Frontline Guardians Against Yellow Fever
North Florida
Fernandina, 1877 and Jacksonville, 1888
The Unseen Enemy
The Sisters of Saint Joseph faced two significant Yellow Fever epidemics in North Florida during the 19th century. This disease was not yet understood and claimed thousands of lives.
Pictured Above: The Hugenot Cemetery in St. Augustine was established to hold the 172 victims of the epidemic.
Faith at the Frontline
Despite their primary role as educators during this time, the Sisters volunteered to provide free healthcare services during these outbreaks.
The Sisters tirelessly cared for the sick, offering around-the-clock assistance while compassionately preparing the deceased for burial. Their dedication, bravery and organizational skills earned them widespread respect among patients, physicians, and residents.
Sisters of Saint Joseph Convent, Fernandina, Florida, 1872 (left). This house was used during the yellow fever epidemic in 1877.
Breaking Barriers:
The Sisters’ Compassion in Crisis
Throughout these challenging times, the Sisters of Saint Joseph remained steadfast in their mission to provide care to all, regardless of race or religion. Their selfless efforts even gained the admiration of surrounding Protestant communities and softened their criticism of the Catholic Church.
Summer Peril:
Yellow Fever and the Fight for Survival
Southern cities faced increased exposure to diseases in the summer, including yellow fever. From June to November, those who could afford it would leave for cooler climates, often leaving Black residents as the last to evacuate during disease outbreaks.
In September 1888, Sister Josephine Delage (top) volunteered to nurse the yellow fever victims in Jacksonville at Sand Hills Hospital (left). On September 23, she became ill with yellow fever. She was anointed for death, recovered, and returned to Saint Augustine on December 24, 1888.
Sacrifice in the Service
While caring for the sick during the 1877 epidemic in Fernandina, FL, the Sisters tragically lost two of their own to the disease.
Despite this, they courageously volunteered their services again during the 1888 outbreak in Jacksonville, where at least 430 lives were lost. Sadly, another Sister fell victim to the fever while serving patients in a hospital. After her death, five other Sisters, as well as an orphan living at the convent in Jacksonville, died from the fever.