Charlotte in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Jane Renwick Smedberg Wilkes
| | Charlotte Trail of History | |
Photographed by Mark Parker, June 13, 2024
1. Jane Renwick Smedberg Wilkes Marker
Jane Renwick Smedberg Wilkes' extraordinary dedication and leadership brought hospital care to the Charlotte community. She led the effort to establish Charlotte Home and Hospital, the first non-military hospital in North Carolina and Good Samaritan Hospital, the first hospital in the country that focused on healthcare for African Americans. Both hospitals later became facilities within Carolinas HealthCare System.
Born in New York City in 1827, she married Captain John Wilkes. The couple moved to Charlotte where her involvement healthcare began as President of the St. Peter's Church Aid Society. She was a courageous and compassionate pioneer whose efforts continue to have an impact on Charlotte and the region. She was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Charlotte, NC.
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Jane Wilkes (1827-1913) with her granddaughter. Photos: Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
The original Good Samaritan Hospital.
Erected by Charlotte Trail of History. (Marker Number 21.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Science & Medicine • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1827.
Location. 35° 12.373′ N,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: James "Buck" Duke: A Powerful Force of Growth (within shouting distance of this marker); Julius Chambers: Attorney Who Changed America (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cherry Neighborhood History (approx. 0.4 miles away); Thaddeus Lincoln Tate - Business and Civic Leader
Photographed by Mark Parker, June 13, 2024
2. Jane Renwick Smedberg Wilkes Marker with statue
Also see . . .
1. Charlotte Trail of History. (Submitted on June 17, 2024.)
2. Jane Wilkes.
Jane Smedberg Wilkes (1827-1913) is remembered as the Godmother of Charlotte Hospitals.(Submitted on June 17, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)
3. Jane Renwick Smedberg Wilkes. Charlotte Trail of History biography for Jane Renwick Smedberg Wilkes
Wilkes was born on November 22, 1827 in New York City and moved to Charlotte shortly after her marriage to John Wilkes in 1854. During the Civil War, many Confederate wounded were sent to Charlotte, and Jane Wilkes volunteered in the Confederate camp hospitals. This experience convinced her of the need for a permanent hospital, and in 1875 she became very active in leading the effort to build Charlottes first two civilian hospitals(Submitted on June 21, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)
Photographed by Mark Parker, June 13, 2024
3. Jane Renwick Smedberg Wilkes statue
Photographed by Mark Parker, June 13, 2024
4. Sculpting the Trail of History
Artist Wendy Ross portrays the nineteenth century Charlottean, Jane Wilkes, part of the Trail of History, a series of sculptures sited along Little Sugar Creek Greenway that portray significant contributors to our area's history. She is positioned in the garden to observe the hospital
that evolved from her efforts.
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Artist Wendy Ross alongside the carved scale models and final clay model for the statue.
Photos: James P. Beirne
Photographed by Mark Parker, June 13, 2024
5. Gravesite of Jane and husband Captain John Wilkes
Elmwood Cemetery, Charlotte, NC
Credits. This page was last revised on November 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 365 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 14, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 17, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. 5. submitted on June 18, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
