The foundation and Early Growth of Saint Mary's Hospital, Reno, Nevada 1908-1930
Graduation Date
Summer 1960
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Degree Granting Institution
Catholic University of America
Program Name
Humanities
Abstract
When the medical history of the State of Nevada is written, it will not be a complete history without the story of Saint Mary's Hospital in Reno, Nevada, founded in 1907 and in continuous operation since then. The present study is an attempt to contribute this part Nevada’s medical history. Like all stories of pioneering, that of Saint Mary’s is one of struggles, near failures, and small beginnings, its final success can be attributed to the courage and perseverance of those, filled with zeal to do Christ’s work, who came to this frontier state to labor. Among these we include the religious sisters of Saint Dominic, whose work was chiefly responsible for the hospital's success, the physicians who helped to found and maintain its high standards, and the many trained nurses who came to serve its staff and its patients.
The scope of this dissertation has been confined to the foundation and early growth of Saint Mary’s Hospital. A brief description of the State of Nevada at the close of the nineteenth century and the beginning the twentieth, followed by a summary history of the development of Medicine in the State for the same period, give the background and setting Necessary to the story of the founding of Saint Mary’s Hospital. The history of the Dominican Community of Reno, Nevada, from its origin some thirty years before the hospital was built is given next,to complete the background picture. Then follows the early growth of the hospital within the years 1906 to 1930, a period of twenty-five years that saw the hospital triple in size. Lastly, the place of Saint Mary’s Hospital in the medical history of the State of Nevada is indicated in a final chapter.