Monochrome portrait of three seated nurses with two in white nursing uniforms with long red sleeves, puffed sleeves at shoulders with red crosses and frilled caps while the other nurse wears pale fabric uniform; nurses from Kingston General Hospital School of Nursing; mounted on heavy tan cardstock…
Monochrome portrait of three seated nurses with two in white nursing uniforms with long red sleeves, puffed sleeves at shoulders with red crosses and frilled caps while the other nurse wears pale fabric uniform; nurses from Kingston General Hospital School of Nursing; mounted on heavy tan cardstock; inscription of location and photographer's stamped signature on front; date, location handwritten on reverse.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Owned by donor's father, Dr. Young, graduate from Queen's University Faculty of Medicine Class 1908.
Written on back: "K. G. H. nurses 1905-1906"; on front: "Henderson // Kingston, // Canada"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-G Nurses Binder pg. 4 a
Length
22.5 cm
Width
17.5 cm
Depth
0.2 cm
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Dimension Notes
Length 22.5 cm X Width 17.5 cm X Depth 0.2 cm
Condition Remarks
A few minor stains on the cardstock; shows minor wear along edges with corners bent.
Copy Type
original
Reference Types
Book
Websites
Reference Comments
Andrea Melvin, “Badges of Honour or Devices of Control?: Nursing Uniforms at Kingston General Hospital Training School for Nurses,” Dr. Margaret Angus Research Fellowship, 2008. Museum of Health Care at Kingston.
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
Kingston General Hospital had the symbol of the red cross displayed on the sleeves of nursing uniforms, seen as the “international symbol of mercy,” which later became the symbol of the International Red Cross Association. As such, the hospital began embroidering its initials “KGH” onto the cross to distinguish themselves from the Red Cross.
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 until 1945. 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. Nurse’s uniforms had many elements, and some had detachable collars, bibs, and cuffs.