Symbol of a Profession: One Hundred Years of Nurses' CapsHull (Quebec), February 13, 2001 — The Canadian Museum of Civilization is proud to announce the opening of the exhibition Symbol of a Profession: One Hundred Years of Nurses' Caps. The 60 caps chosen for the exhibition were selected from 167 caps recently donated to the Canadian Museum of Civilization by retired nurse Gloria Kay from Conestogo, Ontario. The Gloria Kay Nurses' Caps Collection covers the years 1895 to 1983 and represents every province in Canada. The Canadian Nurses Association and the Canadian Association for the History of Nursing have generously contributed to the exhibition.
"This is the most comprehensive collection of its kind," says Christina Bates, Ontario Historian for the CMC. "The evolution in the design of nurses' caps reflects the history of nursing in Canada. Each model has characteristics that distinguish it from the others and provides information - sometimes contradictory - on the image that each institution wanted to impart: submission and authority, domestic and professional service."
Until the 1970s, the trained nurse was instantly recognized by her cap. Each school and hospital had its own cap design and method for indicating the level of training. Today, this symbol of knowledge and caring has all but disappeared. Gloria Kay believed that this tradition should be preserved. In 1974, she began a collection of nurses' caps, sent to her by nurses all across Canada.
There is no standard model for nurses' caps. Even caps that may appear similar have subtle differences. Unless otherwise indicated, all of the caps in the exhibition are made of cotton or linen - with a healthy dose of starch!
The Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum have a rich collection of objects on the history of nursing. The collection on the history of nursing in Canada, donated by the Canadian Nurses Association, accounts for more than 1000 artifacts, from syringes to military medals. This important collection, as well as the nurses' caps and other artifacts, will form the basis of an upcoming exhibition at the CMC on the history of nursing in Canada.
The exhibition Symbol of a Profession: A Century of Nurses' Caps in Canada is presented in the recent donation exhibit case in the corridor leading to the Cafeteria on Level 1 of the Museum. It will be on display from February 13 to the end of September 2001.
Information (media):
Media Relations Officer: (819) 776-7169
Senior Media Relations Officer: (819) 776-7167
Fax: (819) 776-7187
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