The Alumnae Association of the School of Nursing

As we all know, the School of Nursing was established in 1886.  Its inception at the time was not formally planned.  When Josephine Hamilton came to the hospital, which had been opened in 1875, and asked whether she could do anything to help, she was likely given an apron and sent out to work in the wards.  Later she apparently described how she was told to accompany the doctors when they made rounds, ask questions, and take notes.  She was, no doubt, a very self directed nurse as she was the sole member of her class.  Her curriculum was unplanned, unorganized, but all-inclusive as far as the treatment and care of children was concerned in those days.  She learned by watching and following the example of the few graduate nurses from other hospitals and community ladies who worked in the wards.

Theory and practice were totally integrated in Miss Hamilton’s programme and even though there is no record that a School of Nursing had been formed, she graduated after two years, received a parchment certificate, and later the medal of the school.  Until that time she wore her own brooch.  As a graduate, she was highly esteemed by doctors and nurses.    From this almost incidental beginning, the School of Nursing of the Hospital for Sick Children was established.  (Rolstin, p.5) After 58 years of nursing, Josephine died on November 7, 1946.

In the first eleven years of its existence, the Hospital was managed by a group of women under the direction of Elizabeth McMaster, it’s founder.   In the fall of 1886, Hannah Cody, a graduate of The Toronto General Hospital, was hired as the first Superintendent of the Hospital and Nursing Department.  Under her leadership, 8 nurses graduated from a two year program which was more like an apprenticeship.

In 1891, Elizabeth McMaster, founder of the hospital, returned from nursing studies and was appointed Superintendent.  Her term was shortlived and she was followed by Kesiah Underhill in 1895.

On Jan 1, 1896, Louise Brent was appointed as Superintendent of HSC.  The work and reputation of the hospital had been steadily growing, but it was during her administrative term that both the hospital and the school gained recognition as one of the foremost paediatric treatment centres and Schools of Nursing in North America.  Under her direction, and with the support of John Ross Robertson, she was able to implement new methods and introduce new styles of teaching that were considered advanced for the times.  Miss Brent increased the nursing course from two to three years.  Mr Robertson funded the building of a state of the art nursing residence which allowed the nursing programme and enrollment to expand.

One of the key figures in the history of the School was one of Ontario’s best-known and most popular nurses, Miss Jean I. Masten.  She was a graduate of the Class of 1930 and served as Director of Nursing for 22 years from

1939 to 1961.  She was Director through difficult and challenging times – polio epidemics, World War II, and the planning and construction of the hospital at 555 University Ave.  Apparently she had a strong nursing hand in the layout and many other details associated with the planned relocation of the hospital.  Graduates credit her with the smooth move from 67 College St, which was apparently carried out without a hitch.

Our website will feature stories and articles about our nursing leaders and the School of Nursing as time allows these to be transferred to this site.  Hilda Rolstin, Cl’43 wrote a “History of the School of Nursing, The Hospital for Sick Children” for the Alumnae Association in 1972.  It is a comprehensive look at our nursing curriculum and development over some 86 years.  Some chapters are worth posting here.  Also, for the 100th Anniversary of the Alumnae Association in 2003, a wonderful book, “100 years: A Celebration of the Alumnae Association of the School of Nursing, The Hospital for Sick Children” was printed and given to graduates who attended the celebration.  Limited copies of this book may still be available.

In 1973, all Schools of Nursing in Ontario were informed by a joint communique from the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities and the Ontario Ministry of Health that “a decision has been taken to transfer the responsibility for nursing education at the diploma level from the hospital and regional schools to the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology – the transfer was to occur on Sept 1, 1973”.  Linking to some of the Alumnae News articles below, specifically Elsbeth Geiger’s article, will show the emotional turmoil that our School of Nursing was facing as early as the mid-60s as change was in the wind.  It was not an easy time.