1876-1901
Clara Maass was one of the first graduates of Newark German Hospital and was named head nurse at 21.
She served with as a contract nurse in the field hospitals of the Seventh Army Corps, among other assignments, including in the Phillipines. Her mother said, “Clara was a strong, vigorous girl able to withstand the hardships of campaigning.”
Clara volunteered to be infected with yellow fever in Cuba for experiments to cure the disease and died in 1901. The Newark Sunday News wrote, “she laid down her life for science and humanity”.
Clara Maas Medical Center is named in her honor.
Clara said, “Do not worry if you hear I have yellow fever…now is a good time of year catch it… and then I should be immune.”
Bibliography
The Women’s Project of New Jersey. Past and Promise Lives of New Jersey Women.
M-01 – Maas, Clara – Nurse, Newark News Morgue, Newark Public Library
Cunningham, John. Clara Maas: A Nurse, A Hospital, A Spirit
“A Martyr to Science: Clara Maas of East Orange Falls a Voluntary Prey to the Yellow Fever Mosquito” Newark Sunday News Sept 1, 1901
“Nurse Gave Her Life to Science” Newark Sunday News Aug 25, 1901