Research Queries
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Colonial Nursing Service in Malaysia
Hello, my name is Anthony Murphy and I am researching the Colonial Nursing Service in Malaysia during the inter-war and World War II period. One of the women whom I have been studying was Jean Cross Morrison who died on 17th February 1942 during the evacuation of Malaya as a result of the Japanese occupation. Nurse Morrison trained and qualified at the Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow in 1931 and served at the Infirmary until 1937, when she left for Singapore. She remained in Singapore until her death in 1942.
I have exhausted the UK sources of information and am therefore wondering if anyone in Singapore can advise on the possibility of the existance of records relating to Nurse Morrison or the Colonial Nursing Service in general. I can provide her home address in Glasgow should anyone have any further information on her.
anthony.murphy7@ntlworld.com
Date query posted: 11th March 2008
Nursing the elderly, 1955-1980
Hello, my name is Jane Brooks. I am currently recruiting for an oral history project of nurses who worked on elderly care wards in general hospitals between 1955 and 1980. If this applies to you and you would like to be part of this study, please contact me in any of the following ways:
0161 306 0260 (reception) / 7636 (direct line)
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University Place, University of Manchester,
M13 9PL
Date query submitted: 29th June 2007
Margaret Myles: teacher of midwives
Hello, my name is Lisa Yarger.
I am a folklorist and oral historian from the U.S. (Durham, North Carolina) working on a book about an elderly North Carolina midwife, Lovie Beard Shelton, who trained at Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion, Edinburgh with Margaret Myles in 1949-50.
I am looking for more information about Margaret Myles. I know that the Lothian Health Service Archive has some material on her, but I wonder if there's more out there that I'm missing.
I would be interested in, among other things, curriculum materials used by Myles in her classroom, and any videos/films that document her teaching or lecturing.
If you know where I might continue my search for more information on Myles, please contact me
Name:Ms. Lisa Yarger.
Email: lisa@stormingheaven.com
Query posted: 13:01:05
Community Neonatal Nursing, UK
Hello, my name is Jan Scrivens
I am a Community Neonatal Sister and am interested in finding out how and when this speciality began. We seem to have a variety of titles around the country but do the same job. Titles include Community Neonatal Nursing: Community Outreach Nursing/Teams: Outreach: Neonatal Outreach etc etc.
Thankyou for your help,
Name:Ms. Jan Scrivens
Email: JAN.SCRIVENS@bwhct.nhs.uk
Query posted: 09:12:04
European women doctors and nurses: Malaya c.1860-1942
Hello, my name is Kai Khiun Liew
I am a PhD Student with the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at University College London. I am currently looking at the provision of health services by non-government groups and their impact on colonial health politics in British Malaya and Singapore. I am preparing to open up a new dimension of the role played by European women doctors and nurses on the area of maternal health. I am aware that there were some nurses who have volunteered their services through medical missions in the region.
Thankyou for your help,
Name:Mr. Kai Khiun Liew
Email: liewkk56@hotmail.com
Query posted: 08:09:04
Rehabilitation and mental health: Prestwich mental hospital c.1970-99
Hello, my name is Val Harrington
I am currently doing an M.Sc. in the History of Science, Technology andMedicine and for my dissertation am looking at the run-down of Prestwichmental hospital - mainly focussing on the 70s through to the 90s. I amparticularly interested in the development of ideas and practices aboutrehabilitation during the 70s; the processes involved in the acceleration ofthe discharge of long stay patients during the late 80s, and the finalchanges after the selling off of the land in the early 90s. I would be veryinterested in talking to any nurses who worked at Prestwich during thisperiod.
Thankyou for your help,
Name:Val Harrington
Email: val@dandelion1.demon.co.uk
Query posted: 25:08:04
History of Nursing Homes in Britain
Hello, my name is Dr Ismail Lunat
I am a General Practice trainee at the Yorkshire Deanery in Bradford and I am doing research on the history of Nursing Homes in Britain. That is when nursing homes were first established and the individuals who contributed to this. I would be interested in hearing from anybody have any knowledge on this topic.
Thankyou for your help,
Name:Dr Ismail Lunat
Email: dr.ish@ntlworld.com
Query posted: 10:06:04
History of Nursing in Malayasia / Federated Malay States
Hello, my name is Zainooriah Zakaria and I am a Public Health Matron attached to the Institute for Health Systems Research, Ministry of Health Malaysia.
I am very interested in tracing back when nursing started in the country. Nursing may have begun during the 1800's when the country (known as the Federated Malay States) was producing about 55% of the world's tin and naturally the health of the workforce was a concern anf there were already hospitals functioning then. During the British colonial era, British nurses worked in the Malaya.
It is my utmost wish to hear from anyone who may have worked, have acquaintances or have some information that may help me get started in writing about the history of nursing in Malaysia.
