Between 50 and 100 million people died in the 1918-1920 flu epidemic that swept the world at the end of WWI. The flu became rampant in Santa Clara County during October 1918, with 75 flu cases discovered in a 24-hour period. This flood of illness emphasized the inadequacies of SCU’s campus infirmary. Following the Spanish Flu Pandemic and in remembrance of her parents, James and Rose Donohoe, Catherine Donohoe donated $40,000 for the construction of the Donohoe Infirmary in 1924.
The Donohoe building replaced the old infirmary, which had been built in 1870 at the college. The new three-story Infirmary could accommodate thirty patients and was home to the attending physician’s apartment, apothecary’s shop and dispensary, chapel, and other offices. Sunbaths amidst the roof top garden provided a serene environment for patients to recover from their illnesses. The 20th century brought a surge of public health discoveries in nutrition, hygiene, antibiotics and most importantly vaccinations. In 1975, the Infirmary became the new home for the Alumni Association. Since then, Santa Clara students receive on-campus healthcare including flu vaccinations, at the Cowell Student Health Center.
The current Cowell Student Health Center
Additional Information:
Records of Student Health Services, 1870, 1954-1996
Santa Clara University (Calif.) Office of Student Health Services
http://www.scu.edu/alumni/history/donohoe.cfm
Great pictures on this Flickr Photo Album
Mercury News
http://historyaccess.com/thegreatinfluena.html