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Nightingale, Frances Nicolau, 1871-1948

 Person

Biography

Founder of Miss Nightingale's Classes, Miss Nightingale's School, and the Nightingale-Bamford School. Head of School, 1904-1939.

Frances Nicolau Nightingale was born September 20, 1871 in Savannah, Georgia to William and Ellen (Hazelhurst) Nightingale, a descendant of diplomat Rufus King and of Revolutionary War hero Major General Nathaniel Greene. Her father was a planter and had a rice plantation near Cumberland Island, Georgia.

Miss Nightingale moved north to New York, where she had relatives. She is listed in the 1904 Social Register (NY) under her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. George D.L. Harison (Elisabeth Nightingale). In 1906, Miss Nightingale began teaching the Bartlett children at the request of their mother. The next year, she taught eight girls. By 1918, Miss Nightingale had acquired a separate space for teaching, calling it Miss Nightingale's Classes.

In the spring of 1919, Miss Nightingale was introduced to Maya Stevens Bamford, and that fall, Miss Bamford joined Miss Nightingale's Classes as junior headmistress. The next year, two townhouses at 20-22 East 92nd Street were purchased and the school later became known as Miss Nightingale's School. In 1929, the townhouses were replaced with a new building and the school renamed the Nightingale-Bamford School. Miss Nightingale served as headmistress until her retirement in 1939.

Frances Nightingale passed away in Petersborough, New Hampshire on November 14, 1948.

See Nightingale-Bamford School magazine, Fall 1995, p. 29 for a feature article on Miss Nightingale.

Found in 64 Collections and/or Records:

Frances Nightingale commencement speech, 1932

 Item — Box: 06001
Identifier: 006 001 000 07 0005
Scope and Contents From the Series: While the records surviving Miss Nightingale's tenure as head of school are not numerous, there are some key records that give a glimpse of her leadership style and intentions for the school. Records from Miss Nightingale's files are supplemented by documents and photographs that shed light on her background and school presence. Records include several early commencement speeches, minimal correspondence, compiled biographical information, and photographs of Miss Nightingale. Also of note...
Dates: 1932

Frances Nightingale commencement speech (photocopy), 1929 May 29

 Item — Box: 06001
Identifier: 006 001 000 07 0006
Scope and Contents From the Series: While the records surviving Miss Nightingale's tenure as head of school are not numerous, there are some key records that give a glimpse of her leadership style and intentions for the school. Records from Miss Nightingale's files are supplemented by documents and photographs that shed light on her background and school presence. Records include several early commencement speeches, minimal correspondence, compiled biographical information, and photographs of Miss Nightingale. Also of note...
Dates: 1929 May 29

Frances Nightingale correspondence relating to dispute between Bamford, Nightingale, and Robillard, 1947 - 1948

 File — Box: 06015
Identifier: 006 001 000 10 0001
Scope and Contents From the Series: While the records surviving Miss Nightingale's tenure as head of school are not numerous, there are some key records that give a glimpse of her leadership style and intentions for the school. Records from Miss Nightingale's files are supplemented by documents and photographs that shed light on her background and school presence. Records include several early commencement speeches, minimal correspondence, compiled biographical information, and photographs of Miss Nightingale. Also of note...
Dates: 1947 - 1948

Frances Nightingale correspondence relating to Virginia Gildersleeve giving commencement ceremony addresses, 1935 - 1943

 File — Box: 06009
Identifier: 006 001 000 05 0004
Scope and Contents From the Series: While the records surviving Miss Nightingale's tenure as head of school are not numerous, there are some key records that give a glimpse of her leadership style and intentions for the school. Records from Miss Nightingale's files are supplemented by documents and photographs that shed light on her background and school presence. Records include several early commencement speeches, minimal correspondence, compiled biographical information, and photographs of Miss Nightingale. Also of note...
Dates: 1935 - 1943

Frances Nightingale letters relating to search for head of boarding department for school, 1929 - 1931

 File — Box: 06001
Identifier: 006 001 000 05 0002
Scope and Contents From the Series: While the records surviving Miss Nightingale's tenure as head of school are not numerous, there are some key records that give a glimpse of her leadership style and intentions for the school. Records from Miss Nightingale's files are supplemented by documents and photographs that shed light on her background and school presence. Records include several early commencement speeches, minimal correspondence, compiled biographical information, and photographs of Miss Nightingale. Also of note...
Dates: 1929 - 1931

Frances Nightingale speech at St. James Parents Guild, 1938 Dec 12

 Item — Box: 06009
Identifier: 006 001 000 07 0007
Scope and Contents From the Series: While the records surviving Miss Nightingale's tenure as head of school are not numerous, there are some key records that give a glimpse of her leadership style and intentions for the school. Records from Miss Nightingale's files are supplemented by documents and photographs that shed light on her background and school presence. Records include several early commencement speeches, minimal correspondence, compiled biographical information, and photographs of Miss Nightingale. Also of note...
Dates: 1938 Dec 12

Handwritten commencement speech for the Class of 1925 (the school's first graduating class) / Frances Nightingale. Accompanied by typescript, 1925

 Item — Box: 06001
Identifier: 006 001 000 07 0003
Scope and Contents From the Series: While the records surviving Miss Nightingale's tenure as head of school are not numerous, there are some key records that give a glimpse of her leadership style and intentions for the school. Records from Miss Nightingale's files are supplemented by documents and photographs that shed light on her background and school presence. Records include several early commencement speeches, minimal correspondence, compiled biographical information, and photographs of Miss Nightingale. Also of note...
Dates: 1925

Handwritten convocation assembly speech, 1925 Oct 5

 Item — Box: 06001
Identifier: 006 001 000 07 0002
Scope and Contents From the Series: While the records surviving Miss Nightingale's tenure as head of school are not numerous, there are some key records that give a glimpse of her leadership style and intentions for the school. Records from Miss Nightingale's files are supplemented by documents and photographs that shed light on her background and school presence. Records include several early commencement speeches, minimal correspondence, compiled biographical information, and photographs of Miss Nightingale. Also of note...
Dates: 1925 Oct 5

Handwritten letter to Alumnae Association, declining luncheon invitation, c. 1940 - 1948

 Item — Box: 06001
Identifier: 006 001 000 05 0003
Scope and Contents From the Series: While the records surviving Miss Nightingale's tenure as head of school are not numerous, there are some key records that give a glimpse of her leadership style and intentions for the school. Records from Miss Nightingale's files are supplemented by documents and photographs that shed light on her background and school presence. Records include several early commencement speeches, minimal correspondence, compiled biographical information, and photographs of Miss Nightingale. Also of note...
Dates: c. 1940 - 1948

"I Remember Cumberland" / by Mary Miller, 1993

 Item — Box: 06001
Identifier: 006 001 000 03 0001
Scope and Contents From the Series: While the records surviving Miss Nightingale's tenure as head of school are not numerous, there are some key records that give a glimpse of her leadership style and intentions for the school. Records from Miss Nightingale's files are supplemented by documents and photographs that shed light on her background and school presence. Records include several early commencement speeches, minimal correspondence, compiled biographical information, and photographs of Miss Nightingale. Also of note...
Dates: 1993

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 62
Collection 2
 
Subject
correspondence 23
speeches (documents) 12
faculty (educators) and staff 10
biography files 9
commencements 9