Thankyou for your help,
Name:Zainooriah Zakaria
Email: zainooriah@iku.gov.my
Query posted: 20:01:04
Nursing the elderly
Hello, my name is Deborah Humphrey and I am a PhD student at Oxford Brookes University (UK).
I am interested in the long term care of older people and the recruitment of nurses from abroad for example refugee nurses or nurses from the Commonwealth (e.g. the Caribbean) into this sector.
I would be very grateful if anyone who has knowledge of this topic or who is interested in this area of care would contact me.
Thankyou for your help,
Name:Deborah Humphrey
Email: dhumphrey@brookes.ac.uk
Query posted: 05:11:03
UK Paediatric nursing 1852-1921.
Hello, my name is Hannah Staines and I am a nursing student at the University of Nottingham. I am currently researching my Master's dissertation about the development of Paediatric Nursing in the UK 1852-1921.
I am looking for any information about children's nursing in this period especially focusing on the early children's nurses and what their role entailed, their relationship with the doctors and issues surrounding registration.
I would be very grateful if anyone who is interested in this topic and period would contact me.
Thankyou for your help,
Name:Hannah Staines
Email: Hannah_staines@hotmail.com
Query posted: 08:08:03
Nurses of the Frontier Nursing Service (FNS) in Wendover, Kentucky (U.S.A.).
Hello, I am Elizabeth West, Assistant Professor of Nursing at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. I am beginning my doctoral studies.
The FNS was founded by Mary Breckinridge in 1925 and is still in operation today. In the early days nurses had to be recruited from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland as there were no midwifery schools in the U.S. at that time.
I would like to make contact with any former FNS nurses in Europe or their surviving families/friends who might have some sources of information on the women and the service's 'early years.' I would also like to communicate with anyone out there who knows anything about the FNS, Mary Breckinridge or her nurses. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Name:Elizabeth West
Email: edie@nmo.net
Query posted: 16:05:03
Prison Nursing in Scotland.
My name is James Fraser and I am a Lecturer in the School of Nursing at The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.
I am in the process of putting together my research proposal for a PhD.
I will be looking at prison nursing in Scotland and would be grateful for any information on research that has been done on the history and role of prison nursing.
I would like to make contact with anyone else who is interested in researching this area.
Name:James Fraser
Email: j.fraser@rgu.ac.uk
Query posted: 10:02:03
Bush Nursing in Tasmania.
I am currently undertaking a PhD in history at the University of Tasmania.
My topic is:
"We were very much individuals on our own":PROFESSIONAL INDEPENDENCE & ISOLATION OF BUSH NURSES IN RURAL & REMOTE TASMANIA 1910 - 1957 .
This is a thesis about the lives and roles Tasmanian bush nurses. Thesewomen engaged in an area of nursing that originated in 1910 and was"transformed" into District Nursing in 1957.
The Bush Nursing Service provided nursing care to the populations of rural townships and thesurrounding countryside. Road transport and communications were poorlydeveloped and this necessitated the nurse to operate with little day to daysupervision and support.
From a variety of sources such as officialdocuments, newspaper reports, personal letters, and indepth interviews thethesis explores the twin themes of female isolation and independence. Thepicture painted of the nurses' professional work, their relationship withother health care providers, and their personal lives demonstrates thedynamic nature of lived experience as society changed. Nevertheless thereader will ascertain parallels to health service issues of today in thelife and work of these professional women whose very roles helped createand reinforce their isolation.
I would like to hear from anyone investigating women working in isolation.
Name:Marita Bardenhagen
Email: mbardenh@bigpond.net.au
Fax: +61 3 6331 8405Query posted: 28:11:02
World War 1: No 2 Convalescent Depot Weymouth.
I am researching the life of Sister Amy Dorrington. She was a World War 1 nurse whoserved with the Australian Army Nursing Service. She had many postings and served with variousunits including the No 2 Convalescent Depot Weymouth.
I have failed to find any information on this Depot. Any information wouldbe greatly received.
Also, Louise Dorrington, Amy's sister, served with the "French Flag Nursing Corp." and I amsearching for any information on the British Committee of the French RedCross.
Name:Sue West
Email: Sue West
Query posted: 26:08:02
Care of the Elderly: the move into a nursing home.
I am starting my MSc dissertation investigating the experience of older people moving into a nursing home. I want to include a section on the history of nursing homes in Britain and care of the aged. I have Townsend's The Last Refuge and quite a lot of information up to 1900 and again information from 1940 onward.
Does anyone have any good sources for the intervening 40 years? I would be grateful for any information anyone may have.
Many thanks
Name:Deborah Humphrey
Email: Deborah Humphrey
Query posted: 19:11:01
The Treatment of Raised Temperature:
I am a BSc Nursing student at the University of Surrey in the UK. I am starting to do research for my final year dissertation entitled 'An Investigation into the History and Evolution of the Treatment of Raised Temperature and the evolution of current Practice'.
