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The pioneer band of Sisters of Mercy arrived in San Francisco on the Feast
of the Immaculate Conception, 1854. They immediately volunteered
their services to the plague-stricken city, during the cholera epidemic,
which was raging at that time. Their services were so well rendered
and so appreciated by the Civic authorities, that they were requested to
take charge of the San Francisco County Hospital on Stockton treet, where
they labored for two years.
In 1857 they purchased the building and opened there the first Catholic
Hospital in California, St. Mary's. Soon these quarters were outgrown
and the Sisters found it necessary to construct a larger and better
equipped hospital.
The corner stone of the beautiful structure on Rincon Hill was laid by
Archbishop Alemany on September 3, 1860, and in November, 1861, the new
St. Mary's was opened. Keeping pace with the growing city, the building
was enlarged from time to time.
Realizing the great need for properly trained nurses, arrangements were
made for the establishment of a School of Nursing in connection with the
hospital. In October, 1900, the School was opened with an enrolment
of nine, under the direction of Miss Kerwin, a Superintendent from Mercy
Hospital, Chicago.
Sister Mary Malachi, Misses Mary Deasy, Emma Keely, and Katherine Welch
were the succesful members of the first class, receiving Graduating Honors
from the Rev. John Butler on November 21, 1902. Miss Kerwin then
returned to Chicago and Sister Mary Malachi assumed direction of the School.
On November 23, 1903, the first public graduating exercises were held in
the maple room of the Palace Hotel. The Most Reverend George Montgomery,
coadjutor Archbishop, honored the occasion with his presence and delivered
an inspiring ovation. Eloquent addresses by Doctors T.E. Bailly,
George McDonald and Thodore Rethers added to the memorable splendor of
the evening.
The catastrophe of 1906 laid waste the edifice on Rincon Hill, but the
care of the sick and the instruction of nurses was uninterrupted.
A tent hospital was immediately erected on Hayes and Schrader streets,
and Sisters and nurses found ingenious ways and means of rendering service.
A temporary hospital was put in order at 2544 Sutter street and opened
on July 17. The patients were transferred from their tent homes to
this building where excellent hospital service was rendered during the
erection of the present structure.
St. Mary's new hospital, an ornament to our beautiful city, was formally
opened on February 22, 1911. The School of Nursing has steadily grown
and today stands among the foremost schools in the State.
—Eleanor Slaven,
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