Chestnut Hill Hospital School of Nursing
Records, 1769-1988 (1906-1988 bulk)
MC 1

Extent: 20.45 linear feet

Provenance: Chestnut Hill Hospital

Access: Student files are closed for fifty years from the date of graduation. Earlier student files may be used, but personal names may not be cited

Citation: Chestnut Hill Hospital School of Nursing Records, Center for the Study of the History of Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania

Sponsorship: This collection was processed with funds provided by Chestnut Hill Hospital

Historical Sketch. The Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County granted the Charter for Chestnut Hill Hospital on 21 November 1903. A seven-member Board of Trustees containing two physicians was organized, with Dr. Radcliffe Cheston as the first President. The hospital was opened on 14 October 1903 in two small houses with fourteen beds. Chief Nurse Rena D. Wood managed a staff of one gradate nurse and two practical nurses caring for a daily average of eight patients.

In April of 1908 the School for Nurses opened with four graduate nurses for eight students, of whom six graduated in 1910 after two years of instruction. In 1914 and 1918 the period of instruction was lengthened by one-half year, to make a the total training program three years in length. By 1925 the School had grown to include nine graduate nurses and twenty-seven students: eight seniors, eleven intermediates, and eight juniors. To accommodate this growth, Laughlin Hall, named for Henry Laughlin who donated the land, was opened as a nurses' home for fifty-seven nurses. The building included a well-planned educational unit, a reference library, and rooms for social and recreational functions.

The School for Nurses had very small classes due to a careful screening process that included a period of probation before a student could enroll. Nineteen members of the Hospital's attending staff served as lecturers for the School of Nursing, covering theoretical disciplines in relation to medicine, while the nursing faculty instructed the students in the practical disciplines. The first full-time instructor for the School was added in 1925.

Summary. The Chestnut Hill Hospital School of Nursing Records consist of 20.45 linear feet of hospital records, school administration records, faculty and student files, yearbooks, photographs, and some artifacts. The records extend from the school's creation in 1908 until its closing in 1987. The collection comprehensively documents the growth of a suburban community hospital nurse training program.

Series Description. This collection has been arranged into seven series:

Series I. Hospital, 1769-1986. The records of the hospital consist primarily of published material such as selected annual reports, directories, personnel policies, and manuals. There are several public relations publications, mostly for fund raising, dedications, and clippings. There is also a facsimile of the original deed to three lots of land from 1769.

Series II. School Administrative Records, 1918-1987. The Administrative Records of the School of Nursing consist of annual reports (1956-1987), monthly reports (1982-1987), school catalogs (1944-1988), directories (1965-1975), recruitment literature (1948-1980), commencement programs (1943-1985) and other related documents. Of particular note are the reports for the registration of nurses submitted to the Pennsylvania State Board of Examiners (1918-1985) and the 1985 planned phase out of the School of Nursing.

Series III. Faculty Records, 1968-1985. The faculty records include a 1987 faculty manual, the minutes of the Faculty Organization (1976-1987), and school committees for Curriculum, Programs Faculty Development, Faculty In-service Education, as well as the Freshman Sub-committee and Library minutes documenting events during the 1970s and 1980s, with some materials dating back the 1960s.

Series IV. Student Records, 1904-1986. The student records consist of "final records": i.e., transcripts and other official student files (1910-1986), resignations, and student applications (1910-1949) which include both letters from students applying for admission and letters of recommendation on behalf of the student. There is also a small set of miscellaneous recommendations which predates many of the student files (1908-1912). * Post-1950 student files (1950-1983) are filed separately. All student records have a fifty year closure from the date of graduation or withdrawal; although earlier student records may be used, case anonymity must be respected.

Series V. Yearbooks, 1922-1981. The yearbooks, although incomplete, provide a view into student life and an account of those who graduated from the school's program. Included is the first yearbook, dated 1922, which includes a section listing each graduate and her nickname, aspiration, chief delight, greatest horror, commonest expression, and what she will marry for. Most of the answers offer a view of the tongue-in-cheek nature of these early graduates.

Series VI. Photographs, 1910-1987. These photographs document the social, educational, and physical development of the School of Nursing. This series includes a complete collection of formal class portraits (1910-1987). The photograph mountings have been separated from the photos for conservation purposes, but they have been retained since they provide the name of the student represented in each portrait. Exterior views of the hospital complex include the Maternity Building, Laughlin Hall, a 1906 image of the hospital, and other selected buildings that make up the Chestnut Hill campus. There are also a few photographs from the 1960s of Magee Memorial Rehabilitation Center, Pennsylvania Hospital, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Chestnut Hill College. Interior views consist of the school's Reading Room, Class on Poverty, and Diet & Nutrition Classroom/Laboratory. Interior views of the hospital cover the Maternity Washroom, Nursery, Children's Ward, Women's Ward, Men's Ward, and Operating Room. Some group shots from the 1920s include student nurses, graduate nurses, and other images of nurses and physicians at work in the hospital ward.

