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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 62 Collections and/or Records:

Photograph of Miss Nightingale walking up steps, c. 1930 - 1939

 Item — Box: 06014
Identifier: 006 001 000 06 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. 1930 - 1939

Photograph of Miss Nightingale's retirement party, 1939

 Item — Box: 04046
Identifier: 004 007 000 16 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: 1939

RG02 Administration Record Group

 Record Group
Identifier: RG02
Scope and Contents

Records in the Administration Record Group are related to the administration of Nightingale-Bamford School, including Heads of School records, Board of Trustees records, accreditation records, school association records, Business Office records, including financial and facilities records, and school technology records.

Dates: 1915 - 2018

RG04 Oral History Record Group

 Record Group
Identifier: RG04
Scope and Contents In 1984, based on a determination that Nightingale's archives were inadequate in revealing the school's history, Head of School Joan McMenamin and the Alumnae Association initiated an oral history project. Alumna Marea Adams '74 conducted interviews of former faculty and staff, heads of school, trustees, parents, and alumnae (some interviewees represent more than one of these roles). This project continued through 1986. Some oral histories pre-date the project; there are also several oral...
Dates: c. 1965 - 2001

S01 Frances Nicolau Nightingale (1906 - 1939), c. 1919 - 2002

 Series
Identifier: RG02_SG001_S01
Scope and Contents 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. 1919 - 2002

SG001 Heads of School Records, 1915 - 2018

 Sub-Group
Identifier: RG02_SG001
Scope and Contents Heads of School records consist of records created by or under the purview of the various heads of Nightingale-Bamford School from its founding to present, as well as photographs, clippings, and biographical records with the head of school as subject. Records include correspondence and announcements, memoranda, reports from the heads of school to the Board of Trustees, speeches given by heads of school, and related records created and received in the course of business as well as records...
Dates: 1915 - 2018

SG001 Oral History Recordings, Transcripts, and Notes, c. 1965 - 2001

 Sub-Group
Identifier: RG04_SG001
Scope and Contents From the Record Group: In 1984, based on a determination that Nightingale's archives were inadequate in revealing the school's history, Head of School Joan McMenamin and the Alumnae Association initiated an oral history project. Alumna Marea Adams '74 conducted interviews of former faculty and staff, heads of school, trustees, parents, and alumnae (some interviewees represent more than one of these roles). This project continued through 1986. Some oral histories pre-date the project; there are also several oral...
Dates: c. 1965 - 2001

Social Register Observer article on female educators, 2002 Winter

 Item — Box: 06001
Identifier: 006 001 000 04 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: 2002 Winter

Speaking notes relating to Mrs. Keyser and Miss Hill promotions, c. 1935 - 1945

 Item — Box: 06001
Identifier: 006 001 000 07 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: c. 1935 - 1945

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 60
Collection 2
 
Subject
correspondence 23
speeches (documents) 12
faculty (educators) and staff 10
biography files 9
commencements 9