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Nurses: On the Job

What do we see when we look closely?

Examine this photograph produced as a postcard to document a meeting of the National Organizations of Nurses in New Orleans, 1916.
Roll over different areas of the postcard to discover answers to the questions below.

    • Q1Can you identify the social class of the women in the front row (left)?
    • A1A wide brimmed, highly decorated hat was an indication of a woman's middle-class, respectable status in society. The leaders of the public health movement, such as Lillian Wald who founded the National Organizations of Public Health Nurses in 1912 (unidentified in this photograph), were members of this group in society.
    • Q2Can you spot any men at the meeting?
    • A2Men are virtually invisible in nursing by the early 20th century due to the variety of other work available to them. Only a very few men became involved in the public health movement.
    • Q3Can you see any African American nurses?
    • A3Although only a very few African American women are visible in this photograph, women such Jessie Sleet, Elizabeth Tyler, and Edith Carter pioneered community health nursing in New York's African American community. The National Organizations of Nurses was the only professional association to admit African American nurses at this time.
Large room filled with several dozen White women looking forward.
1 2 3

A Meeting of the National Organizations of Nurses, New Orleans, LA, 1916

    • Q1Can you identify the social class of the women in the front row (left)?
    • A1A wide brimmed, highly decorated hat was an indication of a woman's middle-class, respectable status in society. The leaders of the public health movement, such as Lillian Wald who founded the National Organizations of Public Health Nurses in 1912 (unidentified in this photograph), were members of this group in society.
    • Q2Can you spot any men at the meeting?
    • A2Men are virtually invisible in nursing by the early 20th century due to the variety of other work available to them. Only a very few men became involved in the public health movement.
    • Q3Can you see any African American nurses?
    • A3Although only a very few African American women are visible in this photograph, women such Jessie Sleet, Elizabeth Tyler, and Edith Carter pioneered community health nursing in New York's African American community. The National Organizations of Nurses was the only professional association to admit African American nurses at this time.
  • 1Can you identify the social class of the women in the front row (left)?
  • 2Can you spot any men at the meeting?
  • 3Can you see any African American nurses?

Choose another postcard from Nurses: On the Job

  • White female army nurse in uniform and cap, visible from chest up.
  • Five Japanese women nurses and one male doctor, tending to two Russian wounded men.
  • A White female nurse, stands with young White woman and points into distance.
  • Three White female nurses in white aprons and a White male doctor hold babies.
  • An African American female nurse in white holds diploma and looks at the viewer.
  • A White female nurse in white squats down while talking with a White mother and child.
  • Five Japanese Red Cross female nurses in white carrying a stretcher in a field with building behind.
  • Female nurse in white shaking hands with another female nurse, in front of group of women nurses.
  • A White female nurses in white visible from shoulder up on left, on right is stamp.