Kingston General Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Collection
Category
Nursing
Nursing Uniforms
Classification
Nursing
Nursing Uniforms
Accession Number
995002009 a-z
Description
One-piece long-sleeved white cotton nurse's uniform dress with tucked bodice (a); two patch pockets on the skirt; red cross on right sleeve with letters "KGH" in white; white belt (b) buttoned in front with shank-style buttons (c-f); dress buttoned down the front with shank-style buttons (g-v); tur…
One-piece long-sleeved white cotton nurse's uniform dress with tucked bodice (a); two patch pockets on the skirt; red cross on right sleeve with letters "KGH" in white; white belt (b) buttoned in front with shank-style buttons (c-f); dress buttoned down the front with shank-style buttons (g-v); turned-back cuffs at wrist with buttons affixed with cotter pins (w-z).
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.