Biographical Sketch

Ann Madeline Lewis was born in Saranac Lake, NY January 9, 1914 to Robert and Mary Ellen Lewis (maiden name Tierney). She was the youngest of three children. Ann Madeline Lewis, called Madeline or “Bunny” by many, moved to Farmingdale, Long Island sometime before the 1933 school year. She graduated from Farmingdale High School in 1935. Her ambition to become a nurse was clear to her schoolmates, who prophesized in the yearbook she would be working at Farmingdale Hospital. ^[1]

After high school Miss Lewis enrolled in St. Catherine’s Hospital, School of Nursing. She received her Diploma in Nursing in 1938. She started working at St Catherine’s in 1941 becoming part of their training school Staff. While Miss Lewis was working at St. Catherine’s Hospital she was working on her Bachelors of Science degree from St. John’s University. She graduated in 1946. In 1955 Ann Lewis, while still working at St. Catherine’s Hospital, received her Masters of Arts in Education from New York University. Her specialization was in administration of personal services in nursing. At the end of her career at St. Catherine’s Hospital Miss Lewis was the Assistant Director in Nursing Education after 18 years of service.

Upon leaving St. Catherine’s Hospital in 1959 Ann Lewis was hired by the State Education Department’s Office of Nursing Education. As Associate in Nursing Education, Miss Lewis worked tirelessly to improve the quality of nursing schools’ programs. Upon her retirement Ann Lewis felt both rewarded and satisfied at her 20-year tenure at the State Department of Education.^[2]

November 22, 1979 Ann Lewis retired back to Saranac Lake. However, her efforts in the field of nursing where never forgotten. While in Saranac Lake, Miss Lewis helped care for patients who came for “the cure” for Tuberculosis; she was seen by many as a master clinician in this respect.^[3] Toward the end of her life she was also a supporter of the Foundation of the New York State Nurses Association (now the Foundation of New York State Nurses), donating and contributing regularly to their mission. Miss Lewis was also an invested member in her religious community. Ann Madeline Lewis died March 3, 2006 in Saranac Lake.

Scope and Contents Notes

This small collection includes personal and professional papers, as well as, ephemera of Ann Madeline Lewis spanning her life, 1914-2006. The papers include mementos from her education at St. Catherine’s Hospital School of Nursing (SON) and papers written for her alma maters at New York University- including diplomas and grades. There are also a great number of papers from her retirement and involvement with the Foundation of New York State Nurses.

There is a large photographic series within the collection including family albums, class pictures and professional photos. These photos speak a great deal about Ann Lewis’ life and friendships. Many of the women she went to school with and taught later on became life-long friends.

Last, there are ephemera including class rings, school pins, yearbooks, children’s books and cloths, and dolls. These items are memorabilia from each series in the collection and make evident the friendships that Ann Lewis had throughout her life.

Series Descriptions

Series 1: Childhood, 1914-1935
 This contains mostly ephemera from Ann Lewis’ childhood. There are baby clothes as well and children’s books and toys including a stuffed bear and a rocking chair. There is also a folder of high school papers including her yearbook and diploma.
Series 2: Education, 1936-1966
 This series includes yearbooks and school papers from her years at St. Catherine’s Hospital School for Nurses and her Masters work at New York University. While she did attend St. John’s University the only evidence is a diploma and some pins. This series also contains the nurse’s cap she received at her capping in 1936.
Series 3: Retirement, 1979-2006
 This series has cards, letters and papers from Ann Lewis’ retirement from the State Education Department in 1979. Most of the documents are congratulations and well wishes from friends and colleagues.
Series 4: Personal Papers, 1972-2003
 Ann Lewis’ personal papers include newspaper clippings, mementos, correspondence, and eulogies. The newspaper clippings are about friends and colleagues such as Veronica Driscoll. The correspondences have some letters from colleagues and friends as well as birthday and Easter cards. The eulogies are of mostly nursing friends from her early years, people she had known for years including Breda Nolan, Veronica Driscoll, and Ruth V. Matheney.
Series 5: New York State Nurses Association, 1979-2004
 This series includes two different types of materials: Publications of the New York State Nurses Association from 2002-2003 and letters of thanks from the Association for Ann Lewis’ donations over the years. The collection also contains a framed certificate honoring her on her 90th birthday for her dedication to nursing.
Series 6: Indian School for Practical Nursing, 1960-1984
 This series contains books, dolls, and pictures from the Indian School of Practical Nursing in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Ann Lewis’ long-time friend and classmate, from St. Catherine’s SON, Tosh (or Tony) Bienkowski worked in the school in the 1960s. There books from the curriculum taught and a pamphlet containing information of what the school had to offer its students.
Series 7: Photographs, 1914-2006
 This series contains photographs both in albums and loose from Ann Lewis’ personal and professional life.
Series 8: Awards and Ephemera, 1914-2006
 This series contains awards, degrees and honors from Ann Lewis’ personal and professional life.