« Return to all Inductees

Martha Minerva Franklin sought racial equality in nursing by establishing the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses.

Martha Minerva Franklin was one of the first pioneers who, during the early 20th century, sought to change the unequal and discriminatory realities of black nurses in the United States. During the period when black people began joining the working class as free citizens, Martha was dedicated to challenging a prejudiced society. She worked alongside other nurses, hoping that they would be granted the support and equitable rights they deserved as professionals and human beings.

In 1897, Martha graduated from the Women’s Hospital Training School for Nurses in Philadelphia, the only black graduate in her class. In the early 1900s Martha moved to New Haven where she was influenced by the social-political active groups that were being formed in that area. After observing the biased treatment imposed on black nurses, Martha conducted a study to evaluate the nursing field.

After two years of investigation she determined that, although black nurses could join the American Nurses Association (ANA), they were restricted from addressing the special issues of segregation and discrimination. In 1908, Martha sent out 1500 handwritten letters asking nurses to meet in order to organize a national association for “colored” nurses to eliminate racial bias.

The first meeting of fifty-two black nurses was held at St. Mark’s Methodist Episcopal Church on August 25, 1908. From this meeting emerged the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN) with Martha unanimously elected president. She became the first to actively campaign for racial equality in nursing and she served as the catalyst for collective action.

Martha continued with her education and became a registered nurse employed with the New York public school system. The NACGN continued to grow and by 1940 had over 12,000 members from almost every state. Finally, in 1951 many of the group's aspirations had been met and NACGN merged with the American Nurses Association.

Martha retired to New Haven to live with her sister Florence and died in 1968. In 1976, the Hall of Fame of the American Nurses Association (ANA) honored Martha Minerva Franklin as one of the pioneers of the nursing field.

In June, 1998, the Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc, Northeast Region honored Martha with a commemorative service and proclaimed June 13, 1998 “Martha Minerva Franklin Day” in recognition of her outstanding service to her fellow nurses. The city of Meriden also named a scholarship in Martha’s honor to be awarded annually to a high school graduate who matriculates to a nursing school.