Interview with Armentia Jarrett, June 27, 1989

Interview Summary

The interview covers a period starting in the early 1950s up to 1982. Jarrett's family background led her into nursing (BSN at Marquette University) and nurse midwifery (CNM/MS at Yale University). Jarrett had been a teacher in obstetrics in Minot, ND, and Meharry Medical College, TN, prior to starting an education in nurse midwifery. Her path then took her to California, closer to family. Jarrett went to Madera Hospital accepting a junior position as a supervisor in the Madera Project. Over the two years of her work there, ending with her in the senior position, she had become instrumental in laying the foundation that got this project started and recognized nationally. The goal of the program was to be presentable to outsiders and acceptable to colleagues. Matousek mentions that the project was widely used as an example to build on in the 60s. Problems concerned the definition of a nurse midwife. In California, at the end of the 50s, nurse midwives could only be integrated into the health care system as "nurse obstetric assistants." Regarding the mostly Hispanic patients, the goal was to educate them in the difference between midwives and nurse midwives. It was important to involve physicians in the delivery and ask them to provide medical care to show them that their role was not taken away. Jarrett worked with the Red Cross in California and overseas teaching prenatal care. She mentions: Sally Yeomans, CNM, MSN, FACNM; Margaret Thomas, Kay alias Catherine Schaeckele (?), Elizabeth Sharp, Emory University, Nurse-Midwifery, Director; Estrella, Alice, and Margaret Fields.

Interview Keyword

Alice Fields CNM Elizabeth Sharp Estrella Fields FACNM Margaret Fields Margaret Thomas MSN Nurse-Midwifery Sally Yeomans

Interview LC Subject

Childbirth Emory University Jarret, Armentia Jarret, Armentia--Interviews Maternal health services Midwifery Midwives Nursing--Study and teaching

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.