Blue Ridge Hospital
Special Collections, D. H. Ramsey Library, UNC Asheville
Heritage of Black Highlanders Collection
bhcm77.10.2.8.3

This information was taken from a booklet published by Blue Ridge Hospital and was provided by Ruby Woodbury Hilton, first Superintendent of the Hospital.

The institution was founded in 1922, having as its main objects, the hospitalization of Negroes seeking surgical or medical treatment under the care and skill of their own doctors, to provide an opportunity for the colored physicians to improve their technique and skill in keeping with the best medical and surgical thought of the day, to provide an opportunity for the efficient training of nurses, and to serve as a nucleus for the promotion and dissemination of knowledge pertaining to hygiene and sanitation.

The laborious struggle of this institution to keep open its doors, and maintain its high standard has been a tremendous job.  This has been due to the self-sacrificing loyalty, unrequited toil, and sincere desire on the part of its officials and friends. [missing words]
The saving of the Blue Ridge Hospital will be a strong stimulus and a mighty factor in promoting Negro welfare in Asheville and Buncombe County.

The hospital is making an earnest appeal to the sympathetic white and colored citizens of our city and county, to help in its struggle to carry on a much needed work.  Its fine record to date commends itself to the community for public favor.

Since the hospital opened its doors for the reception of patients, the records show that 1801 patients have been admitted up to June 1, 1927.  From this number 101 deaths from all causes have occurred – this low death rate giving the hospital a mortality rate of 5%.  Of the total number of patients entered, the records further show the following division.
Surgical    854
Medical    817
Obstetric  130

There are two auxiliaries of the hospital that are rendering fine service in helping to promote its welfare, namely, “The Hospital Guild” and the “Loyal Blue Club”; these clubs are composed of women whose services have been unsparing, and whose attention has been painstaking in rendering whatever aid possible in caring for its needs.

The hospital is prepared to care for all the colored work in the city and county.  The Mission Hospital is the only white institution in the city having colored wards.  To be consistent in our aims and institutional life, we feel that the Blue Ridge Hospital is the logical place for all Negroes needing hospital treatment in the city and county.  As a rule the colored nurse is better qualified by nature to minister to her own race; with her there can be no thought of prejudice.

No institution of the caliber of the Blue Ridge Hospital can compete with a white hospital for colored patients;   [missing words]

Superintendent: Ruby A. F. Woodbury, R.N.  [See Biography and photo of Ruby Woodbury Hilton: bhcp77.10.4.5.9]

The Board of Trustees composed of seven reputable men, and governed by a Board of Directors composed of ten men and five women.

Board of Directors

B. J. Jackson, Jr., Secretary
A. L. McCoy, Treasurer
Rev. E. W. Dixon
V. S. McDowell
E. W. Pearson
John Watson
H. E. Jones, Pharmicist
James L. Wilson
J. W. Walker, M.D.
L. O. Miller, M.D.
Mrs. Lydia Sisney
Mrs. Katie Hicks
Mrs. Beulah Quick
Mrs. Bell Foster
Mrs. Nora Thomas 

Trustees

John D. Miller
W. R. Perrin
T. W. Stroud
John Thompson
Rev. E. W. Dixon
E. C. B. Horne
L. N. Gallego, M.D.