The Ellis Hospital School of Nursing in Schenectady, NY was founded in 1903 as the Schenectady Hospital Association’s Training School for Nurses. (The name was not officially changed to the Ellis Hospital School of Nursing until 1958.) The first class was admitted in 1903, to graduate in 1906. In 1906 Ellis Hospital moved from its Jay Street location (at the site of the present Schenectady City Hall) to the corner of Nott Street and Rosa Road. At this time the hospital also constructed a residence for nursing students, Whitmore Home, and the following year the school was incorporated as department of Ellis Hospital in 1907. Over the years the School of Nursing has had affiliations with various local colleges, initially with Union College, then with Russell Sage College, and finally with the Schenectady County Community College (SCCC). It currently operates a joint 21-month Associate Degree program with SCCC.
The collection consists primarily of photographs, newspaper clippings, and scrapbooks about both Ellis Hospital and the School of Nursing. Many of the School’s records are still kept at the School of Nursing at 1101 Nott Street in Schenectady, NY.
Finding Aid for the Ellis Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association Records – 1886-1995 Â (MC28)
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VOLUME: | 7.0 cubic feet |
ACQUISITION: | The items in this collection were donated to the Bellevue Alumnae Center for Nursing History, Foundation of the New York State Nurses Association by the Ellis Hospital School of Nursing on August 12, 1999. |
ACCESS: | This collection is open to the public by appointment. |
COPYRIGHT: | Please consult the repository for information about duplication or publishing of any materials from this collection. |
PREFERRED CITATION: |
Ellis Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association Records, 1886-1995 (MC 28), Bellevue Alumnae Center for Nursing History, Foundation of New York State Nurses, Guilderland, NY |
Table of Contents
Administrative History
Ellis Hospital
Ellis Hospital’s story begins in 1885 as the Schenectady Free Dispensary, located at 408 Union Street in Schenectady, New York. It officially opened on Christmas Day, 1885 as a clinic with five beds for surgical patients. Four people were treated on the first business day.[1]
In 1890 the Schenectady Free Dispensary was renamed Ellis Hospital when Charles G. Ellis, president of the American Locomotive Company, bequeathed $25,000 to establish the hospital in memory of his father, John Ellis, the founder of the Schenectady Locomotive Works.[2] The Hospital Association was incorporated in 1891.
Construction for a new hospital building began on Jay Street, the site of Schenectady’s present City Hall, in 1891 and was completed in 1893, with 30 beds.[3]
The hospital has a long history of nurses in high level administrative roles. Ella Underhill, the founding superintendent of the school of nursing also served as superintendent of the hospital at its Jay Street location. Mary G. McPherson, whose career began as an army nurse in France during World War I, held the position of administrator of Ellis Hospital, 1924-1946. Her career at Ellis began as superintendent of nurses and principal of the school of nursing in 1920.[4]
The population of the city continued to grow and the hospital reflected that growth. The hospital’s final move would come in October of 1906 when the hospital moved to the corner of Nott Street and Rosa Road, doubling in size to a 60 bed unit, which would be suffering from overcrowding in its first year. This building would be Schenectady’s first hospital with electric light.[5] By the mid-twenties the hospital had more than doubled its original Rosa Road location size, and the woods and farmland surrounding it was growing into an upscale neighborhood.[6] Over the years, this location has been expanded to become the hospital as it stands today.
