Kingston General Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Collection
Category
Nursing
Nursing Uniforms
Classification
Nursing
Nursing Uniforms
Accession Number
995002007 a-i
Description
Short-sleeved white cotton nurse's uniform dress to mid-calf (a); red cross on right sleeve; patch pocket on skirt; small left breast pocket; four circular rounded plastic shank-style buttons (b-e); one cotter pin (f); and three circular metal pins (g-i); replica in the style of 1939.
Short-sleeved white cotton nurse's uniform dress to mid-calf (a); red cross on right sleeve; patch pocket on skirt; small left breast pocket; four circular rounded plastic shank-style buttons (b-e); one cotter pin (f); and three circular metal pins (g-i); replica in the style of 1939.
Number Of Parts
9
Part Names
a - dress - Size:
b-e - buttons - Size: Depth 0.9 cm x Diam. 1.1 cm
f - cotter pin - Size: Length 2.0 cm x Width 0.4 cm
g-i - pins - Size: Width 0.1 cm x Diam. 1.0 cm
Dates
1985
1995
circa 1985-1995
Date Remarks
Replica of 1939 uniform made by Kingston General Hospital Nursing Alumnae
Material
fabric: white; red
plastic: white
metal: grey
Inscriptions
"1939" inked in black inside the collar.
Permanent Location
(a) Storage Room 0007
0007 Closet A
(b-i) Storage Room 0010
0010-C6-5
Temporary Location
(e,f) To exhibit: "For Service to Humanity", Nursing Gallery: Showcase East, Museum of Health Care, 13 Nov. 2008.
Condition Remarks
#1: Overall condition good
Copy Type
Replica
Reference Types
Person
Book
Photo
Websites
Reference Comments
Marilyn Boston; 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
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
(e,f) - On exhibit at the Museum of Health Care in the East Gallery, small cases #1 and #2 - May 30, 2007.