Our History
In 1896, the Norfolk City Union of The King's Daughters was formed to provide health care for indigent mothers and their children. In 1961, The King's Daughters established Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters exclusively for children. Today the hospital is a comprehensive health care center, still carrying on the tradition of the founding King's Daughters to treat all children who need the special care available only at CHKD.
The Formative Years
1896
Norfolk's 14 Circles of The King's Daughters unite to form a City Union in order to combine their efforts to administer to the less fortunate.
1897
The King's Daughters hire their first director, Edith Nason, who serves as a visiting nurse for less fortunate families. She made 1,771 visits on foot that year.
1898
A small house on Bute Street is rented and furnished for The King's Daughters headquarters. A bicycle for the nurse and a Diet Kitchen are donated by contributors.
1901
The first King's Daughters Clinic opens on Charlotte Street.
1905
Eight years after they hire their first nurse, she makes 2,603 visits to families in one year.
return to top
The Clinic Years
1913
The first Baby Clinic is established at The King's Daughters headquarters on Duke Street.
1915
A Maternity Service is begun with a doctor and nurse dispatched to the homes of mothers in labor.
1916
After working out of various locations in downtown Norfolk, The King's Daughters purchase the residence at 300 W. York Street for NCUKD headquarters.
1922
The first King's Daughters Health Station opens in South Norfolk. Eventually, more than a dozen Health Stations are located in schools and churches throughout residential sections, teaching families proper child care and sanitation practices and administering vaccines to children.
1926
A third floor is added to headquarters on York Street and, in 1929, the adjoining property is donated to accommodate the next expansion.
1931
The King's Daughters' nurses made 41,301 visits this year.
1935
The Maternity Center opens, served by eight obstetricians and medical students from the University of Virginia. There are 605 patients registered this year.
1937
An X-ray machine is donated by two medical staff members.
1945
In spite of war shortages, strikes and delays in materials, the wards at the clinic are completely modernized and expanded.
return to top
A Hospital for Children
1954
The King's Daughters began planning to establish a children's hospital. A fund is established to aid in the financing of construction.
1957
Circle members register more than 2,000 volunteer hours in the Clinic and Health Stations.
1961
The King's Daughters Children's Hospital, the first hospital in Virginia dedicated to children, opens in April.
1962
Circles hold their first annual Holly Ball with proceeds to benefit the hospital. The Pediatric Residency program is established.
1964
Circle members register more than 10,000 volunteer hours and the KD Puppet is created. Members spend thousands of hours in mass production so every child can receive one of these puppets when entering the hospital.
1966
The Visiting Nurse Service is phased out. A pharmacy opens in the hospital.
return to top
Growing Up
1970
The name of the hospital is changed to Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters to reflect the focus on pediatrics.
1974
CHKD establishes a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and transport to bring high-risk newborns from hospitals in surrounding cities.
1976
The King's Daughters set out to raise $6.5 million toward the $14 million needed to expand Children's Hospital.
1979
The expanded Children's Hospital is dedicated and has 101,000 square feet of new space and 39,000 square feet in renovated space. It boasts specialized labs and diagnostic clinics and many new services for children.
1983
The first Holly Festival of Trees is held at the Cavalier on the Hill in Virginia Beach. And the 21st annual Holly Ball is held. The two events raised $150,000 for Children's Hospital.
return to top
Reorganizing for the Future
1984
Members of the NCUKD create Children's Health System through corporate reorganization.
1985
The CHKD Surgery Center opens, thus ending the long dependence on Norfolk General Hospital for operating room services.
1986
The first CHKD Thrift Store is opened by the Norfolk City Union with the motto: "Everything we sell helps make another child well."
return to top
Breaking New Ground
1991
Ground is broken on the latest hospital expansion, and NCUKD announces the lead pledge of $2 million to the $10 million building fund.
1992
CHKD and Eastern Virginia Medical School jointly establish the Center for Pediatric Research.
1993
With 11 CHKD Thrift Stores, several major fund-raising projects and scores of Circle projects, the NCUKD contributes $900,000 to the hospital, more than the combined budgets of the first 22 years of its history.
1994
The dedication and opening of the expanded hospital takes place. The new state-of-the-art facility has expanded outpatient offerings and the region's first pediatric emergency center.
1996
The Norfolk City Union of The King's Daughters celebrates 100 years of service to the children of the region.
return to top
A New Millennium
2000
Norfolk City Union of The King's Daughters raise enough money to purchase a state-of-the-art mobile transport unit for CHKD.
2001
Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters celebrates its 40th birthday!
2004
CHKD opens a new Health Center
at Oyster Point in Newport News, Virginia.
2005
Opened the first-ever CHKD outpatient surgery center on the Peninsula at
Oyster Point and dedicated the new Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at CHKD.
2006
Hampton Roads Kiwanians provided our third mobile intensive care unit for neonatal and pediatric patients. We completed the five-year Children’s Campaign with its goal of $34.5-million goal and received the $1-million Kresge grant.
2007
With a 10 percent increase in inpatient care, CHKD sought and won state approval to add 20 general care beds and 6 neonatal care beds to our licensed capacity bringing it to 212.
2008
Celebrated opening of the CHKD Health and Surgery Center at Princess Anne, bringing together all pediatric and outpatient services under one roof. We staged the final CHKD Telethon after 25 years of the successful annual fund-raiser on channel 13.