Kingston General Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Collection
Category
Nursing
Nursing Uniforms
Classification
Nursing
Nursing Uniforms
Accession Number
995002015 a-d
Description
White cotton full-piece dress; button closure to shirt centre and skirt side; two breast pockets to shirt; long apron; smaller lap apron; cap with black band
White cotton full-piece dress; button closure to shirt centre and skirt side; two breast pockets to shirt; long apron; smaller lap apron; cap with black band
Number Of Parts
4
Part Names
a - dress - Size:
b - long apron - Size:
c - small apron - Size:
d - cap - Size:
Dates
1919
circa 1919
Date Remarks
Graduation date of Lillian Lord, to whom the dress belonged
Material
fabric: white
Permanent Location
(a) Storage Room 0007, Closet A;
(b) Storage Room 0007, BOX 9;
(c) Storage Room 0007, BOX 2;
(d) Storage Room 0010
0010-C6-1
Condition Remarks
Overall condition good; fabric, especially of long apron, yellowed and fragile; one patch on long apron particularly off-colour (brownish stain resembling a water mark); with mildew spores scattered around folds
Copy Type
Original
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.