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Alumni Association of the Training School for Nurses of Philadelphia General Hospital collection

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

Call Number:
MC 71
Repository:
University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing
Extent:
18.0 linear feet
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
Alumni Association of the Training School for Nurses of Philadelphia General Hospital collection, Barbara Bates Center for The Study of The History of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania
Date:
1874-2005 (inclusive)
Creator:
Alumni Association of the Training School for Nurses of Philadelphia General Hospital.
Form:
Administrative records, Personal papers, Printed ephemera, and School yearbooks
Abstract:
This collection consists of papers, administrative records, artifacts, and photographs that document many operational aspects of the Alumnae Association of the Philadelphia General Hospital. Of note are the personal papers of Alice Fisher.

Originally called the Alice Fisher Alumnae Club after the founder of the Philadelphia General Hospital's Training School for Nurses, the Alumnae Association of the Philadelphia General Hospital was formed on January 1893 by 130 graduates of the training school. A house was rented at 804 Pine Street to be used for Club meetings. There, graduates of PGH could get together for social occasions or simply to rest. One of the first large undertakings of the group was the compilation of the Alice Fisher Memorial Home Fund on May 1909, to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Alice Fisher's death. Donations were solicited through a form letter sent out to graduates. This fund was to be used for the care of sick or needy graduate nurses.

In 1911, the Alice Fisher Alumnae Club became incorporated as the Nurses Alumnae Association of the Philadelphia General Hospital. The official charter is dated July 12, 1912. The purpose of the organization: "to advance the standing and interests of the graduates of the Training School for Nurses of the Philadelphia General Hospital to extend aid to those in trouble or sickness, to promote social intercourse and good fellowship among its members, and to raise the standard of nursing to the highest plane" (see Charter and By-laws, 1972).

Both the Alice Fisher Memorial Fund and the Estell Pettit Lank (class of 1909) Legacy have contributed to the Association's caring of sick graduates. By 1972, the Association was working in conjuncture with PGH to provide for alumnae. The hospital had set aside a suite of three rooms for alumnae hospitalization, provided that the Alumnae Association pay for the furniture in the room. Any member was eligible for service, with applications for admission made to the Professional Service Director of the Hospital through the Director of Nursing. The maximum stay was thirty days. Finally, the Association provided scholarships to needy nursing students. In 1977, the Philadelphia General Hospital was closed.

This collection consists of many aspects of the Alumnae Association's operations. The largest section consists of the annual reports of the organization, dating back to 1915. This bulletins describe the association's activities within the community and hospital, as well as listings of officers and new PGH graduates. The collection also has the personal papers of Alice Fisher and Josephine Spengler. Alice Fisher's papers include information for admission into the training school, and a hand-written exam Fisher gave to students. Josephine Spengler, Class of 1926, collected many articles on PGH, as well as her own articles and speeches. Included also are two books documenting the history of the Philadelphia General Hospital. Finally, there is documentation of the administrative aspects of the organization. This includes charters and by-laws, as well as artifacts and photographs.

Gift of the Alumni Association of the Training School for Nurses of Philadelphia General Hospital.

This is a preliminary inventory of the Alumni Association of the Training School for Nurses of Philadelphia General Hospital. Boxes 1-9 have been inventoried to the folder-level and the contains have been rehoused into acid-free folders. Selected other boxes have also been rehoused into acid-free folders, including the yearbooks.

Items that are located on the finding aid under "Unprocessed" are items that may be unrelated to PGH. These matierals were donated to the Alumni from 3 different indivudals, and some of these contents may be more suited to the individual's personal collections than PGH. A note will be made for any materials that may be affected.

When the collection is processed some rehousing of the boxes will be done. A note will be made of the changes.

See also: MC 5A, Philadelphia General Hospital School of Nursing Records; MC 13A, Alumni Association of Philadelphia General Hospital Training School For Nurses photographs; MC 72, Philadelphia General Hospital School for Nurses Student Files collection; and MC 210, Philadelphia General Hospital miscellaneous collection.

