Skip to main content

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:

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

 Item — Box: 06009
Identifier: 006 001 000 09 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: 1926; 1987

The Year Book of Miss Nightingale's School, vol. 1, 1925

 Item — Box: 07024
Identifier: 007 006 000 17 0001
Scope and Contents The first yearbook for Miss Nightingale's School was published in 1925, the year of the school's first graduating class (referred to as Class VIII at this time). This yearbook includes photographs that may not otherwise be in the Nightingale-Bamford School Archives. Photographs include Miss Nightingale, Mrs. Saxton, the senior class, individual portraits of each senior, class photos of classes IV through VII, and a dramatic production cast. Student poems, essays, and humorous writings are...
Dates: 1925

Additional filters:

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