What is a Matron?
The meaning of the word “matron” varies, depending on the content. In its earliest sense, a matron was a married woman or a widow. Over time, the word evolved to be used to describe a female supervisor in a situation like an orphanage, school, prison, or hospital. In nations which use British English, the “matron” is the head nurse, responsible for the oversight of the nursing department. Readers of British novels may also be familiar with “matron” in the sense of supervisor or nurse in a boarding school, as injured characters are usually sent off to the matron for attention. The term is derived from the Latin mater, which means “mother.” The Romans used the word matrona to refer to a married woman, since married women generally became mothers. The word was also used to describe widows and women of high social standing, implying a sense of authority derived from their motherhood and married position. By the 1300’s, the word had entered English as “matron” to describe married women, and
Ann Weitfieldt was possibly related to Hospital Steward Edward Weitfieldt. Her presence at Fort Sumter during the April 12-13, 1861, battle is apparently based on hearsay evidence that appeared in a newspaper article. By army regulations laundresses could be employed in a military hospital. She would have been a civilian employee who worked with the surgeon and hospital steward generally washing bed linens, cleaning floors, washing windows, etc. and possibly cooking meals for patients. The title of matron was possibly used to “upgrade” her occupational status from laundress. The word “matron” does not appear in the army regulations. Back to top.