You can view the collection on our Philadelphia General Hospital Photo Collection site.

Records of the Training School for Nurses, Philadelphia General Hospital (PGH) can be located at the Philadelphia City Archives. These materials primarily relate to activities from 1990's - 2005.

Offical Student Records are located at the Philadelphia City Archives. Please contact them for more information.

Organization
Subject
Place
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 (2013), Jessica Clark (2018)
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

Scope and Contents note

This includes most of the bulletins issued by the Alumnae Association from 1915 through 1991, Sept. 1997 – May 2005. These bulletins are the annual reports of the Alumnae Association, organized in April 1893 and incorporated in October 1911. Articles include biographies on such PGH nurses as S. Lillian Clayton, lists of graduating nurses for the year, and descriptions of Philadelphia General Hospital's work and mission. The bulletin are highlighted with photographs of individuals and buildings.

1915-1929.
Box 1 Folder 1
1930-1933.
Box 1 Folder 2
1933-1934.
Box 1 Folder 3
1934.
Box 1 Folder 4
1934-1935.
Box 1 Folder 5
1935-1936.
Box 1 Folder 6
1936.
Box 1 Folder 7
1936-1937.
Box 1 Folder 8
1938.
Box 1 Folder 9
1939.
Box 1 Folder 10
1940.
Box 1 Folder 11
1941.
Box 1 Folder 12
1942.
Box 1 Folder 13
1943.
Box 1 Folder 14
1944.
Box 1 Folder 15
1945.
Box 1 Folder 16
1946.
Box 1 Folder 17
1947.
Box 1 Folder 18
1948.
Box 1 Folder 19
1949.
Box 1 Folder 20
1950.
Box 2 Folder 21
1951.
Box 2 Folder 22
1952.
Box 2 Folder 23
1953.
Box 2 Folder 24
1954.
Box 2 Folder 25
1955.
Box 2 Folder 26
1956.
Box 2 Folder 27
1957.
Box 2 Folder 28
1958.
Box 2 Folder 29
1959.
Box 2 Folder 30
1960.
Box 2 Folder 31
1961.
Box 2 Folder 32
1962.
Box 2 Folder 33
1963.
Box 2 Folder 34
1964.
Box 2 Folder 35
1965.
Box 3 Folder 36
1966.
Box 3 Folder 37
1967.
Box 3 Folder 38
1968.
Box 3 Folder 39
1969.
Box 3 Folder 40
1970-1971.
Box 3 Folder 41
1972.
Box 3 Folder 42
1973.
Box 3 Folder 43
1974.
Box 3 Folder 44
1975-1976.
Box 3 Folder 45
1977-1978.
Box 3 Folder 46
1979-1980.
Box 3 Folder 47
1981-1982.
Box 3 Folder 48
1983-1984.
Box 3 Folder 49
1985-1986.
Box 3 Folder 50
1987.
Box 3 Folder 51
1988-1989.
Box 3 Folder 52
1990-1991.
Box 3 Folder 53
Accretion: Accession 2006.20, September 1997–May 2005.
Box 3A

Scope and Contents note

This series includes the papers of Alice Fisher and Josephine Spengler. Alice Fisher's documents include her correspondence and will, exams, articles, and memoriam. The Josephine Spengler section has newspaper clippings of PGH as well as her speeches, letters, and articles.

