The Museum of Nursing History, Inc.

05/06/2026

HAPPY NURSES' WEEK from the Museum of Nursing History where we celebrate everyday the work of nurses. We received this donation letter written in 1934 by Odetta Crawford, a student nurse in Ohio, for her psychology class. This was before she had any nursing courses. Which statement stands out to you? Do you remember making the decision to enter nursing school?

04/23/2026

We are preparing for Nurses' Week May 6-12, 2026. Here is a picture of the start of this celebration in 1987 with Governor Casey's proclamation. Now you now how we got here. This newsletter was donated to the by the New York State Nurses Association. A financial donation to the Museum of Nursing History is a great way to celebrate nurses so we can expand and maintain our nursing items. See our webpage for how to donate www.nursinghistory.org

02/25/2026

Celebrate Black History Month with this story of Mercy Douglas nurses.https://www.facebook.com/reel/25160529893621892 The Museum has the Lula G. Warlick Plaque that was on the Nurses' Home, shown in the movie.

02/05/2026

Here is a beautiful poem in honor of Alex Pretti.

Poet – Marilyn McEntyre You know what to do. You step up.You step in. Sometimesyou don’t ask. You just act.In the ICU, in the icy street,you watch. You’ve seenmore harm than most.You know how…

01/29/2026

If you are a fan of Old Philadelphia pictures, enjoy this section on Facebook. Move through by using the arrows https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1293030782860853&set=a.538497801647492

Aerial view of Osler Circle & Curie Boulevard - The Philadelphia General Hospital Area - Circa 1960s - Image credit: The Philadelphia City Archives.

Notes: Philadelphia General Hospital (PGH) was officially closed in 1977 by the city under Mayor Frank Rizzo due to financial difficulties and aging facilities. Following its closure, the buildings, located in West Philadelphia, were largely demolished over the following years to make way for new medical research and treatment facilities

01/29/2026

Here is an online exhibit for you to visit to see the stories of some amazing nurses in Michigan from the Civil War to WWII. There are some great stories of their experiences and also their connections to loved ones. Take your time and enjoy the nursing items. It takes concentration to read the letters but it is worth it.

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01/29/2026

Today, we received an email from a daughter whose mother, a nurse passed away. At the funeral, the Nurses Honor Guard showed up. Here is her thank you for honoring her mother. "I would like to send a thank you to the team of nurses who performed a wonderful tribute to my mom on Saturday Jan. 24th at Underwood's Funeral Home in Marysville Ohio. My mom's name is Sandra S. Howsman. I do not have any contact info to reach them."

If you don't know about this service, they are a wonderful group of nurses who honor those nurses at the end of their lives who have finished their duty. These nurses were in Allentown honoring an alum of St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing. It was a beautiful ceremony.

01/25/2026

Please take a moment to mourn the loss of one of our own, a Veteran's Administration ICU nurse, who was helping a woman on the street. Alex Pretti was fatally shot on January 24, 2026. May he rest in peace.

01/20/2026

Starting 2026 with a celebration of professional nurses-the CRNAs who put you to sleep for surgical procedures and watch over you to bring you back out of it. They are doctorally prepared. They are professionals. This is their week: January 18-24, 2026.

05/12/2025

Enjoy our past and save your history as well. Happy Nurses’ Week