A Guide to the Alexandria School of Nursing Records, 1894-1987 MS.14 MS-14

A Guide to the Alexandria School of Nursing Records, 1894-1987 MS.14

MS-14

Claude Moore Health Sciences Library

Claude Moore Health Sciences Library
1300 Jefferson Park Avenue
P.O. Box 800722
Charlottesville, Virginia 22908-0722
mailto:hsl-historical@virginia.edu
URL: https://www.hsl.virginia.edu/historical/

Claude Moore Health Sciences Library

Repository

Claude Moore Health Sciences Library

Identification

MS.14

Title

Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing records 1894-1987

URL:

https://archives.lib.virginia.edu/ark:/59853/126

Quantity

18.4 Linear Feet

Quantity

Language

English

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to research.

Preferred Citation

The Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing Records, MS-14, Historical Collections, Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Material acquired from The Alexandria Hospital in 1990. The material in boxes 19 - 22 were received in December 2011 from Randolph Pillow, Seattle, Wa.

The Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing began on November 1, 1894, when Marjorie Adamson established a small training school at the Alexandria Hospital. It was the fourth school of nursing to be established in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The original two year program began with two "pupil nurses," who received their diplomas on December 1, 1896.

As a graduate of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in Scotland, Marjorie Adamson was both a physician and a nurse, and her professional background inspired her to establish a school that would promote excellence. The Board of Lady Managers was the governing board of the Hospital and the School and Marjorie Adamson proposed to the Board that the School offer general training for nurses using a curriculum that was the same as that used in the leading training schools in the South.

The Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing quickly established a reputation for excellence, and the course of study included lectures from physicians, and clinical experience in community nursing in the homes of Alexandria residents. In 1911 under the leadership of Naomi Simmons, the School increased the length of training to three years, became affiliated with the Episcopal Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital in Washington D.C., and required graduates to take the State Board examination to obtain licensure. The curriculum covered such subjects as anatomy, symptomatology, EENT, dietetics, materia medica, physiology, hygiene, surgical technique and emergency, obstetrics, gynecology, children's diseases, anesthetics, urinalysis, bacteriology, massage, and practical nursing.

When an entering student successfully completed the two month probationary period, she was given a cap to signify acceptance as a student nurse. Upon graduation, the cap was decorated with a black band. In 1916, Fannie Carter, a graduate of George Washington University, became the Superintendent of Nursing and Director of the School, a position she held for 21 years. During her tenure, admission requirements were raised, classes were held for four hours a day, a full-time instructor was hired, and History of Nursing was added to the curriculum. In 1928, an arrangment was made with the University of Virginia Hospital for an affiliation in pediatrics. The School closed from 1933 to 1936 due to financial difficulties incurred as a result of the Depression.

In 1943, Alexandria Hospital received approval to provide training for Cadet Nurses to help during World War II. The program continued until 1945. In 1944 the affiliation in Pediatric Nursing was switched to Children's Hospital in Washington D.C. and an affiliation in Psychiatric Nursing was established with St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, D.C. In 1956 the Medical Nursing Library was established and in 1958 the School received full accreditation from the National League for Nursing. Also in 1958 married students were allowed at the School, and it became the first school in the State of Virginia to admit male nursing students.

Throughout the 1960's the number of faculty increased, and in 1968, the School of Nursing became a separate department in the Alexandria Hospital organization. In 1974, the entire hospital moved from Duke Street to Seminary Road, student dormitories closed, and the School became a commuter facility. All courses were taught at the School of Nursing, affiliations with other hospitals ended, and Alexandria Hospital remained the primary clinical facility.

After a two year review, the Board of Directors of Alexandria Hospital decided in March of 1984, to phase out the School of Nursing program and close the School in June of 1987. Qualified applicants had declined over the years as nursing students favored the four year baccalaureate programs over the three year clinical diploma program. Alumni and the final fourteen members of the 1987 graduating class joined in closing activities at the School that focused on "Celebrating a Proud History," and emphasized the legacy of high standards and values that graduates of the Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing contributed to their profession over the years.

Scope and Contents

The Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing Records are comprised of 22 boxes of papers and archival material, including photographs, manuscripts, correspondence, newspaper clippings, reports, Yearbooks, nursing caps and uniforms. The collection does *not* contain official student records such as transcripts. HSL does not know where these records were transferred when the school closed.

