Kingston General Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Collection
Category
Nursing
Nursing Uniforms
Classification
Nursing
Nursing Uniforms
Accession Number
995002002 a-j
Description
1890s-style reproduction nurse's uniform with accessories; white cotton bodice with high puffed sleeves; red cross to right sleeve; long red under-sleeve; long white cotton skirt with red band to bottom; long white apron worn over top skirt; white starched bib worn over bodice; starched cuffs, belt…
1890s-style reproduction nurse's uniform with accessories; white cotton bodice with high puffed sleeves; red cross to right sleeve; long red under-sleeve; long white cotton skirt with red band to bottom; long white apron worn over top skirt; white starched bib worn over bodice; starched cuffs, belt and collar finished traditional uniform; together with cap, and scissors on a cord hanging from the waist.
Number Of Parts
10
Part Names
a - bodice - Size:
b - skirt - Size:
c - apron - Size:
d - bib - Size:
e - cuff - Size:
f - cuff - Size:
g - belt - Size:
h - collar - Size:
i - cap - Size:
j - scissors - Size:
Maker
Kingston General Hospital Nurses' Alumnae Association
overall condition good; white cotton has yellowed slightly with age
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 School of Nursing students in the 1890s until around 1906. Slight modifications were made to this uniform during this period.
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.