Helen Grace McClelland (July 25, 1887 – December 20, 1984), a United States Army nurse, was awarded the United States

Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is a military decoration awarded to ...

and the British Royal Red Cross Medal (First Class) for heroic actions during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

while serving at a British Base Hospital in France. McClelland was one of only three women to receive the Distinguished Service Cross award during World War I. After returning to the United States, McClelland spent twenty-three years as Director of

Pennsylvania Hospital Pennsylvania Hospital is a private, non-profit, 515-bed teaching hospital located in Center City Philadelphia and is part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Founded on May 11, 1751, by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond, Pennsyl ...

's School of Nursing. In her role, McClelland advocated for the professionalization and modernization of

nursing Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health ...

. McClelland was inducted into the

Ohio Women's Hall of Fame The Ohio Women's Hall of Fame was a program the State of Ohio's Department of Job and Family Services ran from 1978 through 2011. The Hall has over 400 members. In 2019, the Hall's physical archives and online records were transferred to the ...

in 1978.Ohio Women's Hall of Fame Bio: Helen Grace McClelland, http://www.odjfs.state.oh.us/women/halloffame/bio.asp?ID=201

Early life and education

Helen Grace McClelland was born on July 25, 1887, in Austinburg, Ohio. McClelland was the middle child in the family with two older sisters, Mary and Florence, and two younger brothers, Raymond and Stewart. She moved with her father, Raymond McClelland, a pastor, and her mother Harriett (Cooper) McClelland, and her four siblings to

Fredericktown, Ohio Fredericktown is a village in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,493 at the 2010 census. History Fredericktown was platted in 1807, and named after Frederick, Maryland, the native home of a first settler. Geography Frederi ...

in 1897. McClelland enrolled in

's School of Nursing in 1908 and graduated in 1912. After graduation, she relocated to

Weiser, Idaho Weiser ( ) is a city in the rural western part of the U.S. state of Idaho and the county seat of Washington County. With its mild climate, the city supports farm, orchard, and livestock endeavors in the vicinity. The city sits at the confluence o ...

to take a position as

head nurse Nursing management consists of the performance of the leadership functions of governance and decision-making within organizations employing nurses. It includes processes common to all management like planning, organizing, staffing, directing and ...

. In 1913, she moved to Norfolk, Virginia to take a job at Norfolk Protestant Hospital.

World War I

McClelland joined the American Ambulance Service in France in 1915. During World War I, McClelland joined the

United States Army Nurse Corps The United States Army Nurse Corps (USANC) was formally established by the U.S. Congress in 1901. It is one of the six medical special branches (or "corps") of officers which – along with medical enlisted soldiers – comprise the Army Medica ...

and was assigned to British Casualty Clearing Station Number 61 near the border between Belgium and France as a surgical nurse. McClelland was awarded the

, a citation from General Sir Douglas Haig, and the Royal Red Cross First Class from Britain for her heroic actions during

World War One World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. During an air raid bombing in August 1917, McClelland cared for injured nurse Beatrice Mary MacDonald, who lost the sight in her right eye. McClelland left the Army Nurse Corps. May 25, 1919, as one of the most decorated women during World War I.

Pennsylvania Hospital

McClelland returned to Pennsylvania Hospital in 1926 as assistant to the head of the school of nursing. In 1933, McClelland took the position of head of the Pennsylvania Hospital's Nursing Department. She obtained national accreditation for the hospital's nursing education program. She designed training programs for nurses two-year training program for bedside nurse, and a four-year program to train nurses for management positions. Stacy Peeples, lead historian and curator at Pennsylvania Hospital, said, “Helen Grace McClelland perhaps more than any other single person, shaped the nursing school and nursing services at Pennsylvania Hospital.” McClelland retired in 1956.

Other contributions to nursing

At the onset of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, McClelland assisted with the planning and operational organization of the nursing services of the 52nd Evacuation Hospital. She recruited 43 nurses, many from Pennsylvania Hospital, to serve at this Evacuation Hospital in New Caledonia.

Later life, death and legacy

In 1978, McClelland was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame. McClelland died on December 20, 1984, in Fredericktown, Ohio, and was buried in Wayne Baptist Ceremony. Awards named for McClelland to honor her include: Helen McClelland Award for Research and Innovation, and Helen McClelland Award for Clinical Scholarship.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McClelland, Helen Grace American nurses American women nurses World War I nurses People from Austinburg, Ohio People from Philadelphia People from Fredericktown, Ohio