Virginia Allen was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1931. She was inspired by her aunt, who worked as a nurse in New York City. With her parents’ support, Allen received her license of practical nursing from Central School for Practical Nurses. She initially worked as a surgical nurse, and in 1947, at the age of 16, she joined her aunt and began working as a nurse in Sea View Hospital. Sea View Hospital was the largest tuberculosis sanitarium globally and the site where a lung specialist led the development of isoniazid, a cure for tuberculosis. Black nurses who worked at Sea View Hospital were known as the Black Angels. They consisted of about 300 Black nurses who cared for quarantined tuberculosis patients from 1928–1960 and provided direct patient care when white nurses refused. After her work as a Black Angel, Virginia continued her work within the community as a leader and member in multiple organizations. 

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