Arrangement

The collection is organized by administrative/curriculum, alumnae minutes & other materials, photos, slides, tapes, and artifacts. Boxes 19 through 21 contain Yearbooks arranged in date order. Box 22 includes administrative reports and minutes.

General

Processed by:: Historical Collections Staff

Container List

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 001 Text BIR-1 Text BIR-2

THE ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING 1894-1987

1987/ca.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 002

HISTORY OF THE ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING 1894-1987

1977/ca.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 003

HISTORY OF THE ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING

N.D.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 004

UNTITLED HISTORY OF THE ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING

N.D.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 005

UNTITLED HISTORY OF THE ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING

N.D.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 006

HISTORY

N.D.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 007

UNTITLED HISTORY OF THE ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING

N.D.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 008

UNTITLED HISTORIES OF THE ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING

N.D.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 009

LETTER FROM DORIS S. SUDDARTH TO MARGARET HENRY

1973/04/17

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 010

SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON POST FOR SUNDAY RELEASE

N.D.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 011

LETTER FROM RUBY SIMMONS TO DOROTHY L. MCMILLAN

1951/02/28

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 012

ACADEMY HAS VIVID HISTORY

1969/04/01

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 013

LETTER FROM NAOMI SIMMONS KLIPSTEIN TO LEE ANN KELLEY

1955

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 014

SPEECH BY DR. GEORGE KLIPSTEIN

1911/12/16

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 015

REGULATIONS OF THE ALEXANDRIA INFIRMARY

N.D.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 016

GENERAL INFORMATION - HISTORY

N.D.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 017

RECRUITMENT

N.D.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 018

EXCERPT TAKEN FROM MINUTES OF BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS MEETING

1911

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 019

CAVALCADE OF NURSING FASHIONS

1975/11/06

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 020

LETTER FROM IRENE M. ROSZEL TO EUGENIA K. SPALDING

1943/11/13

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 021

MATERIALS RE U.S. CADET NURSE CORPS

N.D.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 022

LETTER FROM LUCILE PETRY TO DIRECTORS OF SCHOOLS OF NURSING

1943/11/11

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 023

AIR FORCE NURSE CORPS PROMOTION LISTING - ANNABELLE M. MONTGOMERY GRYWALSKI

1950

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 024

AIR FORCE NURSE CORPS PROMOTION LISTING - JACQUELYN F. BRODIE

1951

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 025

LETTER FROM CHARLES M. GOFF TO CECIL C. SMITH

1959/02/13

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 026

CONTENT OF COURSE - TUBERCULOSIS NURSING

N.D.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 027

CLASS SCHEDULE - TUBERCULOSIS NURSING

1958

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 028

CONTENT OF COURSE - TUBERCULOSIS NURSING

N.D.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 029

INFORMATION RE: CATAWBA SANATORIUM

1956/ca.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 030

LETTER FROM MARY L. LUCAS TO HELEN G. STATTS

1958/05/28

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 031

POSTCARD FROM MARY L. LUCAS TO HELEN STATTS

N.D.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 032

THE NURSES' COTTAGE AT CATAWBA SANATORIUM VIRGINIA

1945

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 033

THE BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS OF THE ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL HISTORY 1871-1980

1980/ca.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 034

THE BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS

1954/ca.

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 035

LETTER FROM DOROTHY L. MCMILLAN TO THELMA BROWN

1951/07/13

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 036

LETTER FROM EDITH HARPER TO CAROLYN BERRY

1970/12/01

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 037

LETTER FROM CAROLYN BERRY TO MADAME

1970/11/24

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 038

ALEXANDRIA INFIRMARY ANNUAL REPORT EXCERPT

1893

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 039

ALEXANDRIA INFIRMARY ANNUAL REPORT EXCERPT

1894

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 040

ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL ANNUAL REPORT EXCERPT

1911

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 041

ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL ANNUAL REPORT EXCERPT

1914

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 042

ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL ANNUAL REPORT EXCERPT

1916

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 043

ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL ANNUAL REPORT EXCERPT

1917

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 044

ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL ANNUAL REPORT EXCERPT

1930

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 045

EXCERPTS FROM ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL ANNUAL REPORTS

1931-1939

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 046

ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL ANNUAL REPORT EXCERPT

1934

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 047

ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL ANNUAL REPORT EXCERPT

1942

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 048

ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL ANNUAL REPORT EXCERPT

1945

Mixed Materials box: 001 folder: 049