Grace Phelps papers, 1889-2008

Overview of the Collection

Cre
Phelps, Grace, 1871-1952
Title
Grace Phelps papers
Dates
1889-2008 (inclusive)
1918-1946 (bulk)
Quantity
1 linear feet, (2 document boxes)
Collection Number
2010-005
Summary
Grace Phelps (1871-1952) was a prominent Oregonian health professional and nursing advocate who maintained a career as a practicing nurse from approximately 1900 to 1942. This collection houses the professional and public records of Grace Phelps, and includes materials relating to her time as head nurse at Base Hospitals 45 and 46 during WWI; head nurse at the Portland Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital; and Superintendent at Doernbecher Memorial Hospital for Children.
Repository
Oregon Health & Science University, Historical Collections & Archives
OHSU Historical Collections & Archives
Oregon Health & Science University
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd. MC:LIB
Portland, OR
97239
Telephone: 5034945587
hcaref@ohsu.edu
Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions on access. This collection is open to the public.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Grace Phelps, born in Indiana on September 5, 1871, was a prominent Oregonian health professional and nursing advocate who maintained a career as a practicing nurse from approximately 1900 to 1942. After graduating from the Cincinnati Hospital Training School in 1900, Phelps gained experience as a private nurse before taking a superintendent position at an Indianapolis, Indiana children's hospital. She moved to Portland, Oregon in 1909, where she founded what is now known as the Oregon Nurses' Association and implemented home-nursing training for the American Red Cross. In 1915, Phelps travelled to complete a course in hospital administration from St. Luke's Hospital, after which she returned to Oregon and became the nursing superintendent of Multnomah County Hospital. In 1918, Phelps was appointed head nurse of the University of Oregon Medical School Nurses unit, and was stationed during World War I at Base Hospital 46 until early 1919, at which point she transferred to Base Hospital 45 until her return to Oregon in mid-1919. After her return from the war, she was appointed as superintendent of the Portland Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital (1920 – 1926) and Doernbecher Memorial Hospital for Children (1926 – 1942), where she continued to advocate for federal recognition of the nursing profession until her death at the Portland Veteran's Hospital on June 19, 1952. In 1982, Phelps was posthumously recognized by the Oregon Lung Association as one of the most notable Women in the History of Oregon, alongside women such as Beatrice Morrow Cannady and Dr. Ester Pohl Lovejoy.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Grace Phelps Papers houses the professional and public records of Grace Phelps, and includes materials relating to her time as head nurse at Base Hospitals 45 and 46 during WWI; head nurse at the Portland Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital; and Superintendent at Doernbecher Memorial Hospital for Children. This collection, which dates from 1889 to 2008, consists of textual records such as personnel logs, administrative memorandums and correspondence, professional and biographical essays, interview transcripts, newsletters, and newspaper articles, as well as photographs and artifacts. These records document the professional training, accomplishments, and accolades of Grace Phelps throughout her nursing career, focusing particularly on her administrative duties and experiences as Head Nurse at Base Hospitals 45 and 46, as well as her local and national recognition as a prominent Oregonian health advocate and professional.

This collection is unique in that it documents the professional accomplishments of a prominent woman in the armed services and with a lifelong career in health care during a time when few women were able to receive a formal education or maintain a long term career. One of the highlights of this collection is the glimpse into life on a U.S. encampment during World War I, particularly in regards to small details related to the duties of the Head Nurse and other nursing staff. While this collection has few examples of Phelps's own professional writing, it does include many biographical articles, interview transcripts, and professional commendations. In addition, the many photographs and textual materials from her time at Base Hospital 46 and Doernbecher Memorial Hospital for Children provide insight into the role of nursing during WWI and the lasting impact of this woman's work in various local health organizations, culminating in her longstanding career at what is now called OHSU.

The "Photographs" series, which dates from circa 1889 to 1937, includes photographs documenting the people of and landscapes surrounding Base Hospitals 45 and 46, as well as staff images at Doernbecher Memorial Hospital for Children. Two photographs of significance depict the nurses of the University of Oregon Medical School unit in formation at Base Hospital 45, as well as both the nursing staff and soldiers in uniform, both images circa 1918. Additional photographs of note include images of Grace Phelps and staff on location at Doernbecher Memorial Hospital for Children , particularly photographs which depict staff interacting with Doernbecher patients, circa 1926-1942. This series is arranged by location, with images from the Base Hospitals and those from Doernbecher grouped separately.

The "Papers" series, which dates from 1900 to 2008, includes documents ranging from correspondence from professional health agencies of the U.S. Armed Forces to personnel logs and inventories from Grace Phelps's time at Base Hospitals 45 and 46. These also include various administrative documents such as receipts, inventories, lists of surgeries, and ordinances. Two letters of particular interest, dated 1918, were written to provide news and express sympathy to the families of ill or deceased base hospital nursing staff. Other papers of particular interest include various poems, circa 1918, presumably written while abroad during the war, as well as transcripts of interviews with Woman's World and The Oregonian, dated 1941 and 1943 respectively. This series is arranged chronologically.

The "Artifacts" series, which dates from circa 1900 to 1982, includes artifacts such as wrist and hip pouches from Phelps's time as Head Nurse at Base Hospitals 45 and 46, as well as professional and commendation medals and awards. Artifacts of note include a detailed personnel log of all nurses at Base Hospital 46, circa 1918, as well as a waist pouch circa 1918 that has been decorated with 11 medals, one of which is Phelps's military identification tag. This series is arranged chronologically.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

OHSU Historical Collections & Archives (HC&A) is the owner of the original materials and digitized images in our collections