The Spanish Flu at Willard Parker Hospital: New York City, 1918
Faculty Department
History and Political Science
Presentation Type
Powerpoint
Location
Larini Room
Start Date
25-2-2026 1:05 PM
End Date
25-2-2026 1:25 PM
Description (Abstract)
My presentation will be part of the panel for sabbatical faculty.
I will present on my article that I wrote during sabbatical, The Spanish Flu at Willard Parker Hospital, that was just published by New York Archives magazine this winter. The article uses a patient register book from 1918 to understand how the hospital, a public institution run by the Health Department, responded to the influenza pandemic. It argues that, contrary to the usual image of overwhelmed hospitals, Willard Parker handled the pandemic relatively well and had one of the lowest death rates of any hospital in the city. It even outperformed more prestigious private hospitals, like New York Hospital and Presbyterian. The paper examines how Willard Parker's pandemic work took shape and why it was effective.
Keywords
Influenza Pandemic, Spanish Flu, Hospitals, New York City
Related Pillar(s)
Community, Study
The Spanish Flu at Willard Parker Hospital: New York City, 1918
Larini Room
My presentation will be part of the panel for sabbatical faculty.
I will present on my article that I wrote during sabbatical, The Spanish Flu at Willard Parker Hospital, that was just published by New York Archives magazine this winter. The article uses a patient register book from 1918 to understand how the hospital, a public institution run by the Health Department, responded to the influenza pandemic. It argues that, contrary to the usual image of overwhelmed hospitals, Willard Parker handled the pandemic relatively well and had one of the lowest death rates of any hospital in the city. It even outperformed more prestigious private hospitals, like New York Hospital and Presbyterian. The paper examines how Willard Parker's pandemic work took shape and why it was effective.
Short Biography
Eric is an Associate Professor and Chair of the History and Political Science Department at Molloy.