Tag: nursing

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Start Near, Go Far: the Prairie State College Archive Collection

With summer just around the corner, the IDHH is pleased to feature the Archive Collection from one of our newest contributors, Prairie State College. A two-year community college founded in 1957 as Bloom Township Junior College, the college offered its first classes in 1958 in the basement of the First Christian Church in Chicago Heights. From these humble beginnings, Prairie State College has emerged as a vital part of the Chicago Heights community, now spanning 130 acres and serving over 20 different communities in the diverse area once known as “the Crossroads of the Nation”. The first community college in Illinois to guarantee that all credits would transfer to other colleges and universities in the state, Prairie State College now offers degrees and certificates in more than 100 fields of study, from liberal arts subject areas to technical and career disciplines. 

The extensive Archive Collection at Prairie State College provides a look at the rich history of the community college, from its earliest days as Bloom Township Junior College and into the 21st century. Of particular note are items in the collection that focus on the various technical and career programs available at the college. Images of students working under car hoods, on dental patients’ mouths, and with nursing equipment reflect the practical experiences of students in the Automotive Technology, Dental Hygiene, and Nursing programs respectively. In addition to these photographs, the Archive Collection contains items featuring the expansion of the campus and construction of campus buildings, the day-to-day events and happenings of the college, and the achievements and recognition of Prairie State College students. 

The IDHH warmly welcomes Prairie State College, and we hope you enjoy perusing their collection as much as we do! Here are a few of our favorite items:

color photo of several male students in distance working on machines in the welding shop
Prairie State College Welding Students Working at the Welding Shop 1981. 1981. Prairie State College. Archive Collection. Courtesy of Prairie State College.
black and white photo of two EMT students performing CPR on a mannequin while other students sit in desks and observe
Prairie State College EMT students are performing CPR in class, ca. 1987. 1987. Prairie State College. Archive Collection. Courtesy of Prairie State College.
black and white photo of a male student working on a machine in the autoshop
Prairie State College Student Working in autoshop 80’s. 1984. Prairie State College. Archive Collection. Courtesy of Prairie State College.
color photo of a gloved and masked dental hygiene student performing a dental cleaning on a patient
Prairie State College Dental Hygiene student is working on a patient. 2004. Prairie State College. Archive Collection. Courtesy of Prairie State College.
black and white photo of a male student taking notes in front of mechanical technology while a male teacher stands nearby and demonstrates the machines
Prairie State College Mechanical technology and manufacturing program, ca. 1987. 1987. Prairie State College. Archive Collection. Courtesy of Prairie State College.
color photo of the Prairie State College Main Campus building in fall
PSC Main Campus Fall 1998. September 1, 1998. Prairie State College. Archive Collection. Courtesy of Prairie State College.

Want to see more? 

Visit the IDHH to view even more items from Prairie State College.

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New Nursing Education Collection: the History of Methodist College

Healthcare providers play a critical role in caring for patients and saving lives, especially during a pandemic. For roughly a year now, these front-line workers have continued the dedication and sacrifice of the healthcare profession, putting themselves at risk for COVID-19 while taking care of their patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities around the world.

To celebrate these healthcare providers, the IDHH welcomes our new contributor Methodist College and their History of Methodist College collection. Now a four-year, private, not-for-profit college, Methodist College was established in 1900 as a nurse training program by the deaconesses of the Methodist Episcopal church in Peoria. The History of Methodist College collection reflects the growth of this nurse training program into a four-year college, with over 1,200 items that include class groups, study sessions, diplomas, student bulletins, and patient care throughout the last century.

Here are a few of our favorite items from the collection:

black and white photo of nursing students sitting at tables and studying in the library, with a "QUIET" sign in the background.
Student Nurses in Nurses Library. April 1, 1953. Methodist College. History of Methodist College. Courtesy of Methodist College.
black and white photo of a group of 1950s nursing students walking outside a building holding books and binders.
A Day in Nurses Training. June 1, 1950. Methodist College. History of Methodist College. Courtesy of Methodist College.
color photo of a group of nursing students circa 1980s, of varying gender and race.
Unknown Group. [n. d.]. Methodist College. History of Methodist College. Courtesy of Methodist College.
black and white photo of 1940s nursing students gathered around a bed as an instructor demonstrates some technique on a mannequin in the bed.
Bedside Demonstration. 1943. Methodist College. History of Methodist College. Courtesy of Methodist College.
black and white photo of early 20th century class of eight nursing students in uniform.
Class Photo 1902. 1902. Methodist College. History of Methodist College. Courtesy of Methodist College.
color photo of a large class of modern nursing students, some in scrubs and other in street clothes.
Class Group Photo. [n. d.]. Methodist College. History of Methodist College. Courtesy of Methodist College.

Want to see more?

Browse the full History of Methodist College collection.

View more items in the IDHH related to Nursing and Healthcare.

To learn more about Methodist College, visit Methodist College’s site.

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Nurses at the Graham Hospital School of Nursing

black and white photo of nursing students in dresses standing in front of the school building.
Graham Hospital School of Nursing students. 1946. Graham Hospital School of Nursing Library. Images from the Past. Permission to display given by Graham Hospital School of Nursing Library.

Reports from across the country describe the effort of nurses as they continue to care for patients sick with Covid-19 and put themselves at risk. Thousands of nurses have themselves been infected with the virus Covid-19 during the pandemic while caring for patients in hospitals and nursing homes.

The Graham Hospital School of Nursing Library collections is the only collection in the IDHH dedicated entirely to nursing and nurse education. It contains 2,000 images and interviews from nurses who trained at the Graham Hospital School of Nursing in the 20th century, as well as images of and information about Graham Hospital, the history of medicine and the Graham Hospital and Canton Illinois community, as well as nursing and nursing education. Below are a few images. Thanks to nurses in Illinois and across the country.

black and white photo of a nursing student holding a flower arrangement outside a patient's door.
Graham Hospital School of Nursing Student Delivering Flowers. 1951. Graham Hospital School of Nursing Library. Images from the Past. Permission to display given by Graham Hospital School of Nursing Library.
black and white photo of two female nursing students wearing masks and washing their hands.
Graham Hospital School of Nursing Students Scrubbing. 1963.Graham Hospital School of Nursing Library. Images from the Past. Permission to display given by Graham Hospital School of Nursing Library.
black and white photo yellowed with age of female nursing students sitting in desks taking notes.
Graham Hospital School of Nursing Students in Classroom. 1947. Graham Hospital School of Nursing Library. Images from the Past. Permission to display given by Graham Hospital School of Nursing Library.
black and white photo of a female nursing student sitting in a chair next to a male patient in a wheelchair.
Graham Hospital School of Nursing student with patient. 1945. Graham Hospital School of Nursing Library. Images from the Past. Permission to display given by Graham Hospital School of Nursing Library.

I hope that all the reader’s of the Highlights blog and everyone surfing the IDHH and DPLA are safe. You can see more on the IDHH from the Graham Hospital School of Nursing Library or more on nursing from the rest of our contributors.