Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1860-2008 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
13.6 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
On Nov. 9th, 1855 a public meeting was held in Willis's Rooms, King Street, St James to inaugurate a public subscription in gratitude for Florence Nightingale's work in the Crimean War. £44,000 was raised, a committee was set up to administer this fund, and on March 13th 1860, A. H. Clough wrote on behalf of the Nightingale Fund Council to the President, Treasurer and Governors of Saint Thomas' Hospital about the possibility of founding a training school for nurses at the hospital. This was Florence Nightingale's idea as to how the fund could best be used. She was particularly attracted to Saint Thomas' Hospital because Mrs Wardroper, the Matron, had already initiated a programme of reform in 1855. Mrs Wardroper became the first Superintendant of the Training School, remaining at the hospital until 1887 and it was largely due to her efforts that the school was such a success in the early years.
The first fifteen Probationers arrived on July 9th 1860. They were paid a salary of £10 during the one year's course, with board and lodging provided. At the end of the year, if they were approved, they were entered on the Register of Certified Nurses, and employment was found for them. If they stayed in employment for a complete year after their training they could earn gratuities of £3 and £5. Instruction during the course was mainly practical, with the Probationers working in the hospital wards under close supervision. Considerable emphasis was placed on high moral character. From 1867 there were two classes of entry to the school: 1) Ordinary Probationers, who entered on the basis of a small salary and free board, as above and 2) Lady Probationers or Special probationers. These were trained specially for posts as Superintendents and Matrons of other institutions on completion of their training. They paid a sum of £30 for the year's tuition, and board and lodging.
One of the particular features of the Nightingale Training School was that nurses were trained not merely for Saint Thomas' Hospital, but with the clear intention that they be sent out in groups to other institutions to undertake nursing reform. The school had only been open two years when the first group went to Liverpool Royal Infirmary, and subsequent groups went as far as Canada and Australia, as well as to many British hospitals.
Another important and distinctive feature of the Nightingale system was that the Probationers were provided with board and lodging. When the new hospital opened in Lambeth in 1871, special provision was made for the Nightingale Home. In 1872, a Home Sister was appointed for the first time. She undertook part of the tuition, a Sister Tutor not being appointed until 1913. In 1937 Riddell House was opened as a new Nurses' Home, a present to Saint Thomas' Hospital and the Nightingale Training School by Lady Riddell, as a memorial to Lord Riddell.
Repository
Archival history
H01/ST/NTS 1860-2008 subfonds 13.6 linear metres Nightingale Training School , St Thomas's Hospital
On Nov. 9th, 1855 a public meeting was held in Willis's Rooms, King Street, St James to inaugurate a public subscription in gratitude for Florence Nightingale's work in the Crimean War. £44,000 was raised, a committee was set up to administer this fund, and on March 13th 1860, A. H. Clough wrote on behalf of the Nightingale Fund Council to the President, Treasurer and Governors of Saint Thomas' Hospital about the possibility of founding a training school for nurses at the hospital. This was Florence Nightingale's idea as to how the fund could best be used. She was particularly attracted to Saint Thomas' Hospital because Mrs Wardroper, the Matron, had already initiated a programme of reform in 1855. Mrs Wardroper became the first Superintendant of the Training School, remaining at the hospital until 1887 and it was largely due to her efforts that the school was such a success in the early years.
The first fifteen Probationers arrived on July 9th 1860. They were paid a salary of £10 during the one year's course, with board and lodging provided. At the end of the year, if they were approved, they were entered on the Register of Certified Nurses, and employment was found for them. If they stayed in employment for a complete year after their training they could earn gratuities of £3 and £5. Instruction during the course was mainly practical, with the Probationers working in the hospital wards under close supervision. Considerable emphasis was placed on high moral character. From 1867 there were two classes of entry to the school: 1) Ordinary Probationers, who entered on the basis of a small salary and free board, as above and 2) Lady Probationers or Special probationers. These were trained specially for posts as Superintendents and Matrons of other institutions on completion of their training. They paid a sum of £30 for the year's tuition, and board and lodging.
One of the particular features of the Nightingale Training School was that nurses were trained not merely for Saint Thomas' Hospital, but with the clear intention that they be sent out in groups to other institutions to undertake nursing reform. The school had only been open two years when the first group went to Liverpool Royal Infirmary, and subsequent groups went as far as Canada and Australia, as well as to many British hospitals.
