Ann Alexis Shorb
_(LOC).jpg){kind=link}
Sister Ann Alexis Shorb (1805–1875[1]) of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (born Harriet C. Shorb[2]) was a nurse, educator, and hospital administrator. Through her work serving the poor in schools and as a nurse, Shorb helped to break down anti-Catholic prejudice.[3] She was known as the "Servant of the Poor."[4] Before becoming a sister, she was a member of St. Aloysius Church in Littlestown, Pennsylvania.[2]
Orphans
[edit | edit source]Shorb arrived in Boston on May 2, 1832 at the request of Bishop Benedict Fenwick who had requested the assistance of the Daughters of Charity.[5][6] Once Shorb arrived with Sisters Blandina Davaux and Loyola Ritchie, they began caring for orphaned girls.[5][6] They set up a school and taught religious education classes.[5] By March 1843, the Great and General Court granted them a charter as the St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum.[5][4] It was the first Catholic charitable organization in the state.[5] The Asylum cared for girls between 3 and 10 without regard to their religion.[5] Shorb ran the Asylum for the next 40 years.[5] When the asylum was too small to take in more children, she organized a fair that raised $10,000 in two weeks.[7][5][8]
In 1866, the Sisters of Charity founded the St. Mary's School and Asylum at what was formerly the Norfolk House in Dedham, Massachusetts.[9] Shorb, along with two others, purchased the property for $1 by Martin Bates who, out of a "spirit of vindictiveness," gave it to the Sisters because the Town of Dedham would not purchase the run down building from him at his asking price.[10][11]
Nursing and hospital administrator
[edit | edit source]Shorb was the first administrator at Carney Hospital, the first Catholic hospital in New England, at the request of founder Andrew Carney.[4][8] She served in that role from 1863 to 1870.[4] She was also an incorporator the St. John's Hospital in Lowell, Massachusetts.[12] Shorb was the head nurse at Satterlee General Hospital.[13]
Legacy
[edit | edit source]Shorb is featured on the Nine Notable Women of Boston mural, painted by Ellen Lanyon in honor of Boston's 350th anniversary.[14]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c d e f g h Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Hurd 1884, p. 78.
- ^ Hanson 1976, p. 226.
- ^ Austin 1912, p. 159-161.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
Works cited
[edit | edit source]- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).