Kingston General Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Collection
Category
Nursing
Nursing Uniforms
Classification
Nursing
Nursing Uniforms
Accession Number
995002074 a-d
Description
Box with 95 round plastic buttons with metal fastenings; 72 of the buttons are 1.5 cm in diameter with plastic front; 21 of the buttons are 2 cm in diameter with the metal which goes through to the front; 1 button is 1.9 cm in diameter with a plastic front; 1 button is 1.8 cm in diameter with a pla…
Box with 95 round plastic buttons with metal fastenings; 72 of the buttons are 1.5 cm in diameter with plastic front; 21 of the buttons are 2 cm in diameter with the metal which goes through to the front; 1 button is 1.9 cm in diameter with a plastic front; 1 button is 1.8 cm in diameter with a plastic front.
Number Of Parts
4
Part Names
a - buttons x 72 - Size: x Diameter 1.5 cm.
b - buttons x 21 - Size: x Diameter 2.0 cm.
c - button - Size: x Diameter 1.9 cm.
d - button - Size: x Diameter 1.8 cm.
Dates
1950
1970
circa 1950-1970
Date Remarks
By the 1960s, plastic buttons became more popular and replaced older glass or mother of pearl buttons.
Material
plastic: off-white
metal: silver
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-C5-2
Condition Remarks
All buttons are unchipped and unmarked
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Person
Websites
Reference Comments
Marilyn Boston
Melinda Watt, "Buttons," LoveToKnow, accessed August 10th, 2020. https://fashion-history.lovetoknow.com/clothing-closures-embellishments/buttons
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
On display "For Service to Humanity," Restored Room, Museum of Health Care, 13 Nov. 2008.