The Brokaw School of Nursing Scrapbook By Evelyn Cornelius Lantz ‘41

The Brokaw School of Nursing Scrapbook was created by Evelyn Cornelius Lantz, Class of 1941. Evelyn, a nursing major at IWU, graduated from the Brokaw School of Nursing, which was founded at what is now the Carle BroMenn Regional Medical Center. Her scrapbook contains newspaper clippings and other artifacts that highlight the history of the nursing department, spanning from her time at the university until her death in 2011.
The page on display includes pictures of Evelyn at the 1984 Homecoming at IWU, where the university celebrated 25 years since the transition from the Brokaw School of Nursing to the IWU School of Nursing. Other photos feature Evelyn next to a nurse instructor cadet uniform and attending the dedication ceremony for a plaque located in Stevenson Hall. This plaque honors Maude F. Essig, the director of the Brokaw School of Nursing, and acknowledges the graduates from the school, who were part of its history from 1902 until the transition to the Illinois Wesleyan School of Nursing in 1961.
The plaque recognizes Maude Essig’s contributions to the school, her students, and the field of nursing. It also serves to honor the legacy of the Brokaw School of Nursing and its graduates, whose excellence continues to be upheld by the IWU School of Nursing

Following her graduation from Illinois Wesleyan University and the Brokaw School of Nursing, Evelyn Cornelius Lantz (Class of 1941) compiled a remarkable scrapbook that now serves as both a personal keepsake and a historical archive. This lovingly curated collection preserves decades of the school’s evolution through newspaper clippings, photographs, and handwritten notes. Through her scrapbook, Evelyn not only commemorates her own journey in nursing but also documents major milestones in the development of the Brokaw School of Nursing and the accomplishments of its alumni.
The scrapbook includes numerous articles celebrating alumni achievements, faculty appointments, and program expansions. Evelyn paid close attention to changes within the School of Nursing, including the hiring of new professors and administrators, and important structural transitions, such as the School’s move into the Science Hall, a project made possible by generous donations from Hazel Buck Ewing. Evelyn also documented the dedication of Edgar M. Stevenson Hall, named in honor of an IWU graduate and key figure in the school’s history, and referenced a Wesleyan telecast that promoted nursing education to a broader audience. One newspaper headline noted the rising enrollment in IWU’s nursing program, while another discussed “The Coed Nurse,” reflecting a shifting cultural landscape.
Among the scrapbook’s more personal highlights is a photograph located on page one, capturing Evelyn and her roommate Elenor Hoose in their third-floor northwest dormer room at the Brokaw Hospital School of Nursing Residence during their early days as "probies", a term for first-year nursing students. As juniors and seniors, the two moved to a second-floor room, continuing their friendship and shared academic journey.
In addition to her historical clippings and program updates, Evelyn included cherished photos from many of the class reunions she attended over the years. These snapshots serve as a testament to the enduring friendships formed at Brokaw and her lifelong connection to the school. For a deeper look inside Evelyn’s scrapbook and the legacy it preserves, view the timeline below.