Test Timeline

1954

POLIO PIONEERS
More than 1.6 million children, known as “polio pioneers,” participated in the polio vaccine trials of 1954. Dr. Jonas Salk had presented his findings for a cure to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis in 1953, which then took a “calculated risk” by helping to make the vaccine available to groups of children across 38 states. That willingness to move forward forever changed the course of history. Founded in part by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1938, who was himself a victim of polio, the NFIP was the predecessor to the March of Dimes.

1952

CUYAHOGA RIVER FIRE OF 1952
Prior to the infamous fire of 1969 which prompted action by the federal government, the Cuyahoga River had previously burned in 1952. A combination of oil and wood ignited a large blaze which destroyed a local shipyard and damaged several tugboats. Today, the river is model of improvement thanks to the Clean Water Act of 1970. Visit NPR to learn more.

1950

1950s

NURSE WEIGHS YOUNG BOY
Here we see a school nurse weighing a child as part of an examination. Notice the posters in the upper left and right encouraging African-Americans to visit their doctor or clinic.

1922

CHARITY HOSPITAL NURSES
Opened “against the backdrop of a soul-searing Civil War and a spirit saddened by the assassination of a president,” St. Vincent Charity Hospital filled a void in Cleveland’s healthcare landscape. Mother Augustine was the first superior of the hospital. She and seven Sisters took up their duties on October 5, 1865. Their practice of always aiding the sick and suffering regardless of creed, race or ability to pay is still ongoing. Here is a class of St. Vincent nurses from the 1920s.

1920

THE PALMOLIVE GIRL
During the early 1900s, Palmolive was the world’s best-selling soap. In the name of public health (and also increasing its number of users per family), Palmolive issued posters showing children as happy and healthy users of its product. Today, we thank Palmolive for its efforts to promote the virtues of handwashing.

1918

1918 PANDEMIC FLU
The Spanish flu pandemic infected hundreds of millions of people worldwide. It killed an estimated 50-100 million people, which at that time was 3-5% of the world’s population. Here we see residents of an American town wearing masks to protect themselves against the spread of flu.

1914

THE PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE

Soon after the turn of the 20th century, public health nurses became a very important part of the budding American healthcare system. They traveled by horse to remote locations, visiting homes and schools and workplaces to help those in need. The public health nurse was often the only link that many people had to medical care and education.

100 Years of Cuyahoga County Board of Health