A stiffly starched white cotton collar with rounded edges and tabs that cross over at the front; inner collar band is stitched to the larger outer collar; buttonhole at back of inner band; Valleau's name written in (faded) ink on inner band; tabs have holes as well
A stiffly starched white cotton collar with rounded edges and tabs that cross over at the front; inner collar band is stitched to the larger outer collar; buttonhole at back of inner band; Valleau's name written in (faded) ink on inner band; tabs have holes as well
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Owned and used by Nora Valleau, Kingston General Hospital School of Nursing graduate Class of 1928.
Dates
1925
1928
circa 1925-1928
Date Remarks
Worn with Kingston General Hospital nursing uniforms; Valleau attended Kingston General Hospital School of Nursing 1925-1928
Material
fabric: white
Inscriptions
Inside collar: "N JHH NORA VALLEAU"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-C6-5
Width
6.5 cm
Depth
0.1 cm
Diameter
54.7 cm
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Dimension Notes
Width 6.5 cm. x Depth 0.1 cm. x Diameter: 54.7 cm.
Condition Remarks
Fabric is in excellent condition with the exception of the front tabs, which are literally disintegrating; small brown speck on outside surface at back 1 cm from bottom edge
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Document
Websites
Reference Comments
"Information Re KGH Nursing Uniforms" by Marilyn Boston
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
Collar sat loosely on dress and was fastened at the back with a stud; the softer rounded shape was a modification from earlier high-necked "minister" style collars; the new collar was more practical to wear; this style used into the 1940's
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. Nurse’s uniforms had many elements, and some had detachable collars, bibs, and cuffs.