Salute To Excellence | Digital Program Booklet 2025-26 - Journal - Page 15
Biography of Myrtle M. Patten
Miss Myrtle M. Patten (1895-1983) was born in Georgia. She received her basic education in
nursing in Boston and her public health training in New York City. Miss Patten lived in
Calvert County from 1927 where she was employed as a public health nurse until her
retirement in 1965. Miss Patten was the only African American public health nurse working
throughout the county with African American families to take care of their health issues.
Her position was terminated after she retired.
MYRTLE M. PATTEN
Responsibilities included administering vaccination shots to school children before they
entered school; collection of school census data; giving smallpox and tuberculosis
inoculations to African American laborers and to tenant farmers in the county, regular visits
to homes to discuss with families messages of disease prevention and health promotion.
Nurse Patten was an energetic change agent and community activist for building social
welfare and educational opportunities for African Americans in Calvert County, Maryland.
Miss Patten’s passion was to inspire families by teaching them that