Series VII. Scrapbooks, 1953-1970. Three scrapbooks are included. One was produced by the Class of 1953, another by Miss New Jersey Kathy Holmes, a Chestnut Hill student, and the third contains a lone diploma.

Series VIII. Artifacts. Includes a hand-made model of a pregnant uterus with growing fetus inside. Stored with artifacts collection.

Series I. Hospital, 1911-1987
Box 1
f.1 Annual Reports, 1911
f.2 Annual Reports, 1927, 1929, 1962, 1985
f.3 Directory, Board of Trustees and Medical Staff
f.4 Personnel Policies,'+9
f.5 Newborn Service Manual, 1959
f.6 Pharmacy Committee Drug Formulary, 1954
f.7 Nursing Procedure & Administrative Manual, 1973
f.8 Nursing Procedure & Administrative Manual, 1976
Public Relations Publications
f.9 "After 37 Years: A Plea to Carry On," 1942

Box 2
f.10 "Going to the Hospital," 1951- Brochure for children
f.11 "This is your Hospital," 1954- Patients' Brochure
f.12 "50 Years of Community Service," 1954
f.13 Dedication of New Wing, 1959
f.14 Miscellaneous News Clippings, 1959-1986
ffile3/3 Facsimile Indenture (original deed) three lots of land, 1769

Series II. School Administrative Records, 1918-1987

f.1 1956
f.2 1957
f.3 1958
f.4 1959
f.5 1960
f.6 1961
f.7 1962
f.8 1963
f.9 1964
f.10 1965
f.11 1966
f.12 1967
f.13 1968
f.14 1969
f.15 1970
f.16 1971
f.17 1972
f.18 1973
f.19 1974
f.20 1975
f.21 1976

Box 3
f.22 1977
f.23 1978
f.24 1980
f.25 1983
f.26 1984
f.27 1985
f.28 1986-1987
f.29 Monthly Reports, January 1982- October 1987
f.30 Catalogs (bound), 1944-1976

Box 4
f.31 Catalogs (unbound), 1920s-1976
f.32 Catalogs (unbound), 1976-1988
f.33 Directories, 1965-1975
f.34 Recruitment Literature, 1948-1980
f.35 Probationer's Outfit, 1928
f.36 Commencement Programs, 1943-1985
f.37 Promotion Exercises- Programs, 1967-1982
f.38 "Capping Ceremonies-" Pamphlet by Gertrude Stier
f.39 Alumnae Association miscellaneous materials, 1950s-1965
f.40 Student Government Handbook, 1976
f.41 Student Examination, ca. 1920s
f.42 Public Health Study on Student Nursing, ca. 1945
f.43 Student Handbook, 1987

ffile3/3 1918-1932

Box 5
f.45 1933-1944
f.46 1945-1960 *
f.47 1961-1985
f.48 Closing Reports, 1985

Series III. Faculty Records, 1968-1985
f.1 Faculty Manual, 1987

f.2 1987
f.3 1986
f.4 1985
f.5 1984
f.6 1983
f.7 1982
f.8 1981
f.9 1980
f.10 1979

Box 6
f.11 1978
f.12 1977
f.13 1976

f.14 1985-1986
f.15 1983-1984
f.16 1981-1982
f.17 1979-1980
f.18 1978
f.19 1973-1978
f.20 miscellaneous 1981-1987

Box 7

f.21 Level I, 1979-1984
f.22 Level II & IV, 1979-1987
f.23 Level III, 1979
f.24 Level II, 1982-1985

f.25 Level I, 1983-1984
f.26 Level II, 1983-1984

f.27 1981-1987

f.28 1984-1986
f.29 1981-1983
f.30 1978-1980
f.31 1975-1977
f.32 1972-1974

Box 8
f.33 1967-1971

f.34 1976

f.35 1981-1987
f.36 1966-1980

f.37 1966-1987

Series IV. Student Records, 1904-1986

f.1 1910-1922
f.2 1923-1926
f.3 1927-1929
f.4 1930-1931
f.5 1932

Box 9
f.6 1933
f.7 1934
f.8 1935
f.9 1936
f.10 1937-1940
f.11 1941-1943
f.12 1944-1945
f.13 1946

