Celebrating Nurses

National Nursing Week is May 6-12, 2019

Just as we are for military veterans, we should be thankful for the service of our nurses. They do not have an easy job, and at times it can be downright dangerous, yet they work tirelessly for the people in their communities.

I have cousins and ancestor relatives that are and were nurses and I applaud them all!

Not enough doctors in your area? Ask about a Nurse Practioner, they are not as restricted as doctors are and have the same access to specialists. I have a NP as my primary and I get the best of care. 

This and previous related posts will give you resources to find and celebrate your nursing ancestors.

Marriage announcement of Nurse Kathleen King, my 1st cousin 2x removed

The Canadian Nurse, Vol 25, Jan 1929, pg.152, mark 128

Relevant links

Directory of Trained Nurses of Philadelphia, New York and Brooklyn 1895

Directory of Trained Nurses of Philadelphia, New York and Brooklyn 1900

Hodges' New York City nurses directory 1916

Golden Jubilee, School for Nurses, Guelph 1888-1938

The Canadian Nurse

Training School for Nurses, Montreal General 1890

Report of the Mount Sinai Training School for Nurses

Faulkner Hospital Training School for Nurses, Boston

Bulletin of the Presbyterian Hospital School for Nurses, Chicago 1903-1904 TORONTO

The Royal British Nurses' Association, Pioneering Nurses Database

Related Posts: Nurses

Canada 150 - National Nurses Week - May 8-14, 2017

During our country's 150th anniversary celebration of confederation I will write posts titled Canada 150 with a link to a publication or website I find that may help you tell the story of your Canadian ancestors.
Click on the Canada 150 label on the right or at the bottom to see all the posts.

Today I have for you...

Celebrating Canadian Nurses

The Canadian Nurse 1919

Next week May 8-14, 2017 is National Nurses Week and I have a few nurses in my family. Nurses are on the front lines of medicine just as soldiers are on the front lines of war, and I would like to thank them for their service! With a shortage of doctors in Canada more and more people (like me) have a Nurse Practitioner instead of a doctor.

The periodical The Canadian Nurse started in 1905 and various issues contain names, graduates, portraits, appointments, etc. Each volume holds issue numbers for that year. Check out Personals or Names in each number.

Appointments and personals Vol 1 No.1 1905

... some have birth, marriage and death notices...

Canadian Nurse BMD 1929

...and this volume has military appointments in 1908

Military Nursing Service Vol 4 No.12 1908

Volume 1 No.2 has names of charter members, and names of graduates who attended Toronto Hospital Training School for Nurses, and where in the world they are now. 

The nurses named in these periodicals are from all over Canada with some from the US, England and other countries.

In Montreal the McGill University School for Graduate Nurses (now the School of Nursing) was established in 1920 and you may find some graduate photos in McGill Yearbooks. 

Relevant Links

The Canadian Nurse - various years 1905-1974

Canadian Nurse website - archives (with subscription)

Names of nurses who obtained certificates at Toronto 1883-1904

Canadian Nursing History Collection - Canadian Museum of History

Canadian Nurses Association

Note:  I can't leave without mentioning that when my brother was dying of cancer we would not have been able to keep him at his home without the help of the fabulous nurses and care workers at Cochrane Home Care. Check out the Hospice Palliative and End-of-Life Care Services in your community. 

Related Posts:  Nurses

Canada 150 - The Boer War

During our country's 150th anniversary celebration of confederation I will write posts titled Canada 150 with a link to a publication or website I find that may help you tell the story of your Canadian ancestors.
Click on the Canada 150 label on the right or at the bottom to see all the posts.

Today I have for you...

Canadians in the South African War (Boer War)

The Boer War (1899-1902) was the first time a Canadian military force was sent overseas. According to LAC, "Canadians participated in nine important battles between the November 1899 arrival of the first contingent in South Africa, and the end of the war in May 1902."

A total of 7,368 soldiers from all across Canada and 12 Nursing Sisters served in South Africa.

Head nurse, Georgina Pope

Relevant Links

The 2nd Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles and 10th Canadian Field Hospital, A.M.C. : organized in Canada for service in the field in South Africa : roll of officers, non-commissioned officers and men and nursing sisters.

The second Canadian contingent for special service in the field in South Africa

Soldiers of the South African War (Boer War) - service files at LAC

Info on the Boer War at the Canadian War Museum (units, battles, uniforms, maps, etc)

Images at LAC - Boer War

Our Boys Under Fire: NB and PEI Volunteers in South Africa

Serendipity Sunday - Nurses, Red Cross, and more

While researching my grandfather's brother, I came across this amazing book.

"Illustrated souvenir, Dominion Orthopaedic Hospital, Christie Street, Toronto : containing photo groups and snap-shots of officers, nursing sisters, patients, hospital celebrities, distinguished visitors and others : alphabetical list of over 3000 names of all patients, past and present, together with present addresses : also names and addresses of officers, nursing sisters and others"



I introduced you to my grandfather's brother, George John Seale, who was commissioner for the Red Cross in Manitoba, in my article The Home Front. George died suddenly at home of heart failure in 1924 and the George Seale Nursing Division of the St John Ambulance Brigade was named after him. George is a Memorable Manitoban.

George's wife, Clara Annie, was a serving sister for the St John's Ambulance in Winnipeg for many years. She was also Honorary President of the George Seale Nursing Division. Their only child, Eleanor, became a doctor.

When I was a kid I took swimming lessons with the Red Cross.  My children and grandchildren took a Babysiting Course. The St John Ambulance not only give courses in first aid and CPR, but also give several Industry Safety courses. Both do a lot in the community, as well as overseas and during disasters. 



Relevant Links

Dominion Orthopaedic Hospital, Toronto Souvenir Book (1920ish)

Nursing Sisters of Canada

British Army Nurses service records - WWI

British Military Nurses (Scarletfinder)

The Order of St John in Canada (Roll of Order PDF download) - St John Ambulance

What is the use for the Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada - 1900

Nursing Sisters Nominal Roll 1914 CEF

New Zealand and Australian Army Nurses - Anzac Records

In Honor of the National Association of Civil War Army Nurses - 1910

Our Army Nurses; sketches, addresses, photographs of the nearly 100 noble women who served in hospitals and on battlefields during the US Civil War - 1897

Army School of Nursing 1921-1931

Red Cross Volunteers during WWI - Britain (ongoing upload - check back)

Australian Red Cross - "Carry On" program and souvenir album - 1918

Franklin County KY, Red Cross - men and women serving their country 1918

Australian Service Nurses - National Memorial

Scottish Nurses in Roumania 1918

The Navy List - Nursing Service

Canadian Nurse Magazine (Several volumes, each volume is a year)