The hospital has long been a center for education. The Ellis Hospital Technology School was established in 1924. In 1943, Ellis Hospital became affiliated with the American Medical College. In 1946 residency training programs in medicine and surgery were approved by the Council on Medical Education of the AMA with subsequent approval for training programs in other areas. In 1952 programs of continuing education began to be offered to all staff.[7]
Training School
The Schenectady Hospital Association’s Training School for nurses was founded in 1903 with Ella Underhill serving as the first director and instructor. In 1906 the Whitmore Home, a residence for nursing students, was constructed thanks to funds provided by Joseph W. Smitley, hospital board president and husband of Mrs. John C. Ellis. The building was named as a memorial to his mother.[8] The school would be incorporated in 1907, when it receives its charter as a department of the hospital. This allowed graduates to become eligible for state registration after three years of study.[9]
The first graduating class of two students, Mrs. Lenita Earley Mallery and Mrs. Edith Jeamin Shelton, was in 1906. In 1917 the school received its permanent charter from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. Small classes sizes remained the norm for the first few years of the School’s existence. 1907 saw a graduating class of only one student, while 2 graduated in 1908.[10] It was organized as an educational project, separate from the hospital, contrary to the standards of the time.[11]
In 1943 the school was approved for the training of students under the Cadet Nurse Corps plan. The nursing school was listed in the top 25% of nursing schools in throughout the 1940s. However, while the school thrived a severe shortage of nurses proved to be detrimental to the hospital. It was not uncommon in 1943 for the hospital to close floors and limit surgery due to the lack of nurses. The Volunteer Aides, or “Pink Ladies” were truly put to the test during World War II as the hospital became increasingly dependent on their support.[12]
The Training School affiliated with Russell Sage College in 1952, rather than having students take science classes at Union College as they had traditionally done. This program allowed students interested in obtaining a bachelor’s degree in nursing to continue studies at Russell Sage for a year beyond graduating from the Training School. This program was discontinued in 1958/1960 due to tuition expense and the problems in coordinating academic instruction at Sage with clinical instruction at Ellis
Major changes came to the school in 1958 when the school officially became the Ellis Hospital School of Nursing. In January of this year, the Training School Board disbanded in view of the National League of Nursing’s Accreditation Survey’s recommendation of change from a Training School Board to an Advisory Committee. In March of this year they took on the name Council of Ellis Hospital School of Nursing. This group disbanded in December “to permit the Hospital to organize a group which would better meet the needs of the School of Nursing today.”
The three-year Diploma School of Nursing under its new name was accredited by the NLN in 1959. A pediatric service and pediatric teaching program was begun at Ellis in this year.
The first male graduated from the school in 1972, as the school was undergoing changes that would lead to its becoming entirely a commuter school. In 1973 the Whitmore Home was deemed “hazardous and no longer of use to the hospital”[13] and was replaced by an employee parking lot. This paved the way to the school becoming a commuter school in 1976, with non-traditional students taking classes at Schenectady County Community College. Unlike many hospital schools, the Ellis Hospital School of Nursing has survived by changing forms and shifting programs with time. The curriculum was dramatically shortened from 3 years to 21 months in 1986. The first class to graduate with an Associate in Science in nursing commenced in 1994. In 2003, the school celebrated its 100th anniversary. The school currently offers a 2 year program to students intent on receiving an Associate of Science degree in nursing, with a focus on achieving state registration at the end of the program.
Head of the School of Nursing
1903-1906 | Ella Underhill |
1907-1908 | Grace L. Anderson |
1908-1911 | Esther T. Jackson |
1911-1912 | Margaret N. McFarlane |
1913-1916 | Edith A. Loomis |
1917-1920 | Rosetta M. Graves |
1920-1924 | Mary G. N. McPherson |
1924-1928 | Stella M. Hawkins |
1928-1930 | Marion Stanley Doane |
1930 | Gladys L. Nichols (acting) |
1930-1934 | Gertrude Strong Bates |
1934-1938 | E. Genevieve Wilson |
1938-1944 | Gladys L. Nichols |
1944-1956 | Genevieve Y. Clark |
1956-1967 | Ruth P. Ogden |
1967 | Melba S. Haswell |
1968-ca. 1990 | Ellen G. Scott |
ca. 1990-2007 | Mary Lee Pollard |
2007-Current | Marilyn Stapleton, PhD, RN |
Scope and Contents Notes
The historical materials of the Ellis Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association are primarily made up of scrapbook materials kept by alumnae of the close school of nursing. These items include information on the hospital, the school of nursing and the alumnae association. Also included in the collection are a wide range of photographs kept by the school of nursing primarily for historic, publicity and yearbook publication purposes. The collection included uniforms from the school and some textbooks used by students.
