Preview
Contributor
Tate Archives & Special Collections
Contributor Institution
Illinois Wesleyan University
Creation Date
1947
Document Type
Image
Description
The items below are from Ruth Hunter '51 including her nametag, a series of nursing pins, a Gideon Bible, and a sliding metric converter/obstetrics calendar. Ruth was a student during the time of Brokaw School of Nursing. These items tell the story behind the religious changes in nursing and the significance of the pins throughout nursing school.
Primary Source Analysis
Nursing pins have held an important significance to nurses for more than one thousand years ago. It is a symbol of the knowledge and dedication it takes to become a nurse. Like mentioned in The Nursing Pin by Evelyn Lantz, she describes the different parts of our specific Illinois Wesleyan nursing pin. This includes the Cross of St. George which stands for unselfish service. This lays in a pattee cross which symbolizes a shield to protect the helpless. The blue circle surrounding the crosses stands for truth and loyalty in a never-ending circle. The other pins donated by Ruth Hunter ‘51 are service pins, most likely signifying the 4 years of service done at the Brokaw School of Nursing.
Previously, Wesleyan had been associated with the Methodist Church. This shows in the gifting of the Gideon Bible to nursing students when they came to Wesleyan. Currently Wesleyan is no longer affiliated with the Methodist Church and bibles are no longer given to students in their first year. However, some religious symbols are still present to this day, like the crosses on the nursing pin.
Rights
For rights information, contact Tate Archives & Special Collections at archives@iwu.edu.
Source
18-7/3/2, 7-5/6/5, 13-1
Keywords
nursing, nursing pins, nursing tools