Dates

• Existence: 1916 - 1997

Biography

Evelyn Crary Bacon, teacher, decorated veteran nurse and pioneer in the field of nursing education, was born in Grundy Center, Iowa in 1916. Crary earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Iowa in 1938, a G.N. in nursing from the University of Iowa in 1940, and an M.S. in nursing education from the University of Chicago in 1946. From 1942 to 1946, Crary served as captain in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, acting as head nurse supervisor and participating in the invasion of Normandy.

In 1950, Crary married Franklin Bacon. The couple moved to Richmond, Virginia, where Bacon was active in the nursing program at the University of Virginia. Bacon's extensive teaching career includes positions at the University of Iowa, UCLA, University of Virginia, and the Medical College of Virginia. Bacon led the movement to establish the School of Nursing at the University of Virginia. In 1972, Bacon became associate professor and program head of Nursing at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond. In 1981, Bacon was elected chairman of the Richmond Red Cross organization, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Bacon also served as President of the Richmond League of Women Voters and enjoyed positions in many other organizations, including the Commission on the Status of Women, Governor's Advisory Council, Richmond area community council, and the Virginia Nurses Association.

After Bacon's retirement, she volunteered as historian for the Virginia Nurses Association, organizing the papers of early nursing leaders. Bacon was posthumously recognized by this organization as an Outstanding Nurse in 1999, and in 2000 was named a Virginia Pioneer Nurse.

Found in 1 Collection or Record: