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Indian Schools of Practical Nursing Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS C 568

Abstract

Collection highlights the history of the program. Beginning in Oklahoma in 1935, the program prepared women of Native American decent to become licensed practical nurses.

Dates

  • Creation: 1936-1998 (bulk 1954-1971)

Extent

1.25 Linear Feet (1 box)

Creator

Physical Location

Materials stored onsite. History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine

Language of Materials

Collection materials primarily in English

Restrictions

Collection is not restricted. Contact the Reference Staff for information regarding access.

Copyright and Re-use Information

Donor's copyrights were transferred to the public domain. Archival collections often contain mixed copyrights; while NLM is the owner of the physical items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. It is the user's responsibility to research and understand any applicable copyright and re-publication rights not allowed by fair use. NLM does not grant permissions to publish.

Privacy Information

Archives and manuscript collections may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in any collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications for which the National Library of Medicine assumes no responsibility.

Historical Note

The Kiowa Nurse Aide School, located in Lawton, Oklahoma, opened in 1935. Miss Martha E. Keaton served as the schools first director and remained in that position until the late 1940s. The first studentss in the program, eleven in total, graduated in 1936. In 1951, the school changed its name to the Kiowa School of Practical Nursing and was approved by the National Association of Practical Nurse Education. The program moved from Oklahoma to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1955 and changed its name to the Indian School of Practical Nursing.

The mission of the program was to train and educate young women to become licensed practical nurses. In order to enter the program, women had to meet a few requirements, including: having at least a quarter degree of Native American blood, graduated from high school or having passed the equivalency, and be between the ages of 18-50. A 1968 report further stated that women also had to: provide a birth certificate, make arrangements for any children under their care, and sign a two-year contract to work in a federally run hospital upon graduating.

Students admitted into the program were required to live in resident quarters on the campus. Curfews were placed on students as well. The only days which students could either have guests over or go out were Friday-Sunday. Tuition, books, room and board, uniforms, and laundry were provide free of charge for the students. Students also received a stipend each month, part of which was placed into a savings fund and given to them upon graduating. During the program, vacation timed was earned. Once the student graduated, she was given three weeks of vacation, with pay, prior to starting her first assignment. The year long program was divided into three sections: an orientation period (1 week), pre-clinical training (16 weeks), and clinical (32 weeks).

In addition to the school in Albuquerque, another school was established in Alaska. The Mt. Edgecumbe Indian School of Practical Nursing was established in 1952. Unfortunately, the school was not as successful as the original and closed in June of 1961 due to low enrollment numbers. The Albuquerque school remained in operation until 1974.

Collection Summary

Administrative material, reports, surveys, photographs, and brochures (1936-1998; bulk 1954-1971) document the history of the Indian School of Practical Nursing. Series 1: Subject Files contains administrative material, reports, surveys, correspondence, brochures, clippings, graduation programs, newsletters, and papers. Material in the series highlights the history of the program. Series 2: Photographs contains both negatives and prints. These images document the history of the program through the images of the students, staff and personnel, events, and the class work and clinical training.

Abstract

Collection highlights the history of the program. Beginning in Oklahoma in 1935, the program prepared women of Native American decent to become licensed practical nurses.

Physical Location

Materials stored onsite. History of Medicine Division. National Library of Medicine

Provenance

Gift, PHS Historian's Office, Acc. #2000-013.

General

Processed by
Lloyd S. Williams (History Associates, Inc.)
Processing Completed
August 2006
Encoded by
Lloyd S. Williams
Title
Finding Aid to the Indian Schools of Practical Nursing Collection, 1936-1998 (bulk 1954-1971)
Status
Unverified Partial Draft
Author
Lloyd S. Williams (History Associates, Inc.)
Date
August 2006
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English
Edition statement
1.0

Collecting Area Details

Part of the Archives and Modern Manuscripts Collections Collecting Area

Contact:
8600 Rockville Pike
Bldg 38/1E-21, MSC 3819
Bethesda MD 20894 US
1-888-FINDNLM (1-888-346-3656)