Month: August 2016

New Changing Exhibits: World War I Nursing; AIDS35

Newly installed in the Widmer Wing atrium in time for the start of the new academic year are exhibits in two vitrines used as spaces for changing exhibits.

World War I Nursing Exhibit
World War I Nursing Exhibit

Facing the front of the atrium is an exhibit devoted to the 100th anniversary of America’s entry into World War I (in 1917) and nurses’ service in that war. Included are books from the Dolan Collection, a period photo album of nurses and their patients, an English nurse’s autograph album signed by her French patients, and a three-page interview with American nurse Pauline McVey (the sister of the maternal grandfather of Dr. Thomas Lawrence Long, curator).

Facing the rear of the atrium is an exhibit honoring nurses’ involvement in the AIDS epidemic. AIDS35 marks the 35th anniversary of the first published reports of the syndrome, marked by exhibits in UConn’s Archives and Special Collections and the Benton Museum, as well as the School of Nursing. Items in this display come from the Dolan Collection, supplemented by items on loan from doctoral student Seja Jackson, MS, RN, who has been involved in AIDS care for 30 years.

AIDS35 Exhibit
AIDS35 Exhibit

August 12, Anglican Feast Day of Florence Nightingale

The worldwide Anglican communion marks August 12 as the annual feast in honor of the life and work of Florence Nightingale, who died on August 13, 1910.

From the Anglican Book of Common Prayer:

Life-giving God, you alone have power over life and death, over health and sickness: Give power, wisdom, and gentleness to those who follow the lead of Florence Nightingale, that they, bearing with them your presence, may not only heal but bless, and shine as lanterns of hope in the darkest hours of pain and fear; through Jesus Christ, the healer of body and soul, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Details here: https://liturgyandmusic.wordpress.com/2010/08/12/august-12-florence-nightingale-nurse-social-reformer-1910/

Update: Dolan Collection Books, Herrmann Reading Room

The work of many hands this summer has involved making more accessible the Josephine A. Dolan Collection’s books and other published items housed in the Eleanor Krohn Herrmann Reading Room (in the Widmer Wing of Storrs Hall on the UConn Storrs campus).

School of Nursing staff member Lisa Soder and one of her student workers sorted the collection (into three groups, items published before 1900, items published between 1900 and 1940, and items published after 1940 [i.e., during the history of the School]).

Nursing History Collections Archivist Betsy Pittman
Nursing History Collections Archivist Betsy Pittman

University Archivist Betsy Pittman and School of Nursing Librarian Val Banfi then culled the collection in order to determine historical value, relevance, and focus. Many books have been deaccessioned, some sent to UConn’s Archives and Special Collections, others to Babbidge Library.

Nursing Research Librarian Val Banfi
Nursing Research Librarian Val Banfi

The remaining books have been returned to the Herrmann Reading Room’s lower cabinets (along three walls of the room) and organized thematically.

Starting to your left as you enter the room:

Cabinets 1, 2, and 3: Aesthetic Ways of Knowing (art, literature, popular culture, including a complete set of the Cherry Ames novels donated by alumni)

Cabinets 3, 4, 5, and 6: Personal Ways of Knowing (biography, memoir, essays, personal writing, including books by and about Florence Nightingale and Virginia Henderson)

Cabinets 7 and 8: Early Popular Health and Narratives (18th, 19th, and early 20th century)

Cabinets 8 and 9: Nursing Fundamentals

Cabinet 9: Nursing Essentials; Anatomy and Physiology; Medical/Surgical Nursing; Home Care; ENT Care

Cabinet 10: Mental Health Nursing; Public Health Nursing; Professional Issues; Nursing Education

Cabinet 11: History of Medicine (professional, diseases, wellness)

Cabinet 12: Reference Works (handbooks, dictionaries, materia medica guides)

Cabinet 13: Red Cross (history, first-aid, and home care); Wartime Nursing

Cabinet 14: Institutional Histories (e.g., hospitals); Scholarly Books

Cabinet 15: Institutional Histories (e.g., schools of nursing, nursing professional organizations and honor societies)

Cabinet 16: Historiographical References; Surveys of Nursing History

Cabinet 17: Surveys of Nursing History (textbooks)

Cabinet 18: Back Issues of Nursing History Review (published by the American Association for the History of Nursing); Surveys of Nursing History (Goodnow’s and Dolan’s)

The Herrmann Reading Room is secured but faculty can access it using their ID cards. Items in the collection do not circulate and should not be removed from the reading room, which is equipped with a spacious glass-topped table and Connecticut Hitchcock chairs donated by alumni.