Near Pineville in Berkeley County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Maude E. Callen Clinic

Photographed by J. J. Prats, March 25, 2025

1. Maude E. Callen Clinic Marker, Side One

Inscription. Maude E. Callen (1898-1990) was born in Quincy, FL. She received formal training at Florida A&M Univ. and the Tuskeegee Institute. In 1923, she and her husband moved to Pineville, S.C.. where she worked as an Episcopal missionary and one of the few nurse-midwives in S.C. She alone delivered over 800 babies and taught community women midwifery. Callen served poor patients throughout Berkeley County.

In 1951 Callen was featured in a Life magazine photo essay. The attention led to donations from across the nation, enabling the construction of the health clinic that she had long envisioned. The facade remains today as a reminder of her work. The clinic operated from 1953-1986. Callen retired in 1971, but continued to serve the people of Berkeley County until her death in 1990.

Erected 2017 by Department of Archives and History. Sponsored by friends of Maude Callen and the Berkeley County Historical Society. (Marker Number 8-72.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures • Science & Medicine • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.

Location.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

33° 26.39′ N, 80° 3.632′ W. Marker is near Pineville, South Carolina, in Berkeley County. It is on South Carolina Route 45 0.1 miles west of Tower Hill Plantation Drive, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2669 SC-45, Pineville SC 29468, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Lowcountry

and in Santee Cooper Country.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep 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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Francis Marion / Francis Marion's Grave (approx. 1.6 miles away); The Elusive Francis Marion: The Stuff of Legend (approx. 1.8 miles away); The Elusive Francis Marion: Guerrilla Commander (approx. 1.8 miles away); Francis Marion’s Grave (approx. 1.8 miles away); Village of Pineville (approx. 2 miles away); Maham Plantation / Col. Hezekiah Maham (approx. 2.2 miles away); Maham Plantation (approx. 2½ miles away); Village of Eadytown (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pineville.

Also see . . .
1. Maude E. Callen Clinic and Historical Marker. 2020 article by Laura Rice and Mallory Stanley in Clio: Your Guide to History. Excerpts:

Maude Evelyn Callen, also known as the "Angel of Twilight", was a powerful force who used her skills of compassion, determination, and training in the healthcare field to
Photographed by J. J. Prats, March 25, 2025

2. Maude E. Callen Clinic Marker, Side Two
completely transform the face of rural healthcare. Upon her introduction to the rural and deeply impoverished area of Pineville, South Carolina in 1923, Maude Callen, a professionally trained nurse, saw the need the area had for a competent healthcare provider and health clinic and devoted her life to serving the community. At the time, she was one of only nine professionally-trained nurse-midwives in the state of South Carolina. ...

In 1936, Callen joined Berkeley County’s Health Department as a public health nurse. During her time with the health department, she provided vaccinations and examinations, kept records for the department, and trained midwives. Along with her healthcare duties, Callen also taught numerous children how to read and write, held vaccination clinics in local schools, distributed clothing and supplies to those in need, and started Berkeley County's first STI clinic. As many people did not have access to transportation in Pineville, Callen would often walk miles through woods and creeks to serve her patients.

(Submitted on April 14, 2025.)

2. W. Eugene Smith’s Landmark Photo Essay, ‘Nurse Midwife’. In 2013 Time magazine, in an article by Ben Cosgrove, reprinted

Maude E. Callen Clinic Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, March 25, 2025

3. Maude E. Callen Clinic Marker

the 1951 Life magazine article illustrated with W. Eugene Smith's photographs, including additional photographs left out of the 1951 article.

Maude Callen has delivered countless babies in her career, but obstetrics is only part of her work ... To those who think that a middle-aged Negro [sic] without a medical degree has no business meddling in affairs such as these, Dr. William Fishburne, director of the Berkeley County health department, has a ready answer. When he was asked whether he thought Maude Callen could be spared to do some teaching for the state board of health, he replied, “If you have to take her, I can only ask you to join me in prayer for the people left here.”

(Submitted on April 14, 2025, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)

Maude E. Callen, R.N. (1898–1990) image. Click for full size.

Undated, photographer unknown (Fair Use) via Wikimedia Commons

4. Maude E. Callen, R.N. (1898–1990)

Maude E. Callen Clinic image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, March 25, 2025

5. Maude E. Callen Clinic

The cornerstone to the right of the rightmost window is reproduced below.

Maude E. Callen Clinic Cornerstone image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, March 25, 2025

6. Maude E. Callen Clinic Cornerstone

Maude Callen Clinic • Berkeley County Health Department • Erected June 1, 1953 — Dedicated Sept. 6, 1953 • Bishop T. N. Carruthers — Diocese of S.C. • W. Eugene Smith — Promoter — New York, N.Y. • W. K. Fishburn, M.D. — County Health Director • Maude D. Callen, R.N.

Rev. J.S. Ravenel, Baptist Church • Rev. A. Mazyck, R.E. Church • Rev. A. M. Roberts, P.E. Church • Rev W. M. Warley, A.M.E. Church • Rev F. H. Grant, Methodist Church • Rev. E. D. Addison, Baptist Church • Rev. M. P. Pyatt, Methodist Church

Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 14, 2025, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 358 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 14, 2025, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.