Pamphlet, Information for Applicants for Admission into Philadelphia Hospital Training School for Nurses, 1890.
Box 4 Folder 1
1 page examination, handwritten by Alice Fisher, circa 1885-1888.
Box 4 Folder 2
Correspondence and Will, circa 1885-1888.
Box 4 Folder 3
Notes, re: Alice Fisher's grave, 1916 and undated.
Box 4 Folder 4
Printed biographical article, re: Alice Fisher, circa 1889.
Box 4 Folder 5
In Memoriam, posthumous tribute to Alice Fisher, printed volume circa 1889, printed testimonial, undated.
Box 4 Folder 6
Newspaper clippings, PGH, circa 1965-1976; Letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer, circa 1962.
Box 4 Folder 7
PGH brochures, 1950-1970s.
Box 4 Folder 8
Speeches, letters, papers: historical sketches of PGH and AATSN and Alice Fisher Memorial Fund; correspondence on Alice Fisher's background; Dora Mathis Award; speeches and prose, 1950s-1953.
Box 4 Folder 9
Leaders of American Nursing Calendar, 1924.
Box 4 Folder 10

Scope and Contents note

This series contains two articles as well as two books written on the history of the Philadelphia General Hospital. Blockley Days is the earliest book, recollecting Arthur Ames Bliss experiences as a resident physician at Blockley from 1883-1884. John Welsh Croskey wrote a comprehensive institutional history, History of Blockley which was published in 1929. The two articles are slightly more recent, published in 1932 and 1954, respectively.

Two articles: The Girard Letter, "Philadelphia General Hospital" December 1932; and "Tribute to Blockley" by Pascal F. Lucchessi, M.D. July 10, 1954.
Box 5 Folder 1
Book: The History of Blockley, by John Welsh Croskey, 1929.
Box 5
Book: Blockley Days: The Memories and Impressions of a Resident Physician, 1883-1884, by Arthur Ames Bliss, 1916.
Box 5
Scope 1916-1918.
Box 19 Carton PGSN:0011
Scope 1924-1929.
Box 20 Carton PGSN:0011
Scope 1930-1931.
Box 21 Carton PGSN:0012
Scope 1922-1929.
Box 22 Carton PSGN:0013
Scope 1930-1939 (duplicates for '30, '32, '34, '35, '36, '37).
Box 23 Carton PSGN:0014
Scope 1940-1959.
Box 24 Carton PSGN:0015
Scope 1940-1959 (no '41, '52).
Box 25 Carton PSGN:0016
Scope 1960-1977.
Box 26 Carton PSGN:0017
Scope 1960-1977 (no '60, '77).
Box 27 Carton PSGN:0018
Scope 1951.
Box 28 Carton PGSN:0019
The Scope, bicentennial edition, UPenn School of Medicine, 1940.
The Scope, UPenn, School of Medicine, 1942.
The Scope, UPenn, School of Medicine, 1952.
Robert Packer School of Nursing (PA), 1959-1962.
Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital School of Nursing, 1953, 1955.
Mount Sinai Hospital School of Nursing, 1946.
The Army School of Nursing, 1921, 1924, 1929.
St. Mary's School of Nursing (Maryville), 1960.
St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing (New York), 1964.
Bryn Mawr Hospital School of Nursing, 1950, 1953.

Scope and Contents note

This series consists of three parts. The first is a collection of printed material, including the history of the alumnae association, banquet programs, charter of by-laws, and statement of purpose. The second part is a small collection of artifacts, including nursing caps, a gavel presented to Miss M. Malloway, the PGH nursing pins, and diplomas. The third and final part consists of forty-eight photographs donated by the Alumnae Association. These images include both pictures of hospital activities and alumnae events.

