Another family photo -- any guesses on age?

This photo is of my grandmother in her registered nurse uniform. I can't tell how old she was here, so don't know if it was taken in New London, CT, where she grew up or in California where she moved as a young woman.

She did her nursing training in NYC, so it's possible it's from there, too... though I think it's awfully countryish-looking for NYC even in those days.

Does anyone have thoughts about the age of the uniform?

 

When was she born? Also, does this have a postcard back?

 

It's a really small photo, about 2" x 3", so no postcard back.

My grandmother was born in 1884 in Russia and they came to the U.S. when she was four. They lived in NYC until the 1890s, then moved to New London. I think she became a nurse somewhere around 1905.

I did more Googling to look at nurses' uniforms and a couple in this photo from 1916 looked the closest...
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/gallery/nursing_uniforms_through_years?pg=2

I'm thinking my grandmother's cap and uniform look softer, though, which make me think they might be a bit earlier, like 1905-1910? From what I saw on the web, it's almost like her uniform is transitional between Victorian and the 20s.

When were wide belts popular? I'm wondering if that would help date it.

 

Pat P, because your grandmother does not have a stripe (or stripes) on her nursing cap, I wonder if you could do some research on the history/use of stripes to designate between "years" of nursing training and the ultimate graduation as a (registered?) nurse. I "think" stripes on nursing caps go back a long time but . . .???

 

Good idea to research the stripes... thanks!

 

From what I saw on the web, apparently the stripes weren't used by all hospitals.

I only found one image of a nurse wearing a cap that looked like my grandmother's, and it was from 1909, so maybe that's around when the photo was taken.

 

Not all nursing schools used stripes. If they did, usually a student cap didn't have a stripe or had a stripe of one of the school's colors. Upon graduation when they became a RN, the stripe was changed to black. Then there were schools that added a stripe to the student nurse cap for each year of study. When they graduated, the stripes were removed and they wore only white caps.

I have heard and read that the custom of a black stripe on some caps was supposedly in remembrance of Florence Nightingale, but doubt that has ever been proven.

--- Susan

 

Thanks for the info, Susan. After looking at images on the web, my impression is that the stripes were generally used later than this. Someone said the stripes started appearing in the 40s, but I don't know if that's accurate.

 

My initial impression was the 'teens. Something about the style of her hair and the dress. And your link to the photo from 1916 does have uniforms that looks close. But also, the type of photo it is... is the paper the same weight as a postcard, or is it thinner? My impression is that in the first decade of the 20th century there were not many photos that were not postcards and not card mounted that also had a light border around the photo as a snapshot does. I'm still learning about this, though, so am not sure.

 

Thanks, Fig. The paper is thinner than postcard stock, but thicker than our modern photocopy paper.

I have other small photos about this size from circa 1918 (going by my mother's age in the photos), but they seem to be from a different series.

I have other old photos I haven't looked through yet, so I may find more clues. In the meantime, I'm going to assume this one was taken somewhere between 1910 and 1919.

Again, thanks!

 

It looks like she may have been in Arkansas because she isn't wearing any shoes.

 

It looks like early spring - no leaves on the trees - but warm because she's got bare arms. Is there a small house in the background just to the left of the dog's head? I clicked on the photo but it doesn't enlarge. Unless she was in northern Calif. I'd say she was still in NE/NY

 

Oops, sorry Bev, didn't see your reply until now. Good points and good eye! Those are probably dandelions in the grass, which would also point to it being spring.

I just looked at the photo under a loupe and there is a house in the distance. It looks like there are two buildings, with a larger house above the dog's head and smaller building to the left of the his ear. I'm not sure if it's a smaller house or an outbuilding.

I have the pin my grandmother was given in 1908 from Beth Israel Hospital in NYC, when she was 24. I don't know if it was an award given while she was a student or upon graduation. Here are photos of the pin in case anyone's interested...





I don't know what to do with the pin. Neither I nor any of her other three grandchildren have had kids, so there are no younger relatives for me to give it to.

 

Hi Pat,
Same problem here, I should sell some of the stuff but I am hoping that one of my nephews gets married and his daughter would like it.
greg

 

There aren't even any nieces or nephews that I know, or any degree of cousins, either.

I did geneological research in the past year, and was surprised to find my grandmother had quite a few siblings and nieces and nephews. But I only knew one of her brothers, who was single by the time I was born, and don't remember her mentioning the others. Nor do I remember my mother ever telling me she had other aunts and uncles.

Why my grandmother didn't see her relatives will probably remain a mystery me, unless I try contacting the remaining ones and they know the family history. I could see from census records that at the end of my great grandmother's life she lived with my grandmother, so they weren't estranged.

 

On another thread it was mentioned about an old photo..." how could the family sell this ? " .......well , there's one answer !

 

Pat, i'd say frame the photo with the pin.....

no matter where it goes....it's be easy to identify...

 

Pat, found this Beth Israel Hospital Nursing badge for sale online. Here's what it says:

---------------------------------------------
"Beth Israel Hospital Training School for Nurses, New York, USA, 1911 Jewish Nurses Gold Qualification Named Badge.

A rare turn of the 20th century 1911 highest award gold medal for the 'Beth Israel Hospital', 'Star of David' symbol with Hebrew inscription within a 'For Proficiency in Theory and Practice in Nursing' title surround and suspended from a bar 'Beth Israel Hospital Training School for Nurses', the reverse impressed "14K" and inscribed "Janett Lander Nicol 1911 R.N." Very good condition, retaining original pin fittings incorporating safety catch.
Height 34mm.

Beth Israel Hospital was formed in 1890 by a group of 40 Orthodox Jews, it was set up to serve New York's Jewish immigrants, the name 'Beth Israel' is Hebrew for "House of Israel".


Code: 53635 Price: 350.00 GBP"
-----------------------------------------------------

Nowwww, let's see if I can get you to the page. There is no specific webpage address for it. It is on page 5, 14th down on the "Nursing: Hospital Badges."
http://www.sallysbadges.com/shop.php?c=5

Wait a minute, if you put the code number 53635 in the search box at top left of a page, it should take you directly to the badge. Also entering Beth Israel in the search box will take you to it also.

--- Susan

 

Lady, I'm not seeing the 14k or RN......maybe there was a change to the medals by 1911 ?