Mary Eliza Mahoney (1845-1926) was the first African American registered nurse in the United States. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts to parents who were former slaves. Mahoney attended the New England Hospital for Women and Children’s nursing program, which was the first nursing school in the United States that admitted both Black and White students.

• Mahoney graduated from the nursing program in 1879 and began working as a private duty nurse in the Boston area. She faced significant discrimination due to her race and gender, but persevered and became known for her skilled and compassionate care.
• Mahoney was an advocate for racial and gender equality in nursing. She co-founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN) in 1908, which aimed to improve the working conditions and opportunities for Black nurses. Mahoney served as the organization’s first treasurer and was later inducted into the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions to nursing and healthcare.
• Throughout her career, Mahoney was committed to improving the quality of nursing care and the status of women and minorities in the field. She believed that all individuals, regardless of race or gender, deserved equal access to education and employment opportunities in nursing.
• Today, Mahoney is remembered as a trailblazer in the nursing profession and an advocate for social justice. Her legacy continues to inspire nurses and healthcare professionals to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare. In 1936, the NACGN established the Mary Mahoney Award in her honor, which is still awarded today to recognize outstanding contributions to the nursing profession by individuals from diverse backgrounds.