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BIOGRAPHY:  Thyra Merriweather Charles

Thyra Merriweather Charles was born in Houston, Texas and moved to Buffalo with her family in 1925. Her father and mother, Frank and Carmelita Merriweather were founders and publishers of the Criterion newspaper. Mrs. Merriweather was an active clubwoman and civic leader.

She received her Bachelors of Science degree in Public Health from the University of Buffalo in 1949. The following year she received a Master's degree in Supervision and Administration of Public Health Nursing from New York University. She was the second African American woman to graduate from a Buffalo Nursing school and the first to receive a Master's Degree in the field.

She was the Associate Director for Public Health Nursing at Meyer Memorial Hospital (Erie County Medical Center) from 1952-1970. She held several instructional positions at University of Buffalo's School of Nursing and D'Youville College and was the first African American to hold the post of Assistant Director of the Visiting Nursing Association of Buffalo. She was a co-founder and first president of the Registered Nurses Social Club. In addition, she was the recipient of numerous community awards including the Sojourner Truth Award, Black Heritage Service Award, and the American Nurse's Association Mary E. Mahoney Award.

Mrs. Charles died on January 16, 1987. She was the sister of Uncrowned Queen Barbara Merriweather Sims, Esq.