c. 1871 – 1958
Ella Van Steenburgh was a registered nurse, who ran a successful Nurse’s Home and registry business for over 40 years.
In 1906, Ella graduated from Newark City Hospital School of Nursing: Class Photo here from Newark Library. She began working a hospital nurse, however, in 1908 she acquired spinal meningitis and was confined to a wheelchair.
However, she didn’t let the injury stop her. She opened a nurse’s registry and home at 66 Broad Street in 1909. Those who needed nurses in the city and suburbs would call the registry and she would connect them with nurses. As of 1941, her registry contained 300 nurses, and she had 15-30 living in the Nurse’s Home at a time.
Born in New York, she is listed in Newark on the 1885 NJ census, with her parents and siblings in the North Ward. According to her 1941 Newark News profile, she moved to Newark at age 9 and lived at 100 Broad.
In 1897, she is listed as having a part in the musical of the Young Woman’s Club. In 1899, she is listed as a President in the Newark Needlework Guild, distributing clothes to the poor. She was also a member of the Newark City Hospital Alumnae Association.
The Newark News wrote, “Many of the older and former residents of the city are numbered among her intimate friends.” She enjoyed bridge, card parties, the radio and crocheting. Several of her parties and vacations were covered in the Newark News.
Bibliography
“Ella Van Steenburg”, Newark News, Feb 23, 1958
“Don’t Say Shut In”, Newark News, Mar 19, 1941
“The Musicale to be Given Tuesday Night” Newark News Feb 7, 1897
“Needlework Guilde Busy” Newark News Dec 4, 1899