The collection contains materials used for research and display in the Country Doctor Museum's "Art of Nursing" exhibit.
In 1997, the Country Doctor Museum put on an exhibit entitled "Art of Nursing," with a supplementary exhibit on polio treatment. The exhibit displayed the history and development of the nursing profession, particularly within eastern North Carolina.
Since it's founding, the Museum had a goal to "interpret the history of registered nurses and the kind, loving and skilled bedside care they provided patients." Additions and renovations to the Museum's buildings in the mid-1990s along with the enthusiastic assistance of registered nurses from Raleigh and Wilson helped bring this goal to a reality. Helen Massengill Creech, R.N. (Rex Hospital School of Nursing '49) and Sadie Coleman Corbett, R.N. (Wilson School of Nursing '53) emerged as leaders of their respective alumnae groups to become coordinators of the project. Sadie Coleman Corbett even drafted her two carpenter cousins to work on the renovation after the devastation resulting from Hurricane Fran made it impossible to obtain contracters.
With the generosity of many and the tireless efforts of Creech and Corbett, an outstanding collection was assembled. Lillian Jernigan Todd, R.N. (Rex Hospital '48) contributed all her cherished memorabilia and was also the largest single financial contributor. Numerous registered nurses contributed capes, caps, pins, diplomas, anniversary cups, textbooks, annuals, and other items. Josephine T. Melchior, one of the Museum founders, contributed her entire valuable collection of invalid feeders and pap boats collected during her professional life and travels.
The collection contains materials used for research and display in the Country Doctor Museum's "Art of Nursing" exhibit. Materials include correspondence with individuals discussing donations, as well as some of those donated items. Items were listed under an individual when discernable. This includes photographs, notebooks, correspondence, pamphlets, booklets, advertisements, and various ephemera from eight nursing schools in North Carolina. Among the photographs are images of the exhibit, hospital scenes, and nurses. Printed materials discuss various health issues and the developments of medical care. In the nursing school ephemera, there are graduating class photos and programs, images of the nursing school hospitals, and a scrapbook.
Various donations; Donor information unknown. 2015, July 15: Program. Gift of Virginia Coppridge Hayes. 2014: Letterhead. Donor information unknown. 2016: Dictionary. Gift of Michlle Kennedy. 2017, May 11: Receipt book for nursing services. Gift of Jackie Stone Cogne.
Donor information unknown. Gift of Virginia Coppridge Hayes. Gift of Michelle Kennedy. Gift of Jackie Stone Cogne.
Processed by Allison N. Miller and Ashley Williams, 2015. Updated by Layne Carpenter, 2018 and 2021.
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.
English
Mary Louise Brantley Ordess Papers (CD 01.46), The Country Doctor Museum, at The William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Joyce Parker Goforth Papers (CD 01.47), The Country Doctor Museum, at The William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
J. Robert Boykin Collection (CD01.106), The William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Related artifacts held at The Country Doctor Museum, Bailey, North Carolina.