The collection is divided into three series and one sub-series: Series 1, Hospital History and Administration; Series 2, School of Nursing History and Administration; Sub-series 1: Lois Monroe Papers and Memorabilia; and Series 3, Photographs.
Series Descriptions
Series 1: Hospital History and Administration
1.8 cubic feetPrimarily items from scrapbooks compiled to describe the history of Ellis Hospital. Includes information about staff, activities, milestones and many newspaper clippings.
Series 2: School of Nursing History and Administration
1.8 cubic feetAgain, primarily items from scrapbooks. Includes information on students, student life and activities, the history of the school, admissions information, graduation and capping ceremony and many newspaper clippings. This series includes student uniforms and textbooks belonging to students.
Sub-series 1: Lois Monroe Papers and Memorabilia
1 cubic footLois Sabey Monroe graduated in 1956. This series includes lecture notes, photographs, her “Nightingale Lamp” used at Capping Ceremony, text books, and State Board Exam scores. (SEE ALSO: Oversize Boxes 7 and 8)
Series 3: Photographs
2.0 cubic feetPhotographs of both hospital and school subjects. Includes photos of individuals, building interior and exteriors, classroom activities, special events and hospital scenes.
Box and Folder List
Series 1: Hospital History and Administration
Folder:
- 50 years service, 1940-1959
- Accreditation, 1920-1921, 1939
- Activities and events, c. 1955
- Annual Reports, 1918, 1931-1933
- Blood Bank history, c. 1955
- Board of Managers, 1902-1903, 1918-1954
- Board of Managers Annual Meeting, President’s Report, 1906
- Board of Managers Annual Report, 1903
- Board of Managers officers, 1903-1955
- Brochure, 1965
- Buildings and grounds history and maps, c. 1955
- Calendar, 1985
- Central supply room, c. 1955
- Charges, 1904-1922
- Committee rosters, 1902-1930
- Communicable diseases, history, c. 1955
- County Medical Society officers, 1933-1956
- Dietary Department history, c. 1955
- Doctor’s library, 1897-1926
- Doctors in WWI, WWII and Korea, c. 1959
- Ellis Hospital building fund, 1955
- The Ellis News, 1937-1938
- The Elliscope, 1955, 1959, 1964, 1985 (100th Anniversary Edition)
- Emergency services history, c. 1955
- Finances, 1900-1928
- Fish, James, 1950, 1954
- Free Dispensary, 1886
- Fundraising, 1893-1951
- German Hospital Association, 1907, 1912-1915
- Girl and Boy Scouts, 1927-1928, 1930
- Graham, Dr. George W., 1954-1955
- Gynecology department history, c. 1955
- History, c. 1955
- Hospital historian, 1917-1930
- Interns, 1904-1958
- Kellert, Ellis. Medical History of Schenectady County, 1936
- Laundry, 1898-1928
- Meetings, 1898-1928
Folder:
- 1. News clippings, 1906
- News clippings, 1924
- News clippings, 1937
- News clippings, 1940, 1943, 1948-1949
- News clippings, 1950-1951
- News clippings, 1952-1954
- News clippings, 1955-1956
- News clippings, 1957-1959
- News clippings, 1960-1961, 1965-1966, 1969
- News clippings, 1970-1971, 1973
- News clippings, 1985, 1987, (SEE ALSO: Oversize Box 1>
- Nurses in WWI, WWII and Korea, c. 1959
- Nursing service history, c. 1955
- Obstetrical department history, c. 1955
- Operating room history, c. 1955
- Orthopedics history, c. 1955
- Outpatient department history, c. 1955
- Pathology laboratory history, c. 1955
- Patients, 1886-1904
- Pediatrics history, c. 1955
- Pharmacists history, c. 1955
- Pratt Tumor Clinic, 1954-1956
