Medical Pioneer. One of the "Sacred Twenty", she was part of the first group of nurses to become official members of the United States Navy. An 1899 graduate of nurse's training at New York Postgraduate Hospital, she worked in private practice for a time then after further education at Fordham University was appointed a Navy nurse on September 7, 1908. Promoted to the rank of Chief Nurse in April of 1909, she served as nursing supervisor at Norfolk Naval Hospital. On January 20, 1911 she became the second Superintendent of the Navy Nurse Corps, remaining in that position until her voluntary retirement on November 30, 1922. For her efforts in guiding the Nurse Corps through World War I Chief Nurse Higbee was awarded the Navy Cross on October 23, 1923, the first woman to be so honored. After retirement she lived in Central Florida. In 1945 the "USS Higbee" was christened, the first ship named for a female Navy veteran.
Medical Pioneer. One of the "Sacred Twenty", she was part of the first group of nurses to become official members of the United States Navy. An 1899 graduate of nurse's training at New York Postgraduate Hospital, she worked in private practice for a time then after further education at Fordham University was appointed a Navy nurse on September 7, 1908. Promoted to the rank of Chief Nurse in April of 1909, she served as nursing supervisor at Norfolk Naval Hospital. On January 20, 1911 she became the second Superintendent of the Navy Nurse Corps, remaining in that position until her voluntary retirement on November 30, 1922. For her efforts in guiding the Nurse Corps through World War I Chief Nurse Higbee was awarded the Navy Cross on October 23, 1923, the first woman to be so honored. After retirement she lived in Central Florida. In 1945 the "USS Higbee" was christened, the first ship named for a female Navy veteran.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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