The Key to the City

I have a great-aunt who was described as "famous" many times in early 20th century newspapers.  She was even given the Key to the City of Boston in 1924.  Why?

Family member name: Fannie H. Titus Hazen
Years of life: 1840-1930
Tree branch: Pearson

Places lived: Vermont; Massachusetts
Relation: 3rd great-aunt (my dad's, dad's, mom's, mom's sister)

Fannie Titus Hazen was famous for being four things:

* An Army nurse during the Civil War under Dorothea Dix

* Founder and President of the Massachusetts Army Nurses' Association for more than 25 years

* President of the National Association of Army Nurses of the Civil War for two years

* One of the last living Civil War Army nurses

In my possession is an original 97-year old photo from that day.  Here it is. Isn't it fabulous?

Also, a Titus family scrapbook had an article about the occasion. Here is the cutting. It states "In return for a gold key to Boston, Mrs. Fannie T. Hazen, 84 years old, president of the Massachusetts Army Nurses Association, yesterday presented Mayor Curley with a history and record of Civil war nurses."

From Vershire, Vermont scrapbook of Titus family.

Sources:

* Titus family scrapbook photos and articles

* The Cambridge Chronicle - August 9, 1924 (link to Cambridge Public Library website)

* Vermont in the Civil War (link to Fanny's page)