St. John's in Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador — The Atlantic Provinces (North America)

Mary Meager Southcott

(1862-1943)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 22, 2014

1. Mary Meager Southcott Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

English
Educator, suffragist, and prominent nursing leader, Mary Southcott led the campaign to professionalize nursing in early 20th-century Newfoundland. Trained in London, England, she founded the St. John’s General Hospital School of Nursing in 1903, the only one of its kind in Newfoundland until 1929. As Superintendent of Nurses, she fought for the autonomy of the profession and realized her dream of building a nurses’ residence. Southcott also helped to raise educational standards, develop unique training programs for midwives, and establish a professional association of nurses.

French
Éducatrice, suffragette et éminente chef de file des soins infirmiers, Mary Southcott mena la campagne pour la professionnalisation de ces soins à Terre-Neuve au début du XXᵉ siècle. Formée à Londres, elle fonda l’école d’infirmières du General Hospital de St. John’s en 1903, le seule à Terre-Neuve jusqu’en 1929. Elle y revendiqua l’autonomie de la profession et réalisa son rêve de construire une residence d’infirmières. Southcott contribua aussi à établir de hauts standards éducationnels, des programmes singuliers de formation pour sages-femmes et une association professionnelle d’infirmières.

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Sites and Monument Board of Canada/Commission de lieux et monuments historique du Canada.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Science & Medicine • Women. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Historic Sites and Monuments Board series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1903.

Location. 47° 34.551′ N, 52° 41.75′ W. Marker is in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, in Avalon Peninsula. It is on Forest Road close to Taaffe's Lane, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Forest Road, St John's NL A1A, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Avalon Peninsula.

It is also in Atlantic Canada.

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 a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

and Acadia.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Anderson House (approx. 0.4 kilometers away);

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 22, 2014

2. Mary Meager Southcott Marker

The marker is on the right.

a different marker also named Anderson House (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Fort William / Le Fort William (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Government House / Résidence Du Lieutenant-Gouverneur (approx. 0.9 kilometers away); 28 Cochrane Street (approx. 0.9 kilometers away); Bannerman House (approx. 0.9 kilometers away); Sir Humphrey Gilbert (approx. 1.1 kilometers away); The Newfoundland National War Memorial (approx. 1.1 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. John's.

Mary Meager Southcott image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Unknown, n.d.

3. Mary Meager Southcott

Credits. This page was last revised on December 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 620 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 21, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.