Alice Fisher Alumnae Club Illustrated Souvenir Book, circa 1891.
Box 6 Folder 1
History of Alumnae Association 1988; Charter and by-laws circa 1962 and undated.
Box 6 Folder 2
Report of the Training School and the Alumnae Association 1885-1914; Course of instructions 1913-1914; and list of graduates and where employed.
Box 6 Folder 3
Annual banquet programs, 1933-1976.
Box 6 Folder 4
PGH Association of Ex-resident and Resident Physicians with Dr. Phaler's speech, December 1, 1936; 225th Anniversary of the founding of Philadelphia General Hospital, December 7, 1954.
Box 6 Folder 5
Collection of programs and services, 1933, 1948 and 1966-1968.
Box 6 Folder 6
Alumnae Association 40th Anniversary, 1933; List of officers, 1949; Summary of contributions to PGH, 1950; Annual Banquet, 1958; Correspondence regarding Alice Fisher memorial, 1963; Address to the Nursing School, June 1974; Annual Report, September 8, 1975; PGH Training School for Nurses' Annual Report to the Alumnae Association, 1975-1976; List of activities, 1979.
Box 6 Folder 7
Charter of by-laws of Alumnae Association, 1972.
Box 6 Folder 8
Letters re: positions of Director and Associate Director, 1964.
Box 6 Folder 9
Annual report of PGH School of Nursing and Nursing Service- M. Jackson, 1956-1963.
Box 6 Folder 10
Annual report of PGH School of Nursing and Nursing Service- S. A. Stachniewicz, 1974.
Box 6 Folder 11
Annual report- PGH Dept. of Nursing- M. Jackson, 1958.
Box 6 Folder 12
PGH news releases, 1961.
Box 6 Folder 13
PGH Alumni scholarship aid, 1963-67.
Box 6 Folder 14
PGH annual alumni banquet, 1964.
Box 6 Folder 15
PGH annual alumni banquet, 1965.
Box 6 Folder 16
History of Nursing- Resource material, 1966-67.
Box 6 Folder 17
PGH Nurses infirmary alumne rooms, 1967.
Box 6 Folder 18
PGH Alumnae Association correspondence, 1967.
Box 6 Folder 19
Osler memorial building, 1940.
Box 6 Folder 20
Correspondence, 1966-1969.
Box 6 Folder 21
PGH Alumni correspondence regarding nursing office, 1968-1976.
Box 6 Folder 22
PSH School of Nursing graduate cap and student cap.
Box 6 Folder 23
Alice Fisher article, 1893.
Box 6 Folder 24
City of Philadelphia ordinance- Civic Center Blvd, 1966.
Box 6 Folder 25
Misc articles.
Box 6 Folder 26
Annie Bright, 1888.
Box 7
Lottie Vieth, 1888.
Box 7
Clara Elizabeth Heibeck, 1896.
Box 7
Emilie Riegel Schneider, 1909.
Box 7
Organdy fabric used for making caps, brought in by Mr. Sampson.
Box 8
2 white nurses caps with black trim.
Box 8
1 plain white nurses cap, no trim.
Box 8
1 plain white nurses cap no trim, in plastic cover.
Box 8
