Born: 1848 (Liberty County, Georgia)
Died: 1912
Biography:
Susie King Taylor (August 6, 1848 – October 6, 1912) is known for being the first Black nurse during the American Civil War. Beyond just her aptitude in nursing the wounded of the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Taylor was the first Black woman to self-publish her memoirs. She was the author of Reminiscences of My Life in Camp with the 33rd United States Colored Troops, Late 1st S.C. Volunteers. She was also an educator to formerly bonded Black people in the postbellum South by opening various schools in Georgia. Taylor would also be a part of organizing the 67 Corps of the Women’s Relief Corps in 1886.
Childhood:
Susie King Taylor, born Susan Ann Baker, was the first of nine children born to Raymond and Hagar Ann Reed Baker on August 6, 1848. She was born into slavery on a plantation owned by Valentine Grest on the Isle of Wight in Liberty County, Georgia. Taylor is recognized as being a member of the Gullah peoples of the coastal lowlands of Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. When she was about seven years old, her grandmother Dolly Reed was allowed by the plantation owner to take Taylor to go live with her in Savannah, Georgia. She moved to her grandmother’s house with her younger brother and sister.
Education and the Underground School:
Taylor’s grandmother would send her and her brother to be educated through something known as an underground education. Under Georgia law, it was illegal for enslaved people to be educated. Taylor and her brother would be taught by a friend of Dolly’s, a woman known as Mrs. Woodhouse. She was a free woman of color that lived a half mile away from Taylor’s house. Mrs. Woodhouse would have the students enter one at a time with their books covered to keep from drawing too much attention by the police or the local white population. Taylor would attend school with about 25 to 30 children which would last for another two years.
Further Education and Friendship with Katie O’Connor:
At which point, she would then find instruction from another free woman of color, Mrs. Mary Beasley, (Savannah’s first black nun) who would continue to educate Taylor until May 1860. Mrs. Beasley told her grandmother that she had taught Taylor all that she knew and would have to get someone else to continue. Dolly worked continuously to support the education of her granddaughter. Taylor would become friends with a white playmate named Katie O’Connor who attended a local convent. Her new friend agreed to continue to give Taylor lessons if she promised not to tell anyone. After four months, this would end due to O’Connor going into the convent permanently.
Marriage and the Civil War:
In 1862, when Taylor was just 14 years old, she married Edward King, a member of the 33rd United States Colored Troops. She would accompany him and the regiment to the front lines of the Civil War. Taylor served as a nurse for the regiment, caring for the sick and wounded soldiers. Her role as a nurse was not officially recognized, but she gained a reputation for her compassionate and skilled care. She also taught soldiers how to read and write during their downtime.
Publishing and Education:
After the war, Taylor and her husband settled in Savannah, Georgia. She self-published her memoir, Reminiscences of My Life in Camp with the 33rd United States Colored Troops, Late 1st S.C. Volunteers, in 1902, becoming the first Black woman to do so. In the postbellum South, Taylor focused her efforts on education. She opened several schools for formerly enslaved Black people, providing them with the opportunity to learn to read and write.
Women’s Relief Corps:
In 1886, Taylor played a significant role in organizing the 67 Corps of the Women’s Relief Corps, a group that provided assistance to Civil War veterans. Her involvement in this organization demonstrates her continued dedication to serving others and supporting her community.
Susie King Taylor’s contributions as a nurse, writer, and educator were groundbreaking and inspirational. She overcame the limitations imposed by slavery and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others. Today, she is remembered as a trailblazer and a crucial figure in women’s history and the fight for equality.