Introduction
The archival collections, rare books, and publications described in this guide are part of the History of Nursing Archives, a sub-section of the Boston University Libraries Special Collections.
The History of Nursing Archives was established on February 16, 1966 by the Nursing Archives Associates, with the help of a grant from the United States Public Health Service and the support of the Boston University School of Nursing. Nursing historian Mary Ann Garrigan, a driving force behind the creation of the HNA, was its first curator, working to develop the archives within the Boston University Department of Special Collections. The HNA rapidly grew to include the proceedings of nursing organizations; the records of many schools of nursing, including class lists, photographs and course listings; and the papers of many notable nurses, including one of the largest collections of original letters written by Florence Nightingale, which are also available through the Boston University Digital Library. The material ranges from the nineteenth century to the present day, covering a wide ranges of topics related to nurses, nursing education and practice, and public health. While the BU School of Nursing closed in 1987, the Nursing Archives Associates remains active, working to grow the knowledge base of the nursing profession and the context in which it grew and flourished. Likewise, the History of Nursing Archives still serves as an important resource for the nursing profession.
Overview
The History of Nursing Archives, part of the Special Collections department at the Boston University Libraries, contains significant archival collections, printed volumes, periodicals, and digital resources pertaining to the history of nursing and public health. This guide is intended to make these holdings easier to access.
- Archival Collections in this guide include the papers and collections of relevant individuals and organizations, all held in the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center. Please note that there is more material in the Center that pertains to the topics of medicine, nurses and nursing, and public health, so we encourage you to search the Boston University Special Collections and Archives ArchivesSpace for additional resources.
- Selected Books and Periodicals include relevant books and periodicals, focusing on items both specifically available in the Special Collections Rare Book repository and related to the Archival Collections above. Many more items can be found by searching the Boston University Libraries Online Catalog.
The guide is divided into nine sections:
- Nightingale and Early Nursing
- Nursing in the World Wars
- Nursing Education and Administration
- Boston University School of Nursing
- Mental Health Nursing
- Public Health Nursing
- International Nursing
- Professional Associations
- Selected Books and Periodicals
Several papers and collection overlap these basic categories, so you are encouraged to explore the contents of the archival materials.
For more information on accessing these resources, please read our Guidelines for Access and Use and Visiting the Gotlieb Center.
