Harford Memorial Hospital

The old Havre De Grace hospital started receiving it first patients in 1912. The hospital was segregated but accepted African American patients; they received far less care than the whites, who were treated a floor above them. Segregated healthcare was an issue during the early 1900s and we will go into depth of the tragedy that Mr. William Stamps endured that occurred at the Harford Memorial Hospital in 1960. A team member interviewed Mr.Stamps and retrieved the true story of the death of Patricia Stamps and her newborn son, Carlos. Harford Memorial Hospital was desegregated in 1963.

Information concerning The Harford Memorial Hospital is hard to find, thus the majority of the information found came from the interview with Mr. William Stamp. Mr. Stamp is one of the few people who has experienced a civil rights related issue because of the hospital’s segregation. As well as having this experience, Mr. stamp was also the only person who would come forth and speak openly about his experience.

Harford Memorial Hospital desegregated and began integration because of the tragedy that happened to Mr. Stamp and his wife, Patricia Stamps, and the impact it had on the community. Mr. and Mrs. Stamps had worked at the hospital as morticians during his time in Maryland. The entire time they worked, they had never thought the segregation of the hospital had any importance. Although the hospital was segregated, the equipment was nearly identical between the two halves, which meant the hospital’s segregation barely affected anyone.

Mrs. Stamps had been pregnant for some time during their work and they both knew that one day they would have to go to the hospital for the birth of their child. Eventually that day came, and Mrs. Stamps woke up with labor pains, so Mr. stamp drove her to the hospital to give birth. Mr. stamps knew the doctor that would help in the process and had complete faith in him. Unfortunately, the baby was born in breach and needed an incubator to survive. The only incubators in the hospital were in the white half on the floor above. After many efforts to get the newborn the help he needed, he died. Later, after Mrs.Stamps was informed about the death of her baby, she went into a state of shock and died from her lungs collapsing.

This tragedy sparked the movement to stop the Hospitals segregation and after several legal actions the hospital was integrated. Later, the hospital honored Mr. Stamp with remembrance plaques and photos of Patricia and William. The interview that was conducted can be found on Youtube, using this link, https://youtu.be/0bjef0m1sXc . This will show you the story, coming straight from the source, Mr. Stamps.

“Sign the Petition.” Change.org, www.change.org/p/keep-harford-memorial-hospital.

“UM Harford Memorial Hospital.” UM Upper Chesapeake Health, www.umms.org/uch/locations/um-harford-memorial-hospital.

https://www.hippostcard.com/listing/maryland-havre-de-grace-harford-memorial-hospital-1942-dexter-press/21405628

“Maryland Havre De Grace Harford Memorial Hospital 1942 Dexter Press.” HipPostcard, www.hippostcard.com/listing/maryland-havre-de-grace-harford-memorial-hospital-1942-dexter-press/21405628. “Sign the Petition.” Change.org, www.change.org/p/keep-harford-memorial-hospital. “UM Harford Memorial Hospital.” UM Upper Chesapeake Health, www.umms.org/uch/locations/um-harford-memorial-hospital. “UM Upper Chesapeake Health.” The Inequity of Health Care to... - UM Upper Chesapeake Health, www.facebook.com/UpperChesapeakeHealth/photos/the-inequity-of-health-care-to-minorities-particularly-women-has-been-an-issue-f/2149932631768444/.

“Cecil County History.” Patricia Ann Stamps, a Memorial on the... - Cecil County History, www.facebook.com/cecilcountyhistory/photos/a.2377394625858784/2377409169190663/?type=3&theater. “Maryland Havre De Grace Harford Memorial Hospital 1942 Dexter Press.” HipPostcard, www.hippostcard.com/listing/maryland-havre-de-grace-harford-memorial-hospital-1942-dexter-press/21405628. “Sign the Petition.” Change.org, www.change.org/p/keep-harford-memorial-hospital. “UM Harford Memorial Hospital.” UM Upper Chesapeake Health, www.umms.org/uch/locations/um-harford-memorial-hospital. “UM Upper Chesapeake Health.” The Inequity of Health Care to... - UM Upper Chesapeake Health, www.facebook.com/UpperChesapeakeHealth/photos/the-inequity-of-health-care-to-minorities-particularly-women-has-been-an-issue-f/2149932631768444/.

Harford Memorial Hospital

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information