University of Rochester School of Nursing Uniforms

Introduction

The first class of the University of Rochester School of nursing entered the program in the fall of 1925, the same year the first class of medical students began their studies. The photo archive of the School of Nursing contains photo after photo of young women in dove grey uniforms with white collars and white sleeve bands - posed formally in formal groups, shown in class, or standing casually together in pairs or groups. All wear the same unwaisted uniform with dark stockings. In fall and winter they added a blue wool cape secured with two strips below a collar stitched with the acronyms UR and SMH, i.e., University of Rochester and Strong Memorial Hospital, the University's teaching hospital.

Members of the Class of 1932 in standard dove grey uniforms

Nursing students also wore a more formal uniform - both on the floor and in more formal settings, such as class photos and graduation processions. This uniform was also dove grey with a shawl collar descending to a white bib front secured with detachable strips of buttons. Unlike the other dove-grey uniform, this dress had a waistline seam, was pleated to the waist and was worn with a grey linen belt. It could be had with long or short sleeves. There were also solid white versions of these same uniforms.

Members of the Class of 1953 in procession wearing waisted grey uniform with white bib front

As evidenced in the photographic record, the dove grey uniforms remained unchanged (with minor variations) from 1925 until the mid-1960s. The present collection is representative of all these uniforms and their variants. Boxes 1-5 contain nursing student uniforms, 1925-2004; Boxes 6-9 contain both versions of the lined blue wool cape worn between 1925 and the mid-1960s; Box 10 contains both versions of the cap worn by nursing students: the earlier a soft, bonnet - like cap, and the later a starched white mortar board cap that was worn by both students and graduates.

Container List

BOX ONE

Laura Kellogg, Class of 1928

• 1 dove grey short-sleeve uniform, shawl collar, white bib front, pleated to waist
• 1 grey short-sleeve uniform, shawl collar, solid grey pleated front, and white V-neck apron (see photo)

Della Ziegler, Class of 1936

• 1 dove grey long-sleeve uniform, shawl collar, pleated to waist, white bib front with detachable button strip, belt

Helen Hatch, Class of 1937

• 1 dove grey long-sleeve uniform, shawl collar, pleated to waist, 8-buttonwhite bib front with detachable button strip
• 1 white long-sleeve uniform, shawl collar, 7-button front with detachable button strip, belt

Laura Kellogg, Class of 1928, with uniform and apron donated to the Miner Library in 1971

BOX TWO

Eleanor Welker, Class of 1939

• 1 dove grey short-sleeve uniform, 3-button front (buttons missing)
• 1 white apron with belt

Virginia Stewart, Class of 1939

• 1 dove grey short-sleeve uniform (different fabric from Welker's), 3-button front
• 1 white apron with belts

Anna Bater, Class of 1941

• 1 dove grey short-sleeve uniform, 3-button front with three detachable buttons

BOX THREE

Cynthia Allen (Hart), Class of 1946

• 1 dove grey long-sleeve uniform, shawl collar, pleated to waist, 7-button white bib front with detachable button strip
• 1 short-sleeve white uniform, shawl collar, pleated to waist, 7-button front with detachable button strip
• 1 white apron

Carolyn Whitney, Class of 1947

• 1 dove-grey long-sleeve uniform, shawl collar, white bib front, shawl collar, pleated to waist, 7-button white bib front, belt
• 1 white long-sleeve uniform, shawl collar, pleated to waist, 7-button front
• 1 white gown (not an apron) worn over uniform
• 1 mortar board cap with black band

Christine Waterhouse, M.D., inoculates members of the Class of 1949 wearing short-sleeve dove grey uniforms and belted white aprons

BOX FOUR

Helen Tranter, Class of 1950

• 2 dove grey long-sleeve uniforms, shawl collar, pleated to waist over white bib front, 9-button front with detachable button strip
• 1 dove grey short-sleeve uniform, 3-button front
• 1 white long-sleeve uniform, shawl collar, pleated to waist, 9-button bib front
• 1 white apron
• 1 lab coat
• 2 mortar board caps with black band

BOX FIVE

Janice Jacobs, Class of 1953

• 1 dove grey long-sleeve uniform, shawl collar, pleated to waist, 8-button white bib front with detachable button strip
• 1 white long-sleeve uniform, shawl collar, 9-button white bib front with detachable button strip, belt
• 1 white short-sleeve uniform, shawl collar, pleated to waist, 8-button front
• 1 mortar board cap

Frances Scalzo, Class of 1960

• 1 dove grey long-sleeve uniform, shawl collar, pleated to waist, 8-button white bib front with detachable button strip
• 1 mortar board cap

Phyllis Ackerman, Class of 1961

• 1 dove grey long-sleeve uniform, shawl collar, pleated to waist, 7-buttonwhite bib front with detachable button strip

BOX SIX

Unnamed donor, student circa 1975

• 1 light blue short-sleeve uniform with S.O.N patch stitched on front
• 1 light blue short apron with S.O.N. patch stitched on front

Class of 2004

• Uniform top and bottom (trousers) signed by members of the Class of 2004

BOX SEVEN

Melrose Harding, Class of 1928

• 1 blue wool cape (1925-1940 style) with U.R. and S.M.H. stitched in red thread on collar
• 1 blue wool beret

Members of the Class of 1928 in blue wool capes. Melrose Harding is standing in the second row, third from the left

BOX EIGHT

• 2 blue wool capes (1925-1940 style) with U.R. and S.M.H. stitched in red thread on collar

BOX NINE

• 3 blue wool capes (1940-1960 style) with U.R. and S.M.H. stitched in gold thread on collar

BOX TEN

• 5 bonnet style caps (1920s)
• 1 box of mortar board caps in original box labelled: Kay's Caps, Valley Stream, N.Y. (1960s)