Black gavel, inscribed: To Miss M. Malloway with affectionate greeting, from the Alice Fisher Alumnae, 1906.
Box 8
PGH pins, undated.
Box 8
Kathryn Campbell Graham, (picture was used in "Scope"), circa 1954.
Box 9 Photo 1
Nurses with children and two women, circa 1960s.
Box 9 Photo 2
Nurses with children and two women, circa 1960s.
Box 9 Photo 2a
Nurse with little boy, circa 1960s.
Box 9 Photo 3
Nurse with children, circa 1960s.
Box 9 Photo 4
Woman with crutches attempting to walk towards a nurse, circa 1960s.
Box 9 Photo 5
Two children standing in a crib and nurse, circa 1960s.
Box 9 Photo 6
Little girl in crib and a nurse, circa 1960s.
Box 9 Photo 7
Nurse listening to patient's heart, circa 1960s.
Box 9 Photo 8
Nurse assisting a doctor, circa 1960s.
Box 9 Photo 9
Doctors conferencing at desk, circa 1960s.
Box 9 Photo 10
Nurse and female doctor with patient, circa 1960s.
Box 9 Photo 11
Nurses checking reports, circa 1960s.
Box 9 Photo 12
Medical equipment.
Box 9 Photo 13
Coronary Care Unit.
Box 9 Photo 14
Nurse and patient with crutches, cut out from a PR brochure.
Box 9 Photo 15
Philadelphia General Hospital.
Box 9 Photo 16
Nurse receiving an award, circa 1970s.
Box 9 Photo 17
Katie Ulshafer, circa 1971.
Box 9 Photo 18
Evelyn Carpenter, circa 1970.
Box 9 Photo 19
Event, 1970s.
Box 9 Photo 20-35
Special Occasion (with negatives), 1970s.
Box 9 Photo 36-40
Event (with negatives), 1970s.
Box 9 Photo 41-48
Bronze Sun Dial 1935.
Box PGSN:0020
Bell, Stamp for Gold Metal Awarded to PGH Student (Gift of S. Stachniewicz).
Box PGSN:0020
Copper plate w/Photo.
Box PGSN:0020
United States Flag, draped over casket of Sarah Bell, Class of 1908.
Box PGSN:0021
Nurse Uniform Parts, Early 1900s.
Box PGSN:0021
Bronze Plaque Honoring PGH nurses in Spanish American War.
Box PGSN:0021
Cash Box.
Box PGSN:0021
Graduate Nurse Pin.
Box PGSN:0024
Pin, Philadelphia Hospital Training School.
Box PGSN:0024
Key Case w/1 key. Note inside: "Metal Box in Safe".
Box PGSN:0024
Red Leather Box (outside label:: Gift of Carrie Epply) containing pin in shape of Red Cross: "PHTS".
Box PGSN:0024
Nightingale, Florence, Medal, Amer. Nurses Memorial, Bordeaux, France.
Box PGSN:0024
Basketball Medal, gift of Martha Heller.
Box PGSN:0024
Pin, [PA] State Board of Examiners for Registration of Nurses, Gift of Mrs. Martin V. Brennan.
Box PGSN:0024
Fisher, Alice, Cruciform Brass Fob. Engraved: Alice Fisher, June 3rd 1888.
Box PGSN:0024
Gavel, "To Miss M. Molloy with affectionate greetings from the Alice Fisher Alumnae 1906.
Box 8 Carton PGSN:0004
Cap (mesh).
Box 8 Carton PGSN:0004
PGH pin (several identical pins).
Box 8 Carton PGSN:0004

