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==Biography==

==Biography==

Nelson was born in Colfax in Grant Parish in north central Louisiana. She received her early education from the J. B. LaFarge School in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] in Rapides Parish. On June 20, 1929, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in [[nursing]] from the [[Tuskegee Institute]] in Tuskegee, [[Alabama]], an historically black college, which included [[George Washington Carver]] and [[Booker T. Washington]] on the faculty and in the administration. After her Tuskegee years, Nelson taught at Bishop College in Marshall, [[Texas]]. She was also the dean of women at Bishop, another historically black institution which opened its doors in 1881 and closed permanently in 1988 after relocation to [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], Texas.

Nelson was born in Colfax in Grant Parish in north central Louisiana. She received her early education from the J. B. LaFarge School in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] in Rapides Parish. On June 20, 1929, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the [[Tuskegee Institute]] in Tuskegee, [[Alabama]], an historically black college, which included [[George Washington Carver]] and [[Booker T. Washington]] on the faculty and in the administration. After her Tuskegee years, Nelson taught at Bishop College in Marshall, [[Texas]]. She was also the dean of women at Bishop, another historically black institution which opened its doors in 1881 and closed permanently in 1988 after relocation to [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], Texas.

Thereafter, Nelson worked as a nurse at a hospital on Rikers Island in [[New York City]], where one of her patients for a time was Mary Mallon, known as "[[Typhoid Mary]]". She was later recruited by the Red Cross for duty with the [[United States Army]] Nurse Corps during [[World War II]]. She achieved the rank of [[major]] before she retired from the Army and returned to her home area in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], across the [[Red River]] from the larger city of Alexandria. She was a nurse for the Cenla [Central Louisiana] Community Action Committee, the Alexandria-Pineville "anti-poverty" program established by [[Great Society]] legislation. She worked in area [[hospital]]s, [[nursing home]]s and did volunteer work for many years.

Thereafter, Nelson worked as a nurse at a hospital on Rikers Island in [[New York City]], where one of her patients for a time was Mary Mallon, known as "[[Typhoid Mary]]". She was later recruited by the Red Cross for duty with the [[United States Army]] Nurse Corps during [[World War II]]. She achieved the rank of [[major]] before she retired from the Army and returned to her home area in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], across the [[Red River]] from the larger city of Alexandria. She was a nurse for the Cenla [Central Louisiana] Community Action Committee, the Alexandria-Pineville "anti-poverty" program established by [[Great Society]] legislation. She worked in area [[hospital]]s, nursing homes and did volunteer work for many years.

On December 27, 1998, then [[Mayor]] Fred H. Baden issued a proclamation declaring "Gertrude Nelson Day" in Pineville. It was one day after her hundredth birthday.

On December 27, 1998, then [[Mayor]] Fred H. Baden issued a proclamation declaring "Gertrude Nelson Day" in Pineville. It was one day after her hundredth birthday.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Gertrude}}

[[Category:Louisiana People]]

[[Category:Louisiana People]]

[[Category:Texas]]

[[Category:Texas]]

[[Category:New York City]]

[[Category:New York City]]