Rockwood / Kingston Psychiatric Hospital / Providence Continuing Care Centre Collection
Category
Nursing
Nursing Uniforms
Classification
Nursing
Nursing Uniforms
Accession Number
004014001 a-b
Description
1880s-style reproduction nurse's uniform consisting of: (a) a long flared style skirt of striped cotton ticking fabric, button up at back; b) eight-button ladies' fitted shirtwaist top with long fitted sleeves and a high neck; self fabric pleated peplum; pleated contrasting ruffles at neck and wri…
1880s-style reproduction nurse's uniform consisting of: (a) a long flared style skirt of striped cotton ticking fabric, button up at back; b) eight-button ladies' fitted shirtwaist top with long fitted sleeves and a high neck; self fabric pleated peplum; pleated contrasting ruffles at neck and wrist; machine made buttonholes and plastic buttons.
Number Of Parts
2
Part Names
a - skirt - Size: Length 96.0 cm x Width 100.0 cm
b - top - Size: Length 64.0 cm x Width 80.0 cm
Provenance
Linda Reason, Manager, Clinical Support Services, Mental Health Services site of the Providence Continuing Care Centre; remaining artifacts from the Kingston Psychiatric Hospita Collection
Material
fabric: blue; white
plastic: black
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0007
0007-V-3
Condition Remarks
Parts of item are badly faded and the material is stained in places.
Copy Type
Replica
Reference Types
Photo
Websites
Reference Comments
Canadian Museum of History, "Symbol of a Profession: One Hundred Years of Nurses' Caps," https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/hist/infirm/inint01e.html
"For Service to Humanity: Nursing Education at Kingston General Hospital," Museum of Health Care. https://www.museumofhealthcare.ca/explore/exhibitions/forservicetohumanity.html
Research Facts
The donor describes the artifact as a student's uniform that had previously been collected by staff of the former Kingston Psychiatric Hospital, which institution was transferred to the Providence Continuing Care Centre in March 2001.
Throughout the twentieth century, nurses' uniforms changed, in particular with the rising of hemlines. The nurse's uniform was generally white, and Kingston General Hospital uniforms were once known for "turkey red" hemlines. Different levels of nursing education had different uniforms, in particular different caps, as graduate nurses had black bands on their caps to indicate their level of education.
Exhibit History
On display, Providence Continuing Care Centre: "Rockwood Asylum: Refuge and Renewal 1878-1905," Feb. 13, 2007 to 24 Nov 2016, case 3.