Helen F. Barton papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS 2/256

Scope and Contents

The papers of Helen F. Barton, spanning 1896 to 1930, consist of photographs, an autograph album, clippings, and typescripts, all of which relate to the Philadelphia General Hospital and its Training School for Nurses.

Series 1 contains twelve photographs taken at Philadelphia General Hospital, probably around 1896. Included are photographs of nurses and interns, the hospital grounds and buildings, and the Nurses' Home. Present is a photograph of an operation being performed in the amphitheater as several nurses look on, and a photograph of the December 1896 graduating class of the Philadelphia General Hospital Training School for Nurses. Also of interest is a 1896 photograph of four Philadelphia General Hospital interns: Raymond Spear (1873-1937), D[aniel] J[oseph] McCarthy (18741958), Karl Ohnesorg (d. 1933), and Harry D[resser] Howe (1872-1943). Each of these individuals signed the back of the photograph. An autograph album is contained in Series 2. The album is from an April 1929 reunion of the December 1896 graduating class of the Philadelphia General Hospital Training School for Nurses. The album contains several signatures and two photographs; one of the autographs is from S. Lillian Clayton (1876-1930), a classmate of Barton's, who during her lengthy and distinguished nursing career served as Head Nurse and Superintendent of Nurses at the Philadelphia General Hospital. Also present in the album are clippings and pictures of Philadelphia General Hospital. bSeries 3 contains clippings and typescripts relating to two important figures in the Philadelphia General Hospital Training School for Nurses, Alice Fisher (1839-1888) and S. Lillian Clayton. Most of the items pertain to Clayton's death in 1930.

Dates

1896 - 1930

Creator

Barton, Helen F. (Helen Fisher) (Person)

Biographical / Historical

Helen or Helena Fisher Barton was born either in 1874 or 1875. She attended the Philadelphia General Hospital Training School for Nurses and graduated in December 1896. She lived and worked as a private nurse in Philadelphia for several years and was married sometime between 1903 and 1914. As of 1914, Helen F. Barton was still living in Philadelphia.

Extent

.2 Linear feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

The papers of Helen F. Barton were donated to the Mutter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia by her daughter, Clara Barton DeOrsay, 1241 Lindale Avenue, Drexel Hill, Pa., on 9 June 1982, through C. Nelson Davis. The collection was transferred to the Historical Collections of the Library on 7 June 1989. The collection was processed and catalogued in 1992.