Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association records
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Abstract
The collection consists of the records of the Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association, as well as material which was collected by the association, dating from 1858 to 2014. This includes photographs, yearbooks, newsletters, college catalogs, event-related ephemera, and memorabilia. The collection documents the history of the Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing, from its inception in 1883 to its closing in 2013.
Historical note
The Long Island College Hospital (LICH) was founded in Brooklyn, New York, in 1858. The LICH Training School for Nurses, popularly known as the LICH School of Nursing, was established in 1883. Irene Sutcliffe, a graduate of the New York Hospital Training School, was selected to organize the school. The first class consisted of just three students. Irene Sutcliffe resigned her position in 1885 and was replaced by her twin sister, Ida Sutcliffe. During this period, the nurses' training program lasted two years, and there were no grades or examinations (the program would be expanded to three years in 1899).
The Alumnae Association of the Training School for Nurses was established in 1895. In 1904, Anne D. VanKirk replaced Isa Sutcliffe as head of the nursing school, and the school's training regimen was updated to conform with New York state guidelines. VanKirk was replaced by Miss E. Robinson, herself a graduate of the LICH School of Nursing, in 1920.
The school received temporary accreditation from the National League of Nursing in 1953. 1958 marked the first year that male students were admitted to the school. LICH became affiliated with Long Island University in 1960, which resulted in a new emphasis on academics at the nursing school (for the first time liberal arts were included in the school's curriculum). In 1962, the three year program was reduced back to a two year program (it would be shortened again to 22 months in 1975). The school switched academic affiliations twice in the ensuing years, to Packer Collegiate Institute in 1969 and then to St. Francis College in 1972.
In 1977 the school moved to St. Peter's School at 397 Hicks Street. The class of 1977 was the first to receive Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees. The school's academic affiliation changed once again in 1979 to Brooklyn College. Evening classes were first established in 1981, and primarily catered to men who chose nursing as a second career.
In May 2011, LICH became part of the SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and was renamed University Hospital of Brooklyn at Long Island College Hospital. Soon thereafter it was announced the LICH School of Nursing would no longer accept new students into its nursing program. The school officially closed in May 2013, and soon thereafter the Long Island College Hospital also closed.
Sources:
The Centennial: 1883-1983, Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing yearbook, 1983
History - Second Fifty Years - 1933-1983 - of the School of Nursing - Long Island College Hospital, 1983
LICHSON Chronicles, Spring 2013
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of the records of the Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association, as well as material which was collected by the association, dating from 1858 to 2014. This includes photographs, yearbooks, newsletters, college catalogs, event-related ephemera, and memorabilia. The collection documents the history of the Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing, from its inception in 1883 to its closing in 2013.
The records document the lives of nursing students from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. Aspects of student life are illustrated extensively in the school's yearbooks, newsletters, and photographs. Special events, such as commencements and student recognition ceremonies (pinnings and cappings), are especially well documented. Some objects which belonged to students, such as nursing caps and commemorative pins, are also included in the collection.
The adminstration of the Alumnae Association is also documented in the collection. Researchers interested in the operations of the organization should consult Series 1: Articles of incorporation and by-laws, Series 2: Board of Directors meeting minutes, Series 3: Subject files series, and Series 6: Newsletters.
Nursing education and the school's curriculum is not extensively documented in the collection, although a small sampling of student work and handbooks can be found in Series 8: Students, alumni, and faculty and Series 10: Handbooks.
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Conditions Governing Access note
Open to researchers without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
All photographs published before 1923 are in the public domain. The copyright status for all other images has not been evaluated. Please consult library staff for more information.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association records, 2014.006, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association, 2014.
Separated Materials
The following volumes have been removed to the library's book collection:
Brooklyn First : A Chronicle of The Long Island College Hospital, 1993
Donald Frederick and Mildred Topp Othmer : A Commemorative of Their Lives and Legacies, 1999
Greater New York Hospital Association : Report to the public, 1971-1972
History and Genealogy of the Hoagland Family in America, 1891
A History of the Hoagland Laboratory, 1960
History of the Long Island College Hospital, Long Island College of Medicine, and the State University of New York College of Medicine at New York City, 1955
The Long Island College Hospital : General Alumni Catalogue, 1916
The Long Island College Hospital and its Graduates, 1899
The Long Island College Hospital and Training School for Nurses, 1858-1883-1933
The Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing : The Second Fifty Years : 1933-1983
Medical Education in Brooklyn : The First Hundred Years, 1960
Medical Education in the United States and Canada, 1990
Medical Society of the County of Kings : Sesquicentennial 1822-1972
About this Guide
Processing Information
Arranged and described by Processing Archivist John Zarrillo. Processing Intern Stephanie Coy arranged and described Series 5: Yearbooks and Series 6: Newsletters.
Digital materials were donated on two 3.5 inch floppy disks, eleven CDs, and four DVDs. The media were imaged using BitCurator-2.0.14. No viruses were identified during imaging. No sesitive personally identifying information was found, though the digital files included databases of alumnae contact information.
