- Email: [email protected]
The midwest nursing history resource center
Inpiry,
Insights, md History
The Midwest Nursing Resource Center
T
HE Midwest Nursing History Resource Center was developed by the historical methodology research interest group of the Nurse Faculty Research Development in the Midwest Project of 1978, under the guidance of the principal investigator, Dr Barbara Minckley. The research group of doctorally prepared nurses and historians desired to establish a centrally located regional clearinghouse for the scholarly pursuit of nursing history. The University of Illinois was selected as the location of the center by representatives from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. In October 1982, Dr Olga Maranjian Church, the director of the Center, was responsible for its opening in the Neuropsychiatric Institute on the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) campus. The Center continues today to fulfill the same purposes cited in its original organization (Church, 1982). Thus, the center (1) organizes, preserves, and processes historical materials for scholarly uses; (2) systematically surveys the historical nursing collections and materials in the midwest; (3) enhances the opportunity for intellectual control over historical documents and materials pertinent to nursing history in the midwest; (4) increases awareness of the valuable historical materials extant in the region and the significant role of nursing history; and (5) makes available its learning resources to students and scholars in other disciplines. Under Dr Church’s leadership, the Center became the site of historically significant nursing documents, artifacts, and memorabilia. In addition, the Center was designated as the official repository for the archives of the Midwest Alliance in Nursing (MAIN) and the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS). As the collection grew, the leadership of the College of Nursing recognized the need for more appropriate and more accessible space. Space across from the learning resource center on the fourth floor of the College of Nursing was remodeled and designed for the maintenance and safe keeping of archival material and for the appropriate display of significant historical artifacts and documents.
SUSANDUDAS, RN, MSN
History
The new home for the center was dedicated August 3 1, 1989. Dr Church, who had become a professor at the University of Connecticut, was the keynote speaker at the event. One major highlight of the opening exhibit was the collection of letters written by Florence Nightingale, which were loaned by Cook County Hospital. The Center represents the evolution of nursing in the midwest, beginning with the opening of the Illinois Training School (ITS) in 1880. The backbone of the collection consists of artifacts, correspondence, furniture, photographs, and documents relating to the establishment of the ITS (1880 to 1929). Also included are scrapbooks, rare out-of-print books, and letters written by nurses, including one from Lavinia Dock to the alumni of ITS. The Cook County School of Nursing Alumni Association generously donated valuable silver serving pieces. Also, uniforms dating back to the turn of the century and World Wars I and II are displayed. The Center’s visitors have included international travelers who are enthusiastic about the exhibits and become interested in starting similar centers in their countries, and students and historians from across the country who have used the resources for scholarly purposes. Mary Therese Whalen, MALS, curator, manages the day-to-day operations of the center. Dr Laurie Glass, RN, PhD, Associate Professor at the University of WisconsinMilwaukee, serves as adjunct faculty to the College of Nursing at UIC and continues to provide expert advice regarding holdings and documents. Dr Olga Church also continues to advise about the center’s operation. The center represents the dedication to recording and preserving the rich history of nursing in the midwest. Nursing memorabilia from schools, individuals, agencies, or associations are welcome. All items donated to the center are processed and catalogued for scholarly use. At the dedication of the new center, Dr Church (1989) again noted that “the center is an opportunity for scholars and history buffs to view and examine the visible evidence of the beauty and the sorrow that encompasses nursing’s mission in its embrace of the human condition over time.” We strive to assure that the center will indeed continue to provide such opportunities.
Acting Director, Midwest Nursing History Resource Center
References
Associate Professor, Uniuersity of Illinois rtt Chicago Department of MedicdSurgical
Nursing (MIC802)
8453 Damen Auee, 7th Floor
Church, 0. M. (1982). The Midwest source Center (brochure). (Files at UIC.)
Box 6998 Chicago, IL 60680 Copyright
0
1991 by W.B.
Saunders
Company
History
Re-
Church, 0. M. (1989). Dedication: Midwest Nursing History Resource Center. Videotape of Keynote Address. August 3 1, 1989.
