Event: Sickness & Stigma at Sea View: The Black Angels

Date: Wednesday, April 16

Time: noon–1 p.m. CDT

Location: MSC 1010 and via Zoom

Discover the true story of the Black Angels at the 16th annual Richard B. Davis, MD, PhD History of Medicine Lecture on Wednesday, April 16 from noon–1 p.m. in-person (MSC 1010) and online via Zoom (registration required).

Author Maria Smilios learned about the Black Angels while working as a science book editor at Springer Publishing. As a native New Yorker and lover of history, medicine, and women's narratives, she became determined to tell their story.

"The Black Angels" is the true story of the Black nurses who, in 1929, wagered their lives by leaving the Jim Crow south and went north to work on an isolated hilltop in Staten Island at Sea View Hospital. The "pest house" was an overcrowded municipal tuberculosis sanatorium where the city sent its poorest residents, considered "uncouth and un-American consumptives" to languish and die.

Individuals interested in attending the lecture can do so in person (MSC 1010) or register to attend via Zoom. Boxed lunches will be available to the first 30 in-person attendees.

Book Giveaway

The library will hold a drawing for signed copies of Maria's book, The Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis. Individuals can enter online.

Meet and Greet Opportunities

Connect with award-winning author, keynote speaker, and adjunct lecturer, Maria Smilios during one of two meet & greet sessions. Chat with Maria during these small group sessions and learn more about the historic nurses called the Black Angels. As tuberculosis and other infectious diseases remain a concern, discover how previously untold stories from our past can inform current strategies for combating health disparities. Bring your questions. Snacks will be provided for in-person attendees.

Wednesday, April 16

• • 9–10 a.m. CDT | CNS 40118 or via Zoom
• • 3–4 p.m. CDT | COPH 3001 or via Zoom

Learn more about Maria Smilios and the history of the Davis Lecture on the library's website.