Kingston General Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Collection
Category
Nursing
Nursing Uniforms
Classification
Nursing
Nursing Uniforms
Accession Number
995002091 a-g
Description
(a-f) Set of six identical stud buttons which were used to hold the cuffs of a nurse's uniform closed; each button consists of a round piece of mother-of-pearl set into a bezel with silver sides and back; there is a small round piece of silver in the centre of the button which goes through to the b…
(a-f) Set of six identical stud buttons which were used to hold the cuffs of a nurse's uniform closed; each button consists of a round piece of mother-of-pearl set into a bezel with silver sides and back; there is a small round piece of silver in the centre of the button which goes through to the back and forms a loop; (g) cardboard case covered with patterned paper made to house the button set; the inside of the case has beige satin at the lid and yellow felt at the bottom; the lid is attached with two hinges at the back and a push clasp at the front; there are four metal rings (two missing) used to hold the buttons in place.
Number Of Parts
7
Part Names
a-f - buttons, stud (6) - Size: x Depth 0.2 cm. x Diameter 1.3 cm.
g - case - Size: Length 12.5 cm. x Width 3.5 cm. x Depth 2.0 cm.
Provenance
Emma Jane (Dodds) Partridge (Kingston General Hospital School of Nursing graduate Class of 1931); donated by her family.
Maker
Birks
Dates
1931
circa 1931
Date Remarks
Owned and used by Kingston General Hospital School of Nursing graduate Class of 1931, Emma Jane Dodds
Material
metal: silver
mother-of-pearl: white
cardboard: brown
fabric: yellow; beige
metal: grey; yellow
Inscriptions
There is a hallmark and the words "Sterling Silver Rims & Backs" stamped into the back of every button; the satin on the inside of the lid has "Birks" stamped onto it in gold
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-C5-2
Condition Remarks
The buttons were very tarnished; there are no visible scratches or damage on the buttons; the case shows minor staining (water?) in three spots and also has a dark stain on the lid; the inside material is undamaged as are the hinges
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Person
Websites
Reference Comments
Marilyn Boston;
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.