Print 🖨 PDF 📄 eBook 📱

Historical Documents: Primary Nursing Resources

Compiled by Mary C. Vrtis, Ph.D., MSN, RN

This page contains links to copies of digital reprints of historical documents related to the evolution of the nursing profession over time. History matters. The digital reproduction technology methods used by providers such as Google Books allows nurse researchers to actually read the source materials written by nurse leaders and others who came before us.

As nursing continues to evolve and grow into an even stronger profession led by emerging generations of nurse leaders it is important that these resources continue to be available. Obviously we cannot include every reference here, but we have tried to include some of the earliest texts written by nurse leaders of the day and documents related to nurse education.

Title page of a book about the Institution of Kaiserswerth on the Rhine for the practical training of deaconesses, directed by Rev. Pastor Fliedner, detailing its support and care services including a hospital, schools, and a female penitentiary, printed in London in 1851.
The Institution of Kaiserswerth on the Rhine A Hospital, Infant and Industrial Schools and a Female Penitentiary (1851)Download
Cover of 'Notes on Nursing' by Florence Nightingale, brown textured background with golden lettering.
Nightingale, Florence (1860 edition) Notes on Nursing – What it is, What it is not.Download
Cover page of 'Notes on Hospitals' by Florence Nightingale, detailing papers presented to the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science in 1858.
Nightingale, Florence (1859). Notes on HospitalsDownload
Cover of the book 'Text-Book of Nursing' by Clara S. Weeks, featuring ornate gold lettering on a maroon background.

Clara Weeks Shaw was a nurse and this was likely the first nursing text written by a nurse with the first edition on 1885.

Weekx, Clara (1899). Textbook of NursingDownload
Title page of 'A Text-Book for Training Schools for Nurses' by P.M. Wise, M.D., featuring sections on physiology, hygiene, and nursing practices, published in 1896.
Wise (MD), P. M. (1896), A Textbook for Training Schools for NursesDownload
Title page of 'A History of Nursing', detailing the evolution of nursing systems, authored by M. Adelaide Nutting and Lavinia L. Dock, published in 1907.
Nutting, M. A., Dock, L. (1907) A History of NursingDownload
Book cover titled 'Makers of Nursing History' featuring portraits and sketches of prominent women, edited by Meta Rutter Pennock, published in 1928 by Lakeside Publishing Company.
Pennock, M. R. (1928) Makers of Nursing History Portraits and Pen Sketches of Fifty-nine Prominent WomenDownload
Cover of the June 1907 issue of 'The Trained Nurse and Hospital Review', featuring bold typography, a red cross symbol, and publication details.
The Trained Nurse and Hospital Review June 1907Download
Cover page of 'The Trained Nurse and Hospital Review' magazine, January 1915, featuring a prominent title, a cross emblem, and publishing details.
Tthe Trained Nurse and Hosjpital Review 1915Download
Cover of 'The Trained Nurse and Hospital Review' from July 1922, featuring an illustration of a nurse holding a bowl, with ornate architectural elements and text detailing the publication and a book by Bulkley.
The Trained Nurse and Hospital Review July 1922Download
Cover of 'Hospital Management' magazine, January 1920 issue, featuring title, volume, issue number, and article topics including the New Carson C. Peck Memorial Hospital and hospital census.
Hospital Management 1920 entire yearDownload
Cover page of the book 'First-Year Nursing' by Minnie Goodnow, R.N., detailing its purpose as a text for nursing pupils during their first year of hospital work, published in 1919.
Goodnow, M. (1919). First Year NursingDownload
Cadmus, Nancy E, RN 1922 A Manual of Obsterical NursingDownload
Cover page of the Bulletin of the School of Education at Indiana University, titled 'Investigation of Nursing as a Professional Opportunity for Girls' prepared by Florence E. Blazier, published in November 1924.
Blazier, F. E. (1924) Investigation of Nursing as a Professional Opportunity for GirlsDownload
Cover page of the proceedings for the 24th Annual Convention of the National League of Nursing Education, held in Cleveland, Ohio from May 7 to May 11, 1918.
National League of Nursing Education (1919) Proceedings of the Twenty-fourth Annual ConventionDownload
Title page of 'A Curriculum for Schools of Nursing', prepared by the Committee on Education of the National League of Nursing Education, Sixth Edition, revised 1927.
National League of Nursing Education 1927 A curriculun for schools of nursing – 6th editionDownload
A bulletin from the University of the State of New York, titled 'Course of Study and Syllabus for the Guidance of Nurse Training Schools' published on July 15, 1925. The document outlines the syllabus for nursing education and includes a table of contents with sections on university officials, board of examiners, nursing practice, and instructional schemes.
University if the State of NY Bulletin (1925), Course of Study and Syllabus for the Guidance of Nurse Training SchoolsDownload
Morse, M. (1919) First Lesson in Bacteriology for NursesDownload