- Property history, c. 1955
- Psychiatric history, c. 1955
- Public relations, 1937
- Staff rosters, 1891-1953
- Survey of public opinion, 1955
- Urology history, c. 1955
- Women’s Auxiliary of Schenectady County Medical Society history, 1909-1927
- X-ray history, c. 1955
Series 2: School of Nursing History and Administration
Folder:
- Affiliations, 1924-1928, 1950
- Alumnae Association members, 1953
- Alumnae Review, 1936-1938
- Alumnae rosters, c. 1957
- Annual Banquet of the Ellis Hospital Alumnae program, 1959
- Articles- nursing history, 1990
- Cap, 1953, 1970-1971
- Awards, 1911-1958
- Board of Managers, 1917, 1931-1953
- Board of Managers Secretary’s minutes, 1906-1920
- Board minutes, 1926-1929
- Board minutes, 1930-1934
- Board minutes, 1935-1939
- Board minutes, 1940-1943
- Board minutes, 1944-1945
- Bulletin, 1927, 1945
- Cadet Nurse Corps recruitment poster, 1944
- Capping and pinning ceremonies, 1949, 1982-1983
- Carrie E. Rohror scholarhip, 1935-1943
- Certificate of Incorporation, Constitution and Bylaws, 1948
- Christmas party, 1941
- Class of 1984
- Class picture guides, 1906-1924
- Class pictures, 1931-1950
- Class schedules, 1956-1957
- Commencement programs, 1938, 1944
- Constitutional bylaws, 1920, 1929, 1934, 1948, 1956
- Correspondence: The Honorable Alonzo P. Strong and Joseph W. Smitley, 1904-1911
- Faculty, 1907-1930
- Flag raising, 1954
- Gifts, 1918-1931
- Graduation pictures, 1981
- History, 1944, 1959, 1963
- Informational brochures, 1948, 1952
- Instructors, 1915-1930
- Landon, Mary, 1910
- Library, 1906-1921
- McPherson, Mary, 1942, 1945, 1961, 1990, undated
- Military service, c. 1948
- Minutes, Training School Board, 1927
- “More Than a Nurse,” undated
- Nelson, Alice, 1950s
- News clippings, 1923, 1925, 1927, 1929
- News clippings, 1933, 1935
- News clippings, 1941, 1943-1947
- News clippings, 1950-1954
- News clippings, 1955-1959
- News clippings, 1960-1961, 1963-1965, 1967-1969
- News clippings, 1970-1971
- News clippings, 1995, (SEE ALSO: Oversize Box 1)
- Nichols, Gladys L., 1953
- Nursing leaders, biographical sketches, undated
- Pageant programs, 1937-1938, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1972, 1974
- Pin, 1931, 1978
- Practical nurse course, undated
- Residence, c. 1980
- Russell Sage College, 1952, 1960
- Schenectady Chamber of Commerce, c. 1955
- Schenectady Public Schools Practical Nursing Course, 1955
- Scholarships and loans, 1940-1944, 1955
- School physician, 1933
- Smitley, Margaret McFarlane, 1953
- Student handbook, 1956, 1973
- Student Organization, c. 1980
- Uniforms, c. 1959
- Union College, 1947-1952
- Whitmore home history, c. 1959
Folder:
Oversized scrapbooks of news clippings and photographs compiled by Miss Nichols and Mrs. Yelverton
Folder:Oversized scrapbook of programs, flyers, news clippings and photographs, 1938-1944
Folder:
- Goldberger, I.H. and Grace T. Hallock. Health and Physical Fitness. Ginn and Company: Boston, 1943.
- Harsh, Charles M. and H. G. Schrickel. Personality Development and Assessment. The Ronald Press Company: New York, 1950.
- Thorpe, Louis P. and Barney Katz. The Psychology of Abnormal Behavior. The Ronald Press Company: New York, 1948.
- Trott, Lona L. American Red Cross Textbook on Red Cross Home Nursing. The Blakiston Company: Philadelphia, 1942.
- U.S. Office of Civilian Defense. Handbook of First Aid. U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, D.C., 1941.
