Contents
- Descriptive Summary
- Historical Note
- Cited Sources
- Scope and Contents note
- Processing Information note
- Related Archival Materials note
- Indexed Terms
- Inventory
Collection Access
Community Hospital of Evanston Collection
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Community Hospital of Evanston Collection
- Identifier
- BMRC.SHOREFRONT.COMMUNITY_HOSP_EVNSTN
- Repository
- Shorefront Legacy Center
- Language
- English
- Size
- 0.5 Linear feet
- Dates
- 1914-2000
- Abstract
- Founded in 1914 as the Evanston Sanitarium and Training School, the Community Hospital of Evanston was created when the Sanitarium merged with The Booker T. Washington Association of Evanston in 1930. The Community Hospital of Evanston was the first African American medical center north of the Chicago loop, and it was only one of four area hospitals to accept African-American patients and employ African-American physicians. In 1980, Community Hospital closed and the building was converted into an apartment complex for disabled adults. The Community Hospital of Evanston collection documents the history of the hospital from its founding in 1914 to its closing in 1980 and its subsequent legacy. The collection is comprised of photographs, board meeting agendas and minutes, newsletters, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings.
Historical Note
In 1914, Dr. Isabella Garnett and her husband, Dr. Arthur Butler, founded the Evanston Sanitarium and Training School on the upper floor of their 1918 Asbury Avenue residence in Evanston, Illinois. It was the first African American medical center north of the Chicago loop, and it was only one of four area hospitals to accept African-American patients and employ African-American physicians. When Dr. Butler died in 1924, Dr. Garnett changed the name to Butler Memorial Hospital in his honor. In 1930, the Hospital merged with The Booker T. Washington Association of Evanston and relocated to 2026 Brown Avenue, taking the name The Community Hospital of Evanston. During this time, Dr. Garnett served as the organization's superintendent. In order to raise funding for the hospital, the Women's Auxiliary of Community Hospital was formed in 1939 by hospital staff member Dr. Elizabeth Webb Hill. Dr. Hill would later become the hospital's chief of staff, becoming the first African-American woman to hold the position in Illinois. In 1952, the Community Hospital opened a new facility in order to meet growing needs. In 1980, the hospital closed, and the building was converted into an apartment complex for disabled adults. In 1986, the complex was dedicated as Hill Arboretum Apartments in honor of Dr. Hill.
Cited Sources
- Evanston Women's History Project, "Evanston Women's History Timeline." Last modified 2011. Accessed July 17, 2012. http://evanstonwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ewhp-timeline.pdf.
Scope and Contents note
The Community Hospital of Evanston collection is arranged into two series: “Evanston Sanitarium and Training School” and “Community Hospital of Evanston.” The material in the collection documents the history of The Community Hospital of Evanston from its beginning as the Evanston Sanitarium and Training School to its closing in 1980. The collection is comprised of photographs, board meeting agendas and minutes, newsletters, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings. Also included are items relating to the March13-April 21, 2000 Evanston Historical Society exhibit: “The Sick Can't Wait: Community Hospital and Its Woman's Auxiliary.”
Processing Information note
This collection was surveyed as part of the Black Metropolis Research Consortium's Survey Initiative on 2010 February 25 by Bergis Jules and Lisa Calahan.
Processed by CLIR funded Black Metropolis Research Consortium “Color Curtain Processing Project.” Processor: Dustin Witsman.
Indexed Terms
- African American physicians
- African American women
- Booker T. Washington Association (Evanston, Ill.)
- Evanston (Ill.)--Race relations
- Evanston Sanitarium and Training School (Evanston, Ill.)
- Butler, Isabella Garnett, -1948
- Race relations--History
Inventory
This series is comprised of material documenting the early history of the organizations that would combine to become Community Hospital of Evanston.
- Title
- Evanston Sanitarium History,
- Dates
- 1914-1991
- Title
- Evanston Sanitarium Photographs,
- Dates
- circa 1920
- Title
- Booker T. Washington Hospital Association,
- Dates
- 1924-1926
This series consist of material relating to Community Hospital of Evanston's organizational history and subsequent legacy.
- Title
- Community Hospital History,
- Dates
- circa 1960-1984
- Title
- Board Meeting Agendas and Minutes,
- Dates
- 1966-1968
- Title
- Publications and Public Relations,
- Dates
- 1945-1975
- Title
- Newsletters,
- Dates
- 1938-1963
- Title
- Newspaper Clippings,
- Dates
- 1951-1974
- Title
- Community Hospital Photographs,
- Dates
- 1951-1961, undated
- Title
- “The Sick Can Wait” Exhibit,
- Dates
- 1991-2000