Country Doctor Museum exhibits nursing items in Family Medicine Center

A new exhibit about nursing education in the mid-20th century is on display at East Carolina University.

The Country Doctor Museum has assembled the exhibit, “Nursing School Memories: Nursing Education in the Mid-20th Century,” in the second floor display case across from the elevators at the ECU Family Medicine Center. It will be on display through the fall.

The Family Medicine Center is located at 101 Heart Drive in Greenville.

Objects, photographs and archival materials related to nursing school diploma programs popular in the mid-20th century are featured. The rise of college nursing degree programs is also discussed, illustrated with objects on loan from the early years of the nursing program at East Carolina University, said Jennie Schindler Graham, curatorial director of the Country Doctor Museum.

The exhibit explores the camaraderie of nursing students from the rigorous expectations and enduring traditions of advancement through their school program. It also interprets the historical and symbolic significance of uniforms, caps, pins, Florence Nightingale lamps and other nursing school memorabilia.

The Country Doctor Museum in Bailey showcases medical artifacts and volumes of historic texts relevant to the practice of medicine between the late-18th century and the first half of the 20th century. Nursing, pharmaceuticals and home remedies also are included.

The museum is managed as part of the History Collections of Laupus Library at East Carolina University through an agreement with the ECU Medical & Health Sciences Foundation.

For more information, call 252-235-4165 or visit http://www.countrydoctormuseum.org.