Series 2: Sub-series 1: Lois Monroe Papers and Memorabilia
Folder:
- Photographs from “Revue” c. 1957
- State Board Scores; School Pin information
- Affiliation Information, Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, undated
- Recruitment Brochure, undated
- History of NYSNA 1901-1951; History of the American Red Cross, undated
- Lecture Notes: Fluids and Electrolytes; Nervous System; I.V. Therapy, c. 1954
- Lecture Notes: Medical Nursing, 1954
- Lecture Notes: Surgical Nursing, 1954
- Lecture Notes: Obstetrics and Neonatal Care, 1955
- Clinical Evaluations, 1955
- Student Papers, undated
- “Stroke” Conference, 1964
Text books and Nightingale Lamp
Series 3: Photographs
Folder:
- Aerial photo, 1967
- Album, c. 1957-1972
- Arnold, Louise, superintendent of Ellis, 1915
- Board of Managers, undated
- Capping, 1944, 1952, 1960
- Carl, C.W., undated
- Class photos, 1909, 1915
- Class photos, 1925-1928
- Class photos, 1932-1939
- Class photos, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949
- Class photos, 1952-1954, 1956, 1958, c. 1959
- Class photos, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, undated
- Class photos, c. 1970, 1971, 1972, 1976-1979
- Class photos, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986
Class photos, 1909, 1915, 1918, 1919, 1926, 1950s, (SEE ALSO: Oversize Box 1) - Classes, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1985 (SEE ALSO: Oversize Box 1)
- Conrad, nurse, 1950s
- Dances, 1940s, 1950s (SEE ALSO: Oversize Box 1)
- “Depold” yearbook photos, 1926, 1941, undated
- Doctors, identified, 1938
- Doctors, unidentified, 1960s
- Eigelbach and Meaney, Frances, 1940s
- Fifield, Sue, nurse, undated
- Fiorentino, Minnie, 1960s
- Miss. Friday, 1950s
- Gates, Alice, librarian, 1970s
- Gelhorn, Lois, alumna, c. 1950
- General Electric publicity photos, 1920s
- General Electric Research Laboratory, 1960s
- Gifford, Betsy, 1960s
- Graduation, 1956, 1981
- Groups, identified, 1938, 1950, 1966, 1970s, undated
- Groups, unidentified, 1970s, undated
- Hartman, W., pharmacist, c. 1960
- Miss Hemmond, student, 1950s
- Hibert, Catherine, 1950s
- Historic nursing photos, copies, undated
- Hospital Events, 1947, 1960s, 1970s, undated
- Hospital Exteriors, 1910, 1915, 1937, 1950s, 1964, 1976, 1980, undated
- Hospital Interiors, 1920s, 1938, 1940, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, undated
- Hospital staff, 1970s (SEE ALSO: Oversize Box 1)
Folder:
- 1. Mr. Jameson, dietician, c. 1920
- King, M.L., c. 1920
- McPherson, Mary, 1921, 1925, 1940, 1946, undated
- Miscellaneous, unidentified, 1940s
- Moffett, Dolores, Director of Nursing, c. 1970
- Morey, Leitha Sharron, Director of Students, 1965
- Nolan, Maureen, c. 1960
- Nurses, identified, 1920s, 1934, 1970s, 1980s, undated
- Nurses, unidentified, 1960s, 1970s, undated
- Open House, 1947
- Operations and examinations, 1950s, 1960s
- Patients, unidentified, 1980s
- Postcards, 1944, c. 1980
- “Return to Nursing” program, WMHT, 1960s
- Reunions, 1954, 1960s
- Richards, Gomer, doctor, 1937
- Riley, Faye, c. 1960
- Rohrer, Carrie, 1920
- Russell Sage College, 1955-1957
- Safety Committee, c. 1966
- Smith, C., undated
- Smith, Esther, instructor, undated
- Stone, undated
- Student activities, 1950s, 1960s
- Student groups and clubs, 1940s, 1956, 1960s
