Council, and York County Medical Auxiliary (Legacies, pg 79). She served on the United Way Board, York Health Corporation Board, Long-Range Planning Committee for Central York School District, Hospital Fete committees, PTA, and Girl Scouts (Legacies, pg 79).
Her honors include being appointed to the Governor's Council on the Hispanic Community in 1978, the Sunday News Exceptional Citizen Award, Christian Award of the Council of Churches, and the Citizenship Award of the NAACP (Legacies, pg 79).
Rivera felt as though her faith brought her to York to help their people. Her last wish was for Puerto Rico to gain statehood within the U.S. Photo by York Daily Record.
All photos on this page published courtesy of the York County History Center, unless credited otherwise.