Burnette, Georgia M., 1929-
Biographical Note
Georgia Mackie Burnette was born and raised in Buffalo. After graduating in 1955, as one of the first black students in the University of Buffalo nursing program, she continued her education and obtained a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and a Master in Education from Niagara University. She continues to audit courses in areas of interest at local institutions of higher learning. She was married to her husband, Luther Burnette, in 1967.
From 1960 through 1965, she was employed as Instructor of Nursing at Cook County School of Nursing and Provident Hospital School of Nursing, an all-black facility, in Chicago, Illinois. She later returned to Buffalo and was appointed to leadership positions at prominent healthcare facilities in Western New York, including Associate Director of Nursing, Buffalo General Hospital; Assistant Professor of Nursing, Niagara University; Director of Nursing, Roswell Park Cancer Institute; and Director of Nurses, Buffalo Psychiatric Center. In each instance, excluding Roswell Park, Georgia Burnette was the first black nurse in the position.
Georgia Burnette is a recipient of the Mary B. Talbert Civic and Cultural Club award for Outstanding Contributions to the Buffalo Community; New York State Department of Health, Outstanding Service Certificate for Work on the Inter-Agency Task Force on Women's Issues, and the Ruth T. McGrorey Award for contributions to the Advancement of Nursing.
Burnette retired professionally in 1993, but continued to be active in the Buffalo African American community. Her community service work includes: The Buffalonians, Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier, Child and Family Services, Reach-Out Program, and B.U.I.L.D. (Build Unity, Independence, Liberty and Dignity) of Buffalo. Burnette was also a prolific writer, with dozens of published articles on travel, Juneteenth celebrations, family reunions, and African American veterans.
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Georgia Burnette papers
This collection contains the family papers and professional materials of Georgia Burnette. The family papers includes materials and photographs of Burnette family reunions. The professional materials include Georgia Burnette's published articles on family reunions, health, travel, and African American veterans.
Uncrowned Queens Digital Oral History project
Oral histories of Georgia Burnette, Gwendolyn Greene, Thelma Hardiman, Eva Noles, Garnet Hicks Wallace conducted by Peggy Brook-Bertram and Barbara Seals Nevergold of the Uncrowned Queens Institute for Research and Education on Women, Inc.
- Subject
- African American nurses -- New York (State) -- Buffalo 1
- African American women -- New York (State) -- Biography 1
- African American women -- New York (State) -- Buffalo 1
- African Americans -- New York (State) -- Buffalo 1
- Buffalo (N.Y.) 1
- Class reunions -- New York (State) -- Buffalo 1
- Cuba 1
- Family papers 1
- Family reunions 1
- Nursing -- Practice -- United States 1
- Nursing schools -- New York (State) -- Buffalo 1
- Nursing students -- New York (State) -- Buffalo 1
- Oral histories (document genres) 1
- State University of New York at Buffalo 1
- The Buffalonians 1
- Travel 1 + ∧ less