Kingston General Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Collection
Category
Nursing
Nursing Uniforms
Classification
Nursing
Nursing Uniforms
Accession Number
995002001 a-f
Description
Probationers uniform, 1886-style reproduction; "almost white" cotton trimmed in turkey red, skirt floor length in 3 deep tucks; pleated frill of red around bottom; long white apron worn over top with sash tied at side in bow; bodice has red collar and cuffs; red cross to top of right sleeve with bo…
Probationers uniform, 1886-style reproduction; "almost white" cotton trimmed in turkey red, skirt floor length in 3 deep tucks; pleated frill of red around bottom; long white apron worn over top with sash tied at side in bow; bodice has red collar and cuffs; red cross to top of right sleeve with bow at front; scissors on black cord hung at waist
Created by the Kingston General Hospital Nurses Alumni Association; the uniform is of the 1886 style.
Material
fabric: off-white; turkey red
Inscriptions
Individual pieces of clothing have date 1886 written in black marker on waistband or collar; and has two red "X"'s sewn beside date
Permanent Location
(a) Storage Room 0007, Closet G;
(b) Storage Room 0007, BOX 5;
(c) Storage Room 0007, BOX 9;
(d) Storage Room 0007, BOX 15;
(e) Storage Room 0007, 0007 Closet C;
(f) Storage Room 0010, 0010-C3-10
Temporary Location
(e) To exhibit: "For Service to Humanity", Nursing Gallery: Showcase West, Museum of Health Care, 13 Nov. 2008.
Condition Remarks
#1: overall condition good; white cotton has yellowed slightly with age; #2: no damage from being on exhibit; suitable to put back on exhibit
Copy Type
Replica
Reference Types
Person
Book
Photo
Websites
Reference Comments
Marilyn Boston; Paul Robertson; reference book compiled: "Information Re KGH Nursing Uniforms" to document the collection of uniforms; further references are noted within; numerous photos available at Queen's Archives, see Museum's Index
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
Reproduction uniform made for Kingston General Hospital Nurses' Alumnae to represent uniforms that were first worn by Kingston General Hospital Nursing School students in the 1886s until the mid-1890s.
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
Cap (e) on exhibit in Hall of Honour, Sept. 1995–Jan. 19, 2001; on exhibit at Museum, Jan. 22, 2001-June 9, 2008.