Box 10
f.14 1947
f.15 1948-1949
f.16 1950
f.17 1951
f.18 1952
f.19 1953*
f.20 1954
f.21 1955
f.22 1956
f.23 1957
f.24 1958
f.25 1959

Box 11
f.26 1960
f.27 1961
f.28 1962
f.29 1963
f.30 1964
f.31 1965
f.32 1966
f.33 1967
f.34 1968
f.35 1969
f.36 1970
f.37 1971
f.38 1972
f.39 1973
f.40 1974
f.41 1975

Box 12
f.42 1976
f.43 1977
f.44 1978
f.45 1979
f.46 1980
f.47 1981
f.48 1982
f.49 1983
f.50 1984
f.51 1985-Day Division
f.52 1985-Evening Division
f.53 1986

f.54 A-B
f.55 C

Box 13
f.56 D-E
f.57 F-G
f.58 H
f.59 I-K
f.60 L
f.61 M
f.62 N-P
f.63 R
f.64 S
f.65 T-V
f.66 W-Z

Box 14

f.67-95 1910-1922
f.96-120 1923-1926
f.121-126 1927-1930

Box 15
f.127-156 1927-1930
f.157-161 1931-1936

Box 16
f.162-210 1931-1936

Box 17
f.211-219 1931-1936
f.220 1937-1940
f.221 1941-1943
f.222 1944
f.223 1945
f.224 1946
f.225 1947
f.226-233 1948-1949

Box 18
f.234-243 1948-1949
f.244 Recommendations, miscellaneous, 1904-1912

Box 19

1950-1954

Box 20
1955-1958

Box 21
1959-1962

Box 22
1963-1966

Box 23
1967-1969

Box 24
1970-1973

Box 25
1974-1977

Box 26
1978-1983

Series V. Yearbooks, 1922-1981
Box 27

1922, 1926, 1927, 1951, 1954, 1957-1961, 1963

Box 28
1964-1973

Box 29
1974-1981

Series VI. Photographs, 1906-1987
Box 30

p.0 Undated School Photo
p.1 1910
p.2 1911
p.3 1912
p.4 1913
p.5 1914
p.6 1915
p.7 1916
p.8 1917
p.9 1918
p.10 1919
p.11 1920
p.12 1921
p.13 1922
p.13a 1922
p.14 1923
p.15 1924
p.16 1925
p.17 1926
p.18 1927
p.19 1928
p.20 1929

Box 31
p.21 1930
p.22 1931
p.23 1932
p.24 1933
p.25 1934
p.26 1935
p.27 1936
p.28 1937
p.29 1938
p.30 1939
p.31 1940
p.32 1941
p.33 1942
p.34 1943
p.35 1944
p.36 1945
p.37 1946
p.38 1947
p.39 1948
p.40 1949

Box 32
p.41 1950
p.42 1951
p.43 1952
p.44 1953
p.45 1954
p.46 1955
p.47 1956
p.48 1957
p.49 1958
p.50 1959
p.51 1960
p.52 1961
p.53 1962
p.54 1963
p.55 1964
p.56 1965
p.57 1966
p.58 1967
p.59 1968
p.60 1969
p.61 1970
p.62 1971
p.63 1972
p.64 1973
p.65 1974
p.66 1975
p.67 1976
p.68 1977
p.69 1978
p.70 1979
p.71 1980
p.72 1981
p.73 1982
p.74 1983
p.75 1984
p.76 1985 (Day Division)
p.77 1985 (Evening Division)
p.78 1986
p.79 1987

Box 33

Box 34

p.80 ca. 1920
p.81 1949
p.82 1922
p.83 1922
p.84 1922
p.85 ca. 1920
p.86 1913

p.87 1922
p.88 1922
p.89 1948; Mr. Birdsall on porch
p.90 1948
p.91 ca. 1950
p.92 ca. 1930
p.93 ca. 1950
p.94 ca. 1950
p.95 1954; through the woods

p.96 Chestnut Hill Hospital, 1906
p.97 Dr. Vaux Residence (demolished 1970), ca. 1920
p.98 Magee Memorial Rehabilitation Center, 1964
p.99 Pennsylvania Hospital, 1964
p.100 Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 1964
p.101 Chestnut Hill College, ca. 1970

p.102 Reading Room
p.103 Class on Poverty
p.104 Diet & Nutrition Classroom/Laboratory