Reading and general observation has suggested that many nurses are not clear how raised temperature should be treated, and current literature seems to include condradictions.
The project aims are:
- to learn when the accepted treatment of raised temperature in adults changed
- to understand why the changes occured
- to explain the manner in which treatment has changed
- to explore how this knowledge can inform and influence today's research and practice.
If any one has any stories / papers / references that might relating to this topic, I would be delighted to hear from them.
Name:Clare Kirkpatrick
Email: Clare Fitzpatrick
Query posted: 05:10:01
Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester:
I recently had another opportunity to view some clips of cine-film of nurses at Booth Hall Hospital in 1948. I first saw these some years ago. The person who showed me the film acquired it from the film-maker and told me that student nurses at Booth Hall at that time were only allowed to leave the hospital on one day per week, that they had to wear an outdooor uniform if they left the hospital at any time on a duty day, even if they were off duty at the time, and were governed by various other rules and regulations.
It is difficult to get a sense of this from the film which lasts only about 10 minutes and shows a nurses prize-giving, a nurses keep-fit class, a nurses sports day and a fancy dress ball. Nevertheless this footage does give a very clear impression of institutional living and I have been told that the keep-fit was part of the curriculum and that the sports kit was part of the nurses uniform.
I would be pleased to hear from anyone who could give me any further information about being a student nurse and / or living in the nurses home at Booth Hall in the 1940s; or alternatively whether any of this resonates with the experiences of nurses in other UK children's hospitals during the 1940s.
Name: John Hopton,
Senior Lecturer,
Address:School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work,
University of Manchester,
Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
E-mail: John.Hopton@man.ac.uk
Query posted: 05:10:01
West Indian Nurses in Britain 1950s-1960s:
NB Linda Ali's research was awarded a Master ofArts in History at the University of York 2001. A copy of the bound thesisis lodged in the University's Library, at the Institute of CaribbeanStudies, Lambeth Archives and the RCN Archives. A brief extract of the paper withphotographs will be included in an online exhibition assembled under theauspices of the Public Record Office and titled "Moving Here".My name is Linda Ali. I am presently conducting research for an MA in ModernHistory at the University of York, England. The title of my paper is"West Indian Women Migrants to Britain in 1950s/early 1960s". I wouldbe grateful for any assistance in this work.
I recognise that West Indian women worked in a variety of British industries; thisstudy focuses on the contributions made by WestIndian women in the NHS, whether recruited in the Caribbean or not. Alarge number of young women arrived in Britain to serve the NHS asnurses. The questions the paper will address are:
- How many West Indian women actually entered the NHS in the 1950s/early60s ?
- What were their reasons for answering the call to travel such adistance?
- What employment conditions existed in the West Indies at the time?
- What was the experience of work in the NHS for the new recruits (pay and conditions)?
- In which hospital departments did they work?
- What was their experience of career development / promotion?
- Did they considr their talents were fully utilised?
- How were they received by the colleagues and patients?
Finally, if anyone has documents which they are willing tolend me for this research, this would be much appreciated. Examples of valuable documents include:
- Advertisements that appeared in the West Indian Press
- Letters/documents relating to recruitment from the Caribbean or elsewhere
- Photographs, for example: arriving in Britain, West Indian nurses in uniform duringthe 1950s/60s or relaxing.
Name:Linda Ali
Email: la107@york.ac.uk
Query posted: 12th March 2001.
Midwifery, Highlands and Islands of Scotland from 1500-1900:
I am a PhD student (part-time) at the University of Aberdeen and have joint supervision with the Dept of History and the Dept of Public Health.
My research will investigate the History of Midwifery in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland from 1500.
I am interested in hearing from anyone else who is interested in this topic.
Name:Helen MacKenzie Bryers
Email: kbryers@msn.com
Address: Maternity unit, Raigmore Hospital, Old Perth Rd, Inverness IV2 3UJ
Query posted: 12th March 2001.
Accident and Emergency 1850-1940:
I am a PhD Nursing student at University of Sydney, Australia trying to trace the history of casualty departments and casualty nursing from 1870 to 1939. I am interested to find publications (books, journal articles, theses) on this topic in United Kingdom, Canada or the United States between 1850 and 1940. So far I have found only one (1) by K. S. Cliff from Southampton Uninversity.
I am particularly keen to find out when nurses first started to work in casualty, what they did and the types of patients they cared for. I also plan to compare & contrast outpatients departments & dispensaries with casualty. (I've found a lot on the British Dispensaries).
Name:Liz Harford, Nurse Manager Cardiac Services,
Address:Westmead Hospital, Westmead NSW 2145, Australia.
Email: liz_harford@wsahs.nsw.gov.au
Query posted: 24th October 2000.
