This is a study about São Paulo's health educators and public health nurses in the first half of the 20th century. These were occupations designed for women, who faced difficult challenges trying to demarcate a territory of decision and action that did not result solely from the medical profession´s "benevolence" toward them. The tools of historical sociology contributed, both theoretically and methodologically, to an appraisal of the relationships between institutions, power, and professional identities. Among the main conclusions, this article reveals the importance of the rising of a new professional field in health education and public health nursing. In addition, the work calls attention to the role played by the Rockefeller Foundation in opening up these new occupational tracks. The Foundation´s officers payed close attention to the setting of working conditions for the young professionals, helping them with human, technical, and financial resources.
Female Health Educators; Female Nurses; Professional Identities; Public Health
