Celebrating a Century: How Scripps' Founders Shaped San Diego's Health Care

Ellen Browning Scripps, a philanthropist and journalist, moved to La Jolla in 1896. With a fortune amassed from a successful journalism career, she dedicated her wealth to various philanthropic causes, focusing primarily on health care and education.

In 1924, driven by a personal encounter with inadequate local medical facilities, she founded Scripps Memorial Hospital and Scripps Metabolic Clinic.

Her legacy extends well beyond health care; she was instrumental in founding the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla Woman’s Club and The Bishop’s School. The Athenaeum Music and Arts Library, La Jolla Public Library, Scripps College, Children’s Pool, Natural History Museum and La Jolla High School were also developed from her generous gifts.

Few women have graced the cover of Time magazine since the periodical’s beginning in 1923. At age 89, Miss Ellen became a member of that exclusive club on February 22, 1926. Naming her the “most beloved woman in Southern California,” Time magazine honored her for her philanthropy which made possible the establishment of numerous major health, educational and cultural institutions throughout California.

“Miss Ellen’s legacy is marked not only by the institutions that bear her name but also by her profound impact on the cultural and social fabric of Southern California,” says Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health president and CEO. “At Scripps, we remain guided to this day by her philanthropic principles and actions.”

In parallel, Mother Mary Michael Cummings made her own indelible mark on San Diego's health care landscape. Opening St. Joseph's Dispensary on July 9, 1890, the day after her 37th birthday, she laid the groundwork for what would eventually become Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, the city’s first and only Catholic hospital.

Born Rose Anna Cummings in a small Illinois town, she was recognized early on for her nursing tendencies. Following the early death of her sister Margaret, a nun with the Sisters of Mercy, Rose Anna joined the order in 1871, taking the name Sister Mary Michael. After stints in St. Louis, Colorado and Salinas, she moved to San Diego to start a new mission during a difficult economic time.

With a $50 gift from Father Antonio Urbach, she and Sister Mary Alphonsus leased a building in downtown San Diego, starting the five-bed facility. The facility quickly outgrew its origins, prompting the purchase of a larger plot in Hillcrest in 1891, forming St. Joseph’s Sanitarium. Later expansions included a new hospital site in 1916, funded by community contributions including a significant donation from E.W. Scripps, brother of Ellen Browning Scripps. This site opened as Mercy Hospital in 1924.

Mother Mary Michael, who passed away in 1922, left a legacy that included establishing San Diego’s first nursing school in 1904, the opening of a home for the elderly and acquiring a large ranch located in Carmel Valley to provide dairy products and fresh vegetables to the hospital’s patients.

Miss Ellen and Mother Mary Michael both pioneered the creation of important community institutions that extended beyond health care. They provided education, fostered hope and created a lasting support network that has endured for more than a century.

“As Scripps Health celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, the legacies of these two women are vividly remembered and honored,” says Van Gorder. “Their contributions are not just historical footnotes but have created the foundation for the compassionate care that is at the heart of our mission today."