Another important and distinctive feature of the Nightingale system was that the Probationers were provided with board and lodging. When the new hospital opened in Lambeth in 1871, special provision was made for the Nightingale Home. In 1872, a Home Sister was appointed for the first time. She undertook part of the tuition, a Sister Tutor not being appointed until 1913. In 1937 Riddell House was opened as a new Nurses' Home, a present to Saint Thomas' Hospital and the Nightingale Training School by Lady Riddell, as a memorial to Lord Riddell.
B08/045
Papers of the Nightingale Training School, Saint Thomas' Hospital, 1860-1981. Administrative papers including agreements with the Nightingale Fund Council, 1860-1937; regulations for training hospital nurses, 1872-1938; Matron's reports, 1883-1949; Matron's correspondence, 1887-1978; Matron's papers relating to the Royal British Nurses Association, the College of Nursing, and the British College of Nurses, 1911-1934; papers relating to staffing, 1902-1955; papers relating to the Training School buildings, 1922-1937. Records relating to students including pupil records, 1860-1966; Nightingale Training School prospectuses, 1920-1968; Training School syllabuses, 1873-1930; duties of probationers, 1874-1937; papers regarding the admission of probationers, 1860-1930; lecture notebooks, 1873-1921; student's ward diaries, 1873-1891; examination papers, 1900-1920; samples of certificates awarded by the Training School, 1900s; Florence Nightingale's annual addresses to probationers, 1872-1900. Financial accounts, 1860-1925; programmes for special events, 1859-1965, with related correspondence and other papers; recollections of former probationers, 1860-1954; papers regarding matrons, 1866-1938, including Mrs Sarah Wardroper and Dame Alicia Lloyd Still; papers regarding Nightingale Training School nurses, 1871-1972; papers relating to the Nightingale Fellowship, 1927-1981; papers and publications regarding the history of the Training School, 1872-1971, papers regarding events and special occasions, 1935-1965. Papers of the Nightingale Fund Council, 1855-1950.
In sections according to catalogue.
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Copyright: Depositor
English
Fit
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. February 2009 St Thomas' Hospital , London x Infirmary of the Augustinian Priory of St Mary Overy , 1106-1215 x 5th London (City of London) General Hospital , 1915-1919 Nightingale Training School , St Thomas's Hospital Carter , Henry Bonham- , 1827-1921 , barrister and company director Still , Dame , Alicia Frances Jane Lloyd- , 1869-1944 , nurse Nurses Nightingale , Florence , 1820-1910 , reformer of hospital nursing Paramedical personnel Educational reform Educational development Higher science education Medical education Nursing education History Personal history Medical history Training Vocational training Medical training Nightingale Fund Council British College of Nurses Royal British Nurses Association Royal College of Nursing x College of Nursing Lambeth London England UK Western Europe Southwark Hertfordshire Surrey Gardens Newington Europe Medical personnel Personnel People by occupation People
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
B08/045
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of the Nightingale Training School, Saint Thomas' Hospital, 1860-1981. Administrative papers including agreements with the Nightingale Fund Council, 1860-1937; regulations for training hospital nurses, 1872-1938; Matron's reports, 1883-1949; Matron's correspondence, 1887-1978; Matron's papers relating to the Royal British Nurses Association, the College of Nursing, and the British College of Nurses, 1911-1934; papers relating to staffing, 1902-1955; papers relating to the Training School buildings, 1922-1937. Records relating to students including pupil records, 1860-1966; Nightingale Training School prospectuses, 1920-1968; Training School syllabuses, 1873-1930; duties of probationers, 1874-1937; papers regarding the admission of probationers, 1860-1930; lecture notebooks, 1873-1921; student's ward diaries, 1873-1891; examination papers, 1900-1920; samples of certificates awarded by the Training School, 1900s; Florence Nightingale's annual addresses to probationers, 1872-1900. Financial accounts, 1860-1925; programmes for special events, 1859-1965, with related correspondence and other papers; recollections of former probationers, 1860-1954; papers regarding matrons, 1866-1938, including Mrs Sarah Wardroper and Dame Alicia Lloyd Still; papers regarding Nightingale Training School nurses, 1871-1972; papers relating to the Nightingale Fellowship, 1927-1981; papers and publications regarding the history of the Training School, 1872-1971, papers regarding events and special occasions, 1935-1965. Papers of the Nightingale Fund Council, 1855-1950.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
In sections according to catalogue.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright: Depositor
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
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Notes area
Note
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Description control area
Description identifier
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Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English