I was reading one of the Neels books and was curious about a feature of the uniform a nurse was wearing. I found this site (which you may have already listed somewhere, but I didn't see it) and it has a "History of Nurses" uniforms I thought that people might find interesting.
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I love this! It's very oddly written, as if it was translated badly from another language, but the background and photos are fascinating. This link should take anyone interested to a slide show of nurses caps through the ages, including a 'muslin trifle' or two and some of the very odd ones that look like some kind of bundt-cake pan. Thanks, Betty Janet.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, Betty Janet, an enormous amount of sartorial information. One of my favourite pictures - American flight nurse in Marlene Dietrich slacks.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures, Betty van den Betsy. #21 The Bellevue Fluff, organdy Bellevue "cupcake" - proudly worn lampshade? Ha ha! Your link took me to a Medscape Log In page. But I found your link, I think: http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/nurse-caps. And there are more great pictures in the companion article The Dawn of the Cap.
Ha ha ha. My link takes me to the same log in page!
DeleteI found your link typing in medscape nurses caps. Well, Google found it, I clicked on the first entry:
What Happened to the Cap? Part 1: Dignity and ... - Medscape
www.medscape.com/features/.../nurse-caps - Diese Seite übersetzen
The 'captivating' early history of the nurse's cap is illustrated in this slideshow which includes photos of Medscape readers proudly wearing their caps!
Euphemia Van Rensslelaer was instrumental in designing nurses uniforms and the Bellevue cupcake in particular. Did Betty use the names of famous nurses as her heroines? I know there was a Florence, and a Clara (relative not heroine), multiple Mary's, I seem to remember a Dorothea (for Dorothea Dix) but I can't remember which book.
DeleteB von S
At least, for me, it solved the mystery of the "cuffs" -- that's what I was searching for when I found it. I don't remember which BN novel I was reading, but it talked about putting on cuffs. The ones on this website were elbow length and apparently secured by garters. Now I know what to imagine when I run into this again... :)
ReplyDeleteI had cuffs when I first qualified. They wre little cotton elasticated pieces that went over the end of the short sleeves on your uniform :)
ReplyDeleteBetty Nell! Where did you qualify, and if it's not impertinent, when? Did you have a cap? An apron? Did you do sums on your hems?
DeleteWelcome! Thank you for bringing your so-relevant perspective to TUJD.
Betty Nell, Are these the cuffs of which you speak? I
Deletewas looking for Harlequin covers and found this picture which formed part of an older post on TUJD. Of course.
I found this site, too:
ReplyDeletehttp://oesermaatra0069.hostoi.com/index.php?page=about
It's a mirror site about the history of nursing, seems to have a UK focus.
Hi Janet Lingel Aldrich,
DeleteMy website has been changed to another address: http://revision-of-nurse-uniforms.eu/
Great site, Betty Janet. Note the cuffs on Emma Peel's short sleeves.
ReplyDeleteIn depth analysis of nursing uniforms can be an enriching experience. While it is becoming a hot topic for debate, it is yet to receive proper recognition for laying the foundations of democracy. It is an unfortunate consequence of our civilizations history that nursing scrubs is rarely given rational consideration by the aristocracy, who form the last great hope for our civilzation.
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