Clara C. Frye Bust

In 1908, a simple dining room table in Tampa became a symbol of hope. This table, inside the home of Clara C. Frye, served as the operating table for Tampa’s Black community. Here at the Clara C. Frye Bust, we remember her legacy. Clara C. Frye, a biracial woman born in 1872, trained as a nurse in Chicago and Montgomery before arriving in Tampa in 1901. When a white doctor needed a place to operate on a Black patient, Frye offered her modest three-room house. The Clara C. Frye Bust stands as a testament to her compassion. Her dining room became an operating room, her bedroom a recovery ward. For fifteen years, Frye’s home was a haven for those denied care elsewhere. She never turned away a patient, regardless of their ability to pay. The Clara C. Frye Bust reminds us of her selfless dedication. In 1923, Frye expanded her efforts, purchasing a two-story building and establishing the Clara Frye Hospital. However, her generosity proved a financial burden. The city of Tampa acquired the hospital in 1928, renaming it Tampa Negro Hospital. Frye continued her work there until arthritis forced her retirement. Clara C. Frye died impoverished in 1936, but her legacy lived on. A new hospital, built with WPA funds, was dedicated in her name. Even today, a wing at Tampa General Hospital bears her name, a constant reminder of the woman who transformed a dining room table into a beacon of hope. The Clara C. Frye Bust ensures her compassionate spirit continues to inspire.