NLM Traveling Exhibit at the Lamar Soutter Library

Posted by benniefinch on December 6th, 2023 Posted in: Blog, Graphic Medicine, NLM Resources
Tags: National Library of Medicine

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The UMASS Chan Medical School Lamar Soutter Library (LSL) is currently hosting the NLM Traveling Exhibit Pictures of Nursing: The Zwerdling Postcard Collection. This exhibit uses historic postcard images to demonstrate some of the history of the nursing profession as well as cultural values of the last century as it relates to nursing.

The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School is the home of the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing. In partnership with the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing and other local partners, the Lamar Soutter Library has been working to provide an array of programming in support of the NLM Traveling Exhibit. The Public Health Museum in Tewksbury, MA lent a cape, nursing caps, school pins and ring, and a portrait for the library to display.  LSL staff created a timeline of the history of the School of Nursing, curated collections related to the history of nursing, created a libguide about the exhibit, and are hosting virtual and in-person book clubs within the UMASS Chan community to discuss the graphic memoir, Taking Turns by M.K. Czerwiec.

The Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing presented a Nursing History Panel Discussion featuring a keynote speaker Dr. Barbara Poremba, Professor Emeritus from Salem State, who shared stories of nurses in the Halifax Explosion, 1918 Pandemic, the Cocoanut Grove and WWII Nurses, in particular Cadet Nurses. Dr. Poremba shared about the development of Cadet Nurses during WWII and their impact on the field of nursing.

Two other speakers shared their experience in nursing, Janet Fraser Hale PhD, RN, FNP, Professor Emeritus of Nursing and Medicine, regarding her experience of being an Army Nurse and Paulette Seymour-Route, PhD, RN, Professor Emeritus who shared her experience of nursing in Worcester through hospital RN programs, to BSN and advance practice and perspective on UMass Academic Medical Center, Memorial Hospital evolution and partnership.

You can also view the online collection Pictures of Nursing: Home page (nih.gov) which includes a digital gallery, lesson plan, higher education, online activities, and other resources.

The opportunities for collaboration and creativity are exciting to see as libraries and organizations host exhibits related to the history of medicine. You can learn more about Traveling Exhibitions | NNLM or discover the many online galleries and collections along with class resources and other programming ideas Exhibitions – History of Medicine – National Library of Medicine (nih.gov)