- Student show, 1956, 1964, 1966, 1972, undated (SEE ALSO: Oversize Box 1)
- Students, identified, 1950s, 1960s (SEE ALSO: Oversize Box 1)
- Students, unidentified, 1906, 1950s, 1960s, undated
- Dr. Sullivan, 1960s
- Training School Board, 1942, undated
- Training School events, 1950s, 1970, 1971
- Training School exteriors, 1960s
- Training School faculty, 1941
- Training School interiors, 1920s, 1940, 1950s, 1960s (SEE ALSO: Oversize Box 1)
- Treutter, Marie, instructor, 1950s, 1960s
- Van de Bogart, doctor, undated
- Whitmore Home, c. 1915, undated (SEE ALSO: Oversize Box 1)
- Whitmore Home Annex, 1987
- Wrenn, John M., 1970s
Folder:
- Contact sheets
- Negatives: 2 pages from scrapbook, undated
- Negatives: Class of 1907-1909, 1910-1912
- Negatives: Class of 1913-1915, 1919, 1920
- Negatives: Class of 1921 (2 copies), 1922-1925
- Negatives: Class of 1926-1930
- Negatives: Class of 1931 (yearbook pages)
- Negatives: Class of 1932, 1940
- Negatives: Class of 1950 (2), 1951, 1952, September 1952, 1954, 1955
- Negatives: Class photo and yearbook pages, undated
- Negatives: Dances, undated
- Negatives: Hospital exteriors, undated
- Negatives: Hospital interiors, undated
- Negatives: Hospital staff, undated
- Negatives: Lenita Mallory, Edith Jeannin Shelton, 1906
- Negatives: Mabel McGrath McParlton or Bertha Scrafford (includes original print), 1907
- Negatives: Schenectady Hospital Association Training School for Nurses pin, Ellis Hospital Alumnae pin
- Negatives: School of Nursing window display, undated
- Negatives: September 1947, March 1948, September 1948, March 1949 (2), September 1949 (2)
- Negatives: Yearbook pages, 1950
 Housed in individual folders.
Box 13 Slides  9 boxes of slides, most unidentified.
Folder:
- Series 1: News clippings, 1928, 1950s
- Series 2: News clippings, 1939, 1941, 1943, 1956
- Series 3: Classes, 1950s
- Series 3: Dances, 1940s
- Series 3: Hospital staff, unidentified, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s
- Series 3: Student show, 1974
- Series 3: Students, identified, 1948, 1953
- Series 3: Training school interiors, 1950s
- Series 3: “Union Street,” c. 1910
- Series 3: Whitmore Home, illustration, c. 1920
- Series 3: Charter Members of the Schenectady Hospital Association’s Training School for Nurses
- Series 3: Class photos, 1909, 1915, 1918, 1919, 1926, 1950s
- Series 3: Students, unidentified, 1950s
- Series 3: Training school annex and Whitmore, 1950s
Textile Box 1Â Â (Oversize Shelf) Â Various uniforms, including caps and aprons
White sweater worn by nursing students
Footnotes
- [1]Hart, Larry. Hospital on the Hill: a centennial history of Ellis Hospital, 1885-1985. Schenectady, NY: Ellis Hospital, 1985. p. 24.
- [2]“History of Ellis Hospital,” www.ellishospital.org/history.cfm, accessed 8/6/04.
- [3]Hart, p. 37.
- [4]Hart, p. 131.
- [5]Hart, p. 57-68.
- [6]Hart, p. 104.
- [7]“History of Ellis Hospital.”
- [8]Hart, p. 52-54.
- [9]Wilkin, Jeff, “Years of Caring,”Schenectady Gazette, 5/5/03.
- [10]“History of Ellis Hospital.”
- [11]“History of the School,” Box 3, Folder 23
- [12]Hart, 119-122.
- [13].”Tales of Old Dorp,”Schenectady Gazette, 12/15/73.
Revisions: | |
Gertrude B. Hutchinson | December 2008 |
July 2009 |
© 2001-2006 Foundation of the New York State Nurses Association, Inc.
© 2006-2017 Foundation of New York State Nurses, Inc.
Index code: MC28
Finding Guide: