IWU Digitized Nursing Archives

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The Droplite Alumni Newsletters, 1983-1994

Nathan C. Leith

The Archival Pieces that are in front of you are from the Alumni Newsletters named “The Droplite”. These Newsletters were written for the Brokaw Hospital’s Nursing Alumni and were sent out during the spring months of March and May. These Newsletters were used to inform the alumni of current events that were happening both in the Hospital and throughout the other alumni lives, such as Weddings, deaths, and any major events that have happened in the other alumni’s lives. In these Newsletters they would also talk about upcoming events and often include a handwritten letter or item from an alumni. These two newsletters are from May 1985 & May 1987 and talk about a wide range of events that took place.
Brokaw School of Nursing Student Handbook, circa 1976

Laura J. Mahlum

This pre-1976 nursing student handbook represents just one of many, spanning from the Brokaw Collegiate School of Nursing, 1976-1977, to the Illinois Wesleyan University School of Nursing Student Handbook, 2002-2003, housed in Tate Archives & Special Collections. Reading through a few of these, you can see the changes made over time, which demonstrate the evolution of nursing here at Illinois Wesleyan. The Brokaw handbook is only eight pages, while the one published in 2002 is twenty-eight, which makes sense as there were only twenty-two topics covered within those eight pages: all only having a few sentences underneath them. Over the years, the number of rules and regulations has increased tremendously. Things like clinical and student health policies were not nearly as detailed whereas the development of student employment and internships slowly appeared as the years went on.
A Critical Evaluation of the School of Nursing

Benjamin T. Michalowski

“A Critical Evaluation of the School of Nursing” is a Manual written by the Faculty of the School of Nursing in 1970. This manual overview's the creation of the Brokaw Hospital program and the five components' students must show in the professional program. Those being competence, social understanding, professional personality, enthusiasm for study and research awareness. This manual also includes the curricular requirements for nursing students, qualifications necessary for faculty appointments and promotions, the overview of the department budget including (Financial aid, tuition, and the upcoming Stevenson Hall building fund). Within the section for professors this evaluation overviews the qualifications, community activities, and course offered of every professor currently employed within the Nursing School.
Projection to Completion Clinical Program, 1959-61

Imani Horton

This document outlines the projected curriculum and clinical program for the Brokaw School of Nursing of Illinois Wesleyan University. The table outlines required course hours and practice hours based on class year, number of students projected to be in each class and number of clinical instructors needed to supervise students.
U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Recruitment Materials

Muhammad I. Freeman

This collection includes documents from several nurses applying to the Brokaw Hospital School of Nursing in Normal, Illinois during 1945 as part of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. It features application materials, rejection letters, textbook price lists, cadet release forms, and details about course offerings through IWU. Many applicants were denied Senior Cadet positions due to timing, and the documents outline the step-by-step process of entering nursing school, receiving training, and transitioning into the profession. Also includes lists of other institutions that would offer these nurses postgraduate education. It provides a fascinating glimpse into nursing education during WWII.
American Hospital Association Letter

Madison Reaber

This letter, written on August 18, 1943, by the American Hospital Association (AHA), was sent to hospital administrators to stress the urgent need for more nurses during World War II. It explains how there was a serious nursing shortage and encourages hospitals to help with recruitment efforts for the United States Cadet Nurse Corps, a program created under the Bolton Act. The AHA, along with the Catholic Hospital Association and the American Protestant Hospital Association, wanted hospitals to serve as information centers where potential nursing students could learn more about the program. The letter makes it clear that training more nurses was crucial for keeping people healthy, caring for the sick, and supporting the war effort. It also talks about how media, local organizations, and hospitals could help spread the word. The goal was to recruit 65,000 student nurses across the country, showing just how important it was for hospitals to take part in the campaign.
Budget for Basic Nursing Program, 1943-44

Cristian A. Schmidt

These documents explore the lived experiences of young women who joined the United States Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II, focusing on Brokaw Hospital in Normal, Illinois. Using primary documents from 1943–1944, this project highlights the emotional, academic, and financial realities of becoming a wartime nurse. It reflects on the personal commitment, national service, and intense training endured by nursing students. Through the documents of government records this project tells the story of how these women helped shape the future of nursing in America.
Suggestions on Becoming a Senior Nurse Corps Cadet

Ryan McCoy

The Cadet Nurse Corps Program was a program established in 1943 in order to refill the nursing shortage by supplying students with potential scholarship opportunities and stipends through the school they currently attend. It was considered somewhat of an internship program but through the Division of Nurse Education within the U.S Public Health Services. This collection documents such as federal employment applications, general suggestions and guidelines for those enrolling in the program, and information used by the directors of the nursing schools in order to concentrate the application process and understand what the schools and programs are looking for in possible applicants and future nurses.
A Diary of Tena Tarman, January 1941 to December 1945

Sebastian Rasquin

This is a series of journal entries from first liutenant, Tena Tarman, during the events of World War Two. The entries refer to her time working in medical tents and medical facilities on the battlefield. Also talks about important events that occured during the war that may have affected her nursing job. Tena was a nurse from the Brokaw School of Nursing, which is now known as Bromenn, a well-known facility here in Bloomington. This medical facility is constantly visited by IWU students in need of special care and the building has been a staple in the nursing field here in town.
Peoria State Hospital School of Psychiatric Nursing: Ward Manual

Dagan M. Turcotte-Cutkomp

This document is the Peoria State Hospital School of Psychiatric Nursing: Ward Manual. The owner; Evelyn Cornelius Lantz '41, was a nursing student with Illinois Wesleyan's partner at the time Brokaw Hospital. Assigned to the recently built State Hospital in Peoria for clinicals, Lantz used this manual to take notes on her patients, marking the best types of care for each mental affliction.
“National Hospital Day” by Macie N. Knapp

Mason M. Funk

“National Hospital Day” is a pamphlet written by Macie N. Kapp to spread awareness to the Illinois Wesleyan student body on the important contributions nurses have made in the modern hospital landscape. Knapp, who was the Brokaw Hospital Superintendent at the time, wrote this pamphlet in observance of the 1937 National Hospital Day which takes place on May 12th. In this pamphlet, Knapp emphasizes how the implementation of Florence Nightingale’s values in the nursing field has improved the public attitude towards hospitals by making it a welcoming and reliable environment.
Maude Essig World War I Diary

Chase Tomecki

The World War I Diary of Maude Essig depicts her experiences as a nurse in Base Hospital #32 overseas in Contrexeville, France. Maude saw patients from many countries in all conditions while there, some having sustained mustard gas burns, gun shot wounds, and shrapnel lodging. She depicts life in and out of the hospital and gives major insight into the life of a nurse during war.