Nightingale, Frances Nicolau, 1871-1948
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:
Statement signed by Frances N. Nightingale certifying Celestine Appleton's French studies at Miss Nightingale's School for the years 1924-1926, for transfer to The Brearley School. Accompanied by Joan Stitt McMenamin letter thanking The Brearley School's Jeanne Dickinson for providing it to the school, 1926, 1987
The Year Book of Miss Nightingale's School, vol. 1, 1925
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