Born: 1874, United States
Died: 1930
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Sarah Lillian Clayton
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
When a child she chose nursing as her life work. She received her training in Blockley (Philadelphia School of Nursing), which she entered in 1894, and graduated in 1896. In her early years she had considered being a missionary, and it is not known when she definitely gave up this desire. Those who had occasion to go to her with problems, found that beneath the sometimes cold exterior there was not only a keen intelligence, but there beat a warm and understanding heart. She was on the staff of the Minneapolis City Hospital for three years (1911-1914). One year she spent as Directress of the Illinois Training School for Nurses, Chicago. In 1915 Miss Clayton began what she considered her real life work, when the school from which she graduated, the Philadelphia School for Nursing, claimed her as their directress. Miss Clayton filled this position until her death which occurred on May 2, 1930. The Graduate Nursing Staff of the Philadelphia School of Nursing presented a Tablet to the City of Philadelphia in her honor. This tablet is believed to be unique in the annals of nursing.