Photographs (include 1977 banquet project).
Box 9 Carton PGSN:0004
Binder 1.
Binder 2.
Binder 3- newspaper clippings, 1953-1954.
Binder 4- newspaper clippings, 1930-1953.
Navy Nurse Corps- History of Recruitment.
US Public Health Service- Nursing, 1949.
US Public Health Service- Indian Service US Department of Interior, 1950-1959.
Red Cross Society of Japan- History, 1904.
League of Red Cross Societies, Board of Governors, 1925.
League of Red Cross Societies, The World's Health, 1929.
Red Cross Courier, Memorial to Nurses Who Died in the War [World War I], 1934.
American Red Cross, Instructor's Manual Home Nursing, 1943.
American Red Cross, Recruitment Brochures, 1949-1954.
Methodist Episcopal Hospital student nurse handbook, 1955.
Newspaper articles, death of Florence Nightingale, 1910.
History of Nursing Notebook by Elizabeth M. Jamieson adn Mary Sewall, 1941.
The Wonder book of Florence Nightingale- Nurses and Healing, 1962.
Brochure- Nightingale Exhibit by the NLN at the University of Pennsylvania Museum.
Florence Nightingale- Brochure, portrait, poster, 1929-1970.
ANA Information Bureau The Bulletin for ANA, NLNE, NOPHN, 1937-1939.
ANA Information Bureau Professional Nursing for ANA, NLNE, NOPHN, 1940-1947.
AJN Newsletter, 1946-1947.
photocopy of Founders' Week Memorial Volume.
1977 PGH Banquet project notes.
Nurses caps- articles and brochures, 1949-1968.
Blockley the Double Frills articles, 1938-1963.
Capping ceremonies brochures, 1940-1963.
Historical notes on Philadelphia General Hospital 1730-1960 and Original compliation by Ernestine Kittl 1913-1950 Hand copied by Helen B. Dopsovic 1989.
Historical notes on Philadelphia General Hospital 1730-1960 and Original compliation by Ernestine Kittl 1913-1950 Hand copied by Helen B. Dopsovic 1989.
Misc. photographs.
PGH poster mailing.
PGH about the school booklets.
"I, too miss Old Blockley", a remembrance of things past, PGH Reunion, March 20, 1982.
The Origin of the Philadelphia General Hospital Blockley Division by Robert J. Hunter, M.D., commemorative edition, 1977.
Review in General, final issue, 1977.
Scope, 1969, 1975.
Photo database listing.
Materials from S. Stachniewicz regarding the packing/cataloguing of photographs, and final events for PGH.
Box 13 Carton PGSN:0007
50th anniversary PGH, guest book, 1935.
Photographs, 2 of reunion for 1946-47, several of cadet nurses c. 1940s.
Photographs of nurses and patients at PGH, c. 1890-1920.
Admissions procedure letters and materials for Caroline Lillian Glassmeyer, 1944.
Admissions procedure letters and materials for Caroline Lillian Glassmeyer (copies, 2 folders), 1944.
The Bulletin, 1973-1986.
Eight years of clinical and educational work in the community- with an analysis of the findings in 4091 cases examined at the mental clinics, reprinted from AJN, September 1929.
Tri-institutional nurses education building dedication and other building information.
Photographs.
Course outline and lesson plan Microbiology, school activities, c. 1963-1969.
PGH Oral History Project, Ernest Zeger (2), November 1994.
Tri-institutional nurses education building dedication and fact sheet, 1973.
Letter, NLN school closer.
Workshop working with the elderly.
AJN and its company, 1900-1975.
The Nighingale Training School St. Thomas Hospital, 1860-1960.
Review in general, 1970.
Milton Freiwald MD, eye care articles, 1959-1975.
Truman G. Schnabel MD commencement address, 1982.
The Origin of the Philadelphia General Hospital Blockley Division by Robert J. Hunter, M.D.
Benjamin Franklin and the rise of free treatment of the poor by the medical profession of Philadelphia by Robert J. Hunter M.D.
Bio-Science I, 1971.
Bio-Science, 1972-1976.
Bio- Science II, 1972-1976.
Nursing III, 1975.
Bio-Science I, Unit I, 1975-1976.
Bio-Science I, Unit II, 1975-1976.
Bio-Science I, Unit III, 1975-1976.
Bio-Science II, Unit I, 1972-1976.
Bio-Science II, Unit II, 1972-1976.
Bio-Science II, Unit III, 1972-1976.
Bio-Science II Exams, 1972-1976.
Telephone Directory and Listing, 1974, 1975, 1976.
PGH Alumnae Association charter changes.
Blockley News and other programs and pamphlets from PGH, c. 1950.
PGH postcard.
Clinical Ophthalmology PGH student nurses' guide, c. 1963.
Photographs (1) nurse at phone 1960s, (1) instruments used by Dr. Osler, (1) board meeting.
PGH History Tasks Force.
PGH oral history transcript, Dr. John D. Hallahan.
Photographs, Lillian Clayton funeral.
Photographs, candids, c. 1930s.
Photographs, ward, student nurses in class, 1921, 1949.
A History of Medicine in Pictures.
Correspondence for refinishing Alumnae room; Board of directors meetings, 1969-1970.
Reproductions in large envelope inscribed: "Osler at Old Blockley" + 4 add'l items.
Nightingale, Florence, Letter, Facsimile, Dated: 6th May 1881.
Nurses Patient Record Checklist, St. Thomas Hospital.
Fisher, Alice, Postcards (B&W) of Alice Barber Stephens painting.
St. Thomas Hospital, Envelope.
Folders of various letters, invitations, etc.
Nightingale, Florence, Autograph.
Newspaper clippings (moved to PGSN:0024).
"Saga of PGH" cassettes (4) and video tapes (2).
Box 29 Carton PGSN:0012

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