Missouri Baptist Sanitarium

Milton W. Brannock died on 22 Nov 1922. I learned from his death certificate that he died at Missouri Baptist Hospital. I lived in St. Louis for 24 years, and wanted to know if it was the same "MOBAP" that I had visited.

I found a bulletin dated 23 April 1907 published by Washington University Association that included an ad for Missouri Baptist Sanitarium.











I learned more interesting facts regarding the humble beginnings of this hospital from the BJC Healthcare website:



1884 - Dr. Mayfield and his wife open their three-story brick home at 1914 N. 11th Street, to his first patient.  Word of Dr. Mayfield's work attracts patients from around the region.  Neither Dr. nor Mrs. Mayfield draw a salary for their work.

1886 - To accomodate the growing number of patients, Dr. Mayfield rents the large brick Dausman Mansion and its grounds at 909 North Taylor. He opens it as an annex to his hospital, and by 1887 most patient care is transferred.  With support from the Third Baptist Church of St. Louis and the Baptist Ministers Alliance, the hospital is formally chartered "Missouri Baptist Sanitarium."

1892 - A typhoid fever epidemic hits St. Louis. Missouri Baptist initiates a horse and carriage ambulance service. 

1894 - The first staff is named;  includes many noted St. Louis physicians and surgeons

1895 - Missouri Baptist Nursing Training School opens. Nursing students of the day were expected to work 10 hours a day in addition to their studies.

1897 - The first class graduates from Missouri Baptist Nursing Training School; there are three graduates.

1900 - Annual report lists 818 patients treated: 488 medical cases, 330 surgical, 14 babies born.

1903 - Missouri Baptist purchases its first X-ray machine, adds X-ray department

1905 -Missouri Baptist builds its own electric power station; purchases 12-room house at 4529 MacMillan Avenue to house its nurses

1908 - Missouri Baptist builds a bacteriology and chemical laboratory, one of the first in the nation

1909 - Physicians are added to the medical staff; rooms for patients are opened

1915 - Hospital invests $192,526 in a new sanitarium anex at 919 N. Taylor Avenue, adjoining the mansion, which became the maternity ward. Additional services offered; Missouri Baptist purchases a motorized ambulance.

1918 - During World War I, seven Missouri Baptist physicians and forty nurses volunteer with the Red Cross serving at stateside and overseas military bases.  Spanish Influenza hits St. Louis; a total of 3,641 St. Louisans die.

1919 - Missouri Baptist hires its first dietitian

1920 - Missouri Baptist physicians endorse the “St. Louis Plan” to cut down on automobile accidents; the program receives national attention

Two years later Milton dies, so I will conclude this history lesson.