p.105 Maternity Washroom; E. Hanley
p.106 Maternity Washroom; E. Hanley
p.107 Maternity Washroom; E. Hanley
p.108 Nursery
p.109 Nursery
p.110 Nursery
p.111 Children's Ward
p.112 Children's Ward
p.113 Children's Ward
p.114 Women's Ward
p.115 Women's Ward
p.116 Women's Ward
p.117 Men's Ward
p.118 Men's Ward
p.119 Men's Ward
p.120 Operating Room
p.121 Operating Room

p.122 Nursing Students in Laboratory, ca. 1930
p.123 Operating Room, ca. 1920

p.124 Student Nurses, ca. 1922
p.125 Students, Doctors, & Nurses, ca. 1920
p.126 Student Nurses, ca. 1920
p.127 Student Nurses, ca. 1920
p.128 Student Nurses, ca. 1920
p.129 Student Nurses with Dorm Head in Nurse's Home, ca. 1920
p.130 Student Nurses, ca. 1920
p.131 Student Nurses, ca. 1920
p.132 Student Nurses, ca. 1920
p.133 Graduate Nurses, ca. 1920
p.134 Graduate Nurses, ca. 1920
p.135 Graduate Nurses, ca. 1920
p.136 Graduate Nurses in Capes, ca. 1920
p.137 Graduate Nurses in Capes, ca. 1920
p.138 Graduate Nurses in Capes, ca. 1920
Nurses, Individual
p.139 Nurse with Newborn, ca. 1920
p.140 Nurse with Ambulance, ca. 1920

Box 35

p.141 Graduation, ca. 1950
p.142 Class of 1957
p.143 School of Nursing, 1961
p.143a School of Nursing, 1961
p.143b School of Nursing, 1961
p.144 Capping Ceremony, ca. 1964
p.145 Class of 1968, 1966
p.146 Class of 1968, 1966
p.147 Graduation, 1970
p.148 Nursing Staff, ca. 1960
p.149 Nursing Staff, ca. 1960
p.150 Student Nurses, ca. 1970
p.151 Class of 1981

p.152 Nurses Station, ca. 1970
p.153 Nursing Meeting, ca. 1960
p.154 Student Nurse & Louise Lefevre, ca. 1960
p.155 Student Nurses' Kitchen, ca. 1970
p.156 Hospital Kitchen, ca. 1960
p.157 Nurses & Doctor with Patient, ca. 1950
p.158 Nurse reading to Patient, 1978
p.159 Nurse giving Class Demonstration, ca. 1970
p.160 Demonstration to Children, ca. 1970
p.161 Medicine Demonstration to Children, ca. 1970
p.162 Medicine Demonstration to Children
p.163 Chestnut Hill Hospital Pharmacist, 1964
p.164 Student Nurses with Laura May Beery, ca. 1978
p.165 Instructor & Students with Patient, 1978
p.166 Nurse with Child Patient, 1978
p.167 Operating Room, ca. 1950
p.168 Student & Nurse in Maternity, 1979
p.169 X-ray Department, ca. 1950
p.170 Student Nurses in Class, ca. 1950
p.171 Demonstration to nursing Students, ca. 1970

p.172 Student Nurse & Instructor, ca. 1970
p.173 Aide & Patient, ca. 1970
p.174 Nurses & Instructor with a Patient, ca. 1970
p.175 Nurse & Doctor with Patient, ca. 1970
p.176 Nurses with a Patient, ca. 1970
p.177 Student Nurse weighed Instructor, ca. 1970
p.178 Nurse & Doctor in Library, ca. 1970
p.179 Nurses bandaging Patient, ca. 1970
p.180 Nurses & Patient, ca. 1970
p.181 Students & Sister in Laboratory, ca. 1970
p.182 Students & Sister in Laboratory, ca. 1970
p.183 Students & Sister in Anatomy Instruction, ca. 1970
p.184 Nurses & Doctor, ca. 1970
p.185 Student Nurse & Doctor with Patient, ca. 1970
p.186 Louise Lefevre; Formal Mounted Portrait

f.1 Individuals, ca. 1920 (8 photographs)
f.2 Individuals, ca. 1950-1970 (76 photographs)
f.3 Miscellaneous Groups, ca. 1950-1970 (55 photographs)
f.4 Books & Cap, ca. 1960 (3 photographs)

Box 36
Series VII. Scrapbooks, 1953-1970
"The Chart-" Class of 1953
Miss New Jersey Kathy Holmes; News Clippings
Diploma; Bustard, Margaret E.

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