Title
Outlines of Nursing History
Author
Minnie Goodnow, R.N.
Image
Description
This sixth edition of Outlines of Nursing History by Minnie Goodnow offers a concise yet thorough history of the nursing profession. Goodnow traces the roots of nursing from ancient traditions through Florence Nightingale’s reforms and the professionalization of training schools in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
This copy includes an ownership inscription from Helen Sibrel Eyre, Deaconess Hospital, ’38, suggesting it was actively used by a nursing student or professional during the period.
Condition
Green cloth hardcover with gilt lettering on the spine
Binding intact with minor edge wear
Interior pages clean, with some marginalia and notes
Ownership inscription and date on front endpaper
Gallery
Historical context
Minnie Goodnow (1860–1935) was both a nurse and educator, and her texts were widely adopted in nursing schools across America. This edition appeared just before the outbreak of World War II, when the demand for trained nurses expanded dramatically.
Curious Facts, Ephemera, and Trivia
Goodnow’s works helped standardize nursing education in the United States.
The book devotes a full section to Florence Nightingale’s later work, beyond her wartime service, emphasizing her role in shaping public health and nursing education.
Copies with personal inscriptions like this one provide insight into the lives of student nurses in the 1930s.
Excerpt
“The work of Florence Nightingale extended far beyond her famous service in the Crimean War; she remained active for decades in education and reform.”
Why it is in the Cabinet
This volume captures the moment when nursing was recognized as both a profession and a discipline of study. Its provenance — linking directly to a 1930s Deaconess Hospital student — grounds the book in lived nursing history, making it a valuable artifact of both education and healthcare heritage.
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