8755-7223/91/0705-0004$03.00/O
266
Nursing
Jotirnal
of Professional Nursing, Vol 7, No 5 (September-October),
1991:
p 266
Insights, md History
The Midwest Nursing Resource Center
T
HE Midwest Nursing History Resource Center was developed by the historical methodology research interest group of the Nurse Faculty Research Development in the Midwest Project of 1978, under the guidance of the principal investigator, Dr Barbara Minckley. The research group of doctorally prepared nurses and historians desired to establish a centrally located regional clearinghouse for the scholarly pursuit of nursing history. The University of Illinois was selected as the location of the center by representatives from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. In October 1982, Dr Olga Maranjian Church, the director of the Center, was responsible for its opening in the Neuropsychiatric Institute on the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) campus. The Center continues today to fulfill the same purposes cited in its original organization (Church, 1982). Thus, the center (1) organizes, preserves, and processes historical materials for scholarly uses; (2) systematically surveys the historical nursing collections and materials in the midwest; (3) enhances the opportunity for intellectual control over historical documents and materials pertinent to nursing history in the midwest; (4) increases awareness of the valuable historical materials extant in the region and the significant role of nursing history; and (5) makes available its learning resources to students and scholars in other disciplines. Under Dr Church’s leadership, the Center became the site of historically significant nursing documents, artifacts, and memorabilia. In addition, the Center was designated as the official repository for the archives of the Midwest Alliance in Nursing (MAIN) and the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS). As the collection grew, the leadership of the College of Nursing recognized the need for more appropriate and more accessible space. Space across from the learning resource center on the fourth floor of the College of Nursing was remodeled and designed for the maintenance and safe keeping of archival material and for the appropriate display of significant historical artifacts and documents.
SUSANDUDAS, RN, MSN
History
The new home for the center was dedicated August 3 1, 1989. Dr Church, who had become a professor at the University of Connecticut, was the keynote speaker at the event. One major highlight of the opening exhibit was the collection of letters written by Florence Nightingale, which were loaned by Cook County Hospital. The Center represents the evolution of nursing in the midwest, beginning with the opening of the Illinois Training School (ITS) in 1880. The backbone of the collection consists of artifacts, correspondence, furniture, photographs, and documents relating to the establishment of the ITS (1880 to 1929). Also included are scrapbooks, rare out-of-print books, and letters written by nurses, including one from Lavinia Dock to the alumni of ITS. The Cook County School of Nursing Alumni Association generously donated valuable silver serving pieces. Also, uniforms dating back to the turn of the century and World Wars I and II are displayed. The Center’s visitors have included international travelers who are enthusiastic about the exhibits and become interested in starting similar centers in their countries, and students and historians from across the country who have used the resources for scholarly purposes. Mary Therese Whalen, MALS, curator, manages the day-to-day operations of the center. Dr Laurie Glass, RN, PhD, Associate Professor at the University of WisconsinMilwaukee, serves as adjunct faculty to the College of Nursing at UIC and continues to provide expert advice regarding holdings and documents. Dr Olga Church also continues to advise about the center’s operation. The center represents the dedication to recording and preserving the rich history of nursing in the midwest. Nursing memorabilia from schools, individuals, agencies, or associations are welcome. All items donated to the center are processed and catalogued for scholarly use. At the dedication of the new center, Dr Church (1989) again noted that “the center is an opportunity for scholars and history buffs to view and examine the visible evidence of the beauty and the sorrow that encompasses nursing’s mission in its embrace of the human condition over time.” We strive to assure that the center will indeed continue to provide such opportunities.
Acting Director, Midwest Nursing History Resource Center
References
Associate Professor, Uniuersity of Illinois rtt Chicago Department of MedicdSurgical
Nursing (MIC802)
8453 Damen Auee, 7th Floor
Church, 0. M. (1982). The Midwest source Center (brochure). (Files at UIC.)
Box 6998 Chicago, IL 60680 Copyright
0
1991 by W.B.
Saunders
Company
History
Re-
Church, 0. M. (1989). Dedication: Midwest Nursing History Resource Center. Videotape of Keynote Address. August 3 1, 1989.
8755-7223/91/0705-0004$03.00/O
266
Nursing
Jotirnal
of Professional Nursing, Vol 7, No 5 (September-October),
1991:
p 266