author
Julia C. (Julia Catherine) Stimson
1881–1948
A pioneering American nurse and Army leader, she helped raise nursing to professional status in the early 20th century. Her career stretched from hospital training in New York to historic service with the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during two world wars.
1 Audiobook
Finding Themselves The Letters of an American Amy Chief Nurse in the British Hospital in France
by Julia C. (Julia Catherine) Stimson
About the author
Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on May 26, 1881, Julia Catherine Stimson trained as a nurse at New York Hospital and went on to build a remarkable career in both civilian and military nursing. She became known not only for her skill and discipline, but also for the calm, practical leadership that made her stand out in demanding settings.
During World War I, she served in France and led Army nursing services for the American Expeditionary Forces. She later became superintendent of the Army Nurse Corps, and she is widely remembered as the first woman in the U.S. Army to attain the rank of major. Her long service helped strengthen the standing of nurses within the military and in American public life.
After retiring from the Army in 1937, she continued to support nursing and national service, including work connected with World War II preparedness. She also served as president of the American Nurses Association, and her legacy endures as one of the major figures who helped make nursing a recognized profession.