Did you know about "Aunt Kate" Wright?
by Sarah Farmer Earll (former MHM Board Member, written originally in June 2022)
While Pottenger’s Sanatorium led the way for tuberculosis treatment in Southern California in the early 1900s, their clientele was almost exclusively white. The Jewish Consumptive Relief Association started a free non-sectarian tuberculosis sanatorium in nearby Duarte, which became the City of Hope National Medical Center. Others relied on Kate Wright for care.
Fondly known as “Aunt Kate,” Kate Wright (1861-1937) was a former slave who came to Monrovia in 1901 after emancipation. Wright purchased property on East Cypress Avenue with savings earned from domestic work. Around 1904, she had a religious conversion, and that experience led her to devote her life to the care of the sick and indigent.
She sought donations of lumber and labor to build small cottages on her property, where she tended to tuberculosis patients who had no family or resources to assist them. Without many resources herself, Aunt Kate believed “the Lord would provide.” She served selflessly for over 30 years, and she cared for all alike, regardless of color, nationality or creed.
Kate Wright is respected and revered by Monrovians from all walks of life. In 2018, the City named her as one of the first honorees of the Monrovia Neighborhood Treasure program. In 2020, KGEM-TV posted this YouTube video of Steve Baker speaking about Kate Wright's legacy for the Monrovia ChangeMakers. Also, see this Facebook post tribute on Juneteenth 2022.
by Sarah Farmer Earll (former MHM Board Member, written originally in June 2022)
While Pottenger’s Sanatorium led the way for tuberculosis treatment in Southern California in the early 1900s, their clientele was almost exclusively white. The Jewish Consumptive Relief Association started a free non-sectarian tuberculosis sanatorium in nearby Duarte, which became the City of Hope National Medical Center. Others relied on Kate Wright for care.
Fondly known as “Aunt Kate,” Kate Wright (1861-1937) was a former slave who came to Monrovia in 1901 after emancipation. Wright purchased property on East Cypress Avenue with savings earned from domestic work. Around 1904, she had a religious conversion, and that experience led her to devote her life to the care of the sick and indigent.
She sought donations of lumber and labor to build small cottages on her property, where she tended to tuberculosis patients who had no family or resources to assist them. Without many resources herself, Aunt Kate believed “the Lord would provide.” She served selflessly for over 30 years, and she cared for all alike, regardless of color, nationality or creed.
Kate Wright is respected and revered by Monrovians from all walks of life. In 2018, the City named her as one of the first honorees of the Monrovia Neighborhood Treasure program. In 2020, KGEM-TV posted this YouTube video of Steve Baker speaking about Kate Wright's legacy for the Monrovia ChangeMakers. Also, see this Facebook post tribute on Juneteenth 2022.
 2018, Pasadena Star News coverage of Monrovia Area Partnership event honoring Kate Wright as part of Monrovia's Neighborhood Treasures Art Reveal program.   1907 obituary of Albert Walter chronicling Kate Wright's selfless work. |  1913. The story of orphan, Ruth Gardner, who spent the last four months of her life under "Aunt Kate" Wright's care. |
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