Main content
Ruth McCorkle papers
Notifications
Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing [Contact Us]Claire Fagin Hall, 418 Curie Boulevard, Floor 2U, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-4217
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Ruth McCorkle, R.N., Ph.D., F.A.A.N., is internationally known as a leader in oncology nursing research and practice. She is Professor and former Director of the Center for Excellence in Chronic Illness Care. Additionally, she was chair of the Doctor of Nursing Science Program at Yale University, School of Nursing, New Haven, Connecticut, 1998-2004.
McCorkle was born in Johnson City, Tennessee, in 1941 to John Joseph and Margaret Ruth McCorkle. After receiving her diploma from Maryland General Hospital School of Nursing and an associates degree from Baltimore Junior College, Baltimore, Maryland, in the same year (1961), she went on to get her bachelor’s in nursing from the University of Maryland Baltimore, Maryland (1972), and both the master’s (1972) and doctorate (1975) from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. McCorkle did post-master’s studies at St. Christopher’s Hospice, London, Care of Terminal Patients (1972) and at Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, Psychosocial Aspects of Aging (1973).
After graduating from Maryland General Hospital School of Nursing, McCorkle served as operating room staff nurse at Maryland General Hospital (1961-1963), and then at Women’s Hospital (1963-1964) Baltimore, Maryland. From 1964-1966, she served as a second lieutenant and was promoted to captain in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps. She served on the nursing staff at Mather Air Force Base, Sacramento, California. Following her discharge, she was a staff nurse and nursing instructor in California, Washington and Iowa (1966-1970); her focus being medical and surgical nursing. From 1971 to 1975 McCorkle was employed as a psychiatric and oncology clinical nursing specialist and instructor at the School of Nursing, University of Iowa City, Iowa. In 1975 she assumed the position of Assistant Professor, Department of Community Health Care Systems, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington was appointed to the rank of Professor in 1985.
McCorkle’s association with the University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania spanned from 1986 to 1998. Ten of these years were spent as the Director for the Center for Advancing Care in Serious Illness, and for two as Associate Director Cancer Control at the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Comprehensive Center. Additionally she held the position of the American Cancer Society Professor of Oncology, Philadelphia Division, from 1986 to 1995. Active on the research front, she was principal investigator for the following proposals: “A Prospective and Current Study of Spouse Bereavement,” DHHS, Health Resources and Services Administration, Division of Nursing (1986-1988); “Center for Advancing in Serious Illness” (1995-00), National Institute of Nursing Research; “Implementation of an Oncology Certificate Program,” American Cancer Society (1985); and co-Investigator for “Fatigue in Cancer Patients: An Exercise Intervention,” with Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland (1997-1999); and “A Family Caregiver Education Program,” Pennsylvania Cancer Control Program, Department of Health, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
McCorkle is a charter and board member of the Oncology Nursing Society, and board member of the International Psycho-Oncology Society. She was the first non-medical recipient of a National Cancer Institute, Institutional Research Training Grant thus paving the way for other non-medical fields to compete in securing these research funds. McCorkle served on the editorial board of the Journal of Palliative Care. She was elected fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (1979), and to the Institute of Medicine (1990). McCorkle is the author of numerous papers and book chapters. Her co-edited textbook, Cancer Nursing won the American Nurses Association Book of the Year Award in 1996. In addition, she was recognized as Nurse Scientist of the year by the Council of Nurse Researchers, American Nurses Association (1993).
These papers span McCorkle’s professional career (1961-1998) documenting her educational and military life as well as academic research, and experience with various professional organizations and institutions. Many of her awards and honors as a nursing leader are included. Photographs are also included.
Gift of Ruth McCorkle.
Series 5 of this collection is unprocessed. A preliminary inventory is given here. Please contact the Center for more information.
People
Organization
Subject
Occupation
- Publisher
- University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing
- Finding Aid Author
- Finding aid prepared by Center staff, updated by Bethany Myers
- Access Restrictions
-
This collection is unrestricted.
- Use Restrictions
-
Copyright restrictions may apply. Please contact the Center with requests for copying and for authorization to publish, quote or reproduce the material.
Collection Inventory
This series includes birth certificate, curriculum vitae, and diplomas from school of nursing and universities attended. McCorkle’s career in United States Air Force is documented with correspondence and letter of appointment to Second Lt. Nurse Corps. Awards and honors received and personal correspondence are found here.
Included in this series are applications, progress reports and request for the grant “Advancing Care in Serious Illness”. Also includes application for continuing education for nurses.
This series documents McCorkle’s association with International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care, Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Science, and National Institute of Nursing Research. Includes her association with University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and Cancer Center.
This series includes portraits of McCorkle (1989-1996) and several pictures while serving in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps. The remaining group are pictures taken at various social gatherings, meetings and conference activities.