Beatrice Clugston (1827-1888) was the founder of the Dorcas Society.
The daughter of a wealthy Glasgow businessman, Miss Clugston was inspired by the biblical story of Tabitha or Dorcas, who made coats and garments for the widows of Joppa. In 1863 she founded the Dorcas Society of Glasgow Royal Infirmary, to provide warm clothing for poor patients. The Society subsequently launched schemes to provide an invalid chair in each ward, organised visitors to offer spiritual comforts at the patients' bedsides, paid travelling expenses for deserving hospital visitors and other social services.
In 1891 a memorial was erected to Miss Clugston in the grounds of the Broomhill Home for Incurables for which she had helped to raise funds.
Reference: Mitchell Library, 920.04BAI
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
Broomhill Hospital for Incurables, Dorcas Society, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, hospitals, philanthropists, women