SAINT THOMAS' HOSPITAL: NIGHTINGALE COLLECTION PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: H01/ST/NCPH
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: SAINT THOMAS' HOSPITAL: NIGHTINGALE COLLECTION PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
Date(s)	: 1785-1968
Level of description	: subfonds View parent record
Extent	: 5.6 linear metres
Name of creator(s)	: Nightingale Training School | St Thomas's Hospital

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

These prints and photographs form part of the Nightingale Collection deposited in the Greater London Record Office by the Nightingale School. They illustrate the life of Florence Nightingale and the work of the school of nursing, which she founded at Saint Thomas' Hospital in 1860. Many of the prints and photographs have been given to the Nightingale School by former 'Nightingales' and other benefactors. The collection is divided between the London Metropolitan Archives and the Florence Nightingale Museum at Saint Thomas' Hospital.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

The collection covers many subjects illustrating Florence Nightingale's life and her many interests, 1785-1968. The first part of the collection covers the Crimean War and the wards scenes of the hospitals at Scutari provide a graphic illustration of the improvements made by Miss Nightingale and her nurses. There are many images of Florence Nightingale herself, at various times throughout her life. However authentic likenesses are few, she disliked being photographed and shrank from publicity. Such was her renown that many portraits of her were published based on highly imaginative likenesses.

The bulk of the collection relates to Saint Thomas' Hospital and the Nightingale School and should be used in conjunction with the Saint Thomas' Hospital Photograph and Print Collection. The two collections partly duplicate and partly supplement each other. The hospital buildings are well recorded at Southwark, Surrey Gardens 1862-1871 and at Lambeth from 1871. This collection is also particularly rich in photographs of student nurses studying in the classrooms of Gassiot House and Riddell House, caring for patients on the wards, and relaxing together in their free time.

Special events in the history of the hospital and the Nightingale Training School are well represented. The opening of the hospital on the Lambeth site by Queen Victoria in 1871, the funeral of Florence Nightingale in 1910, the hut wards quickly erected to house wounded soldiers during the First World War, the opening of Riddell House in 1937 and the evacuation of students and staff during the Second World War. There is a series relating to the evacuation hospitals and images of the damage done to the hospital buildings during the blitz. There are also images of many other events and celebrations that took place including sports days, garden parties, royal visits and the building work of the 1960's and 1970's.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

In sections according to catalogue.

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

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

ACC/3740

Allied Materials

Related material:

See Florence Nightingale's entry in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography for a list of likenesses.

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:
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.

Date(s) of descriptions:
February 2009