Short Biography: Mabel Keaton Staupers
Mabel Keaton Staupers was born in Barbados, West Indies on February 27, 1890. She
came to the U.S. in 1903 with her parents. She attended a nursing school in D.C. and
graduated with honors. After graduating, she married James Max Keaton only to later
divorce. Her second marriage to Fritz C. Staupers ended with his death in 1949.
Mabel Staupers was influenced by many factors growing up. She saw the discrimination
against African Americans as a child. Later she would see first hand the struggles of
African American nurses and patients during the early 1900’s. During this time it was
difficult for an African American nurse to find employment. They often had to take
positions as private duty nurses, since hospital positions were few and far between. It was
also difficult for African American nurses to obtain a higher education, as there were few
higher education colleges excepting African American students. Another significant
influence for Staupers was the limited membership into nursing organizations for African
Americans. If they were able to gain a membership, they were often limited
memberships. All of these struggles influenced Mabel Staupers to work towards ending
discrimination for African Americans.
Throughout her career, Mabel Staupers had many successes. Staupers was one of the few
African American nurses to be granted admission to nursing school. She attended
Freedman’s Hospital School of Nursing in D.C. in 1917. After graduating she moved to
New York to help establish the Booker T. Washington Sanitarium in Harlem, New York.
This was the first hospital to treat African American’s with tuberculosis. She also held a
position on the Citizens’ Committee affiliated with the New York local Association of
Colored Graduate Nurses. However, she found the most pride in her position with the
National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN). She was not only a member
since its inception;
came to the U.S. in 1903 with her parents. She attended a nursing school in D.C. and
graduated with honors. After graduating, she married James Max Keaton only to later
divorce. Her second marriage to Fritz C. Staupers ended with his death in 1949.
Mabel Staupers was influenced by many factors growing up. She saw the discrimination
against African Americans as a child. Later she would see first hand the struggles of
African American nurses and patients during the early 1900’s. During this time it was
difficult for an African American nurse to find employment. They often had to take
positions as private duty nurses, since hospital positions were few and far between. It was
also difficult for African American nurses to obtain a higher education, as there were few
higher education colleges excepting African American students. Another significant
influence for Staupers was the limited membership into nursing organizations for African
Americans. If they were able to gain a membership, they were often limited
memberships. All of these struggles influenced Mabel Staupers to work towards ending
discrimination for African Americans.
Throughout her career, Mabel Staupers had many successes. Staupers was one of the few
African American nurses to be granted admission to nursing school. She attended
Freedman’s Hospital School of Nursing in D.C. in 1917. After graduating she moved to
New York to help establish the Booker T. Washington Sanitarium in Harlem, New York.
This was the first hospital to treat African American’s with tuberculosis. She also held a
position on the Citizens’ Committee affiliated with the New York local Association of
Colored Graduate Nurses. However, she found the most pride in her position with the
National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN). She was not only a member
since its inception;
Bibliography: "Mabel Keaton Staupers." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. Web. 17 Oct. 2011. . “Mabel Keaton Staupers.” Notable Black American Women. Gale, 1992. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 17 Oct. 2011. Nursingworld.org. 1996. . Staupers, RN, Mabel Keaton. No Time For Prejudice. New York: The Macmillian Company, 1961