Mary E. P. Davis

Davis, along with Sophia French Palmer, created the AJN in 1899, with the first issue going out in October 1900.[1] In order to create the journal, Davis reached out to 5,000 different people to subscribe and eventually started with 550 paid subscriptions.[2] She also raised money for the journal and covered the mailing costs herself.[2] She served as the AJN's business manager from 1900 to 1909.[3]

Palmer and Davis also helped create the American Nursing Association.[4] Davis was one of the founders of the American Society of Superintendents of Training Schools for Nurses which later became the National League for Nursing.[5] She also served as the president of the Massachusetts State Nurses' Association.[6]

In 1890, as Superintendent at the Training School for Nurses at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania,[2] Davis extended the course from two to three years. The change remained effective until the school closed in 1878.[7] Davis was appointed Superintendent of Nurses at the Boston Hospital for the Insane in 1901.[8] Davis was a graduate of the Massachusetts General Hospital Training School,[9] and a former student of Linda Richards.[10] Her last position before she officially retired was as the Corresponding Secretary of the Massachusetts State Nurses' Association.[11]

The Palmer-Davis Nursing Library at Massachusetts General Hospital was named after Palmer and Davis.[4] The library was merged administratively with Treadwell Library in 1981 when the diploma school of nursing closed.[12]

In 1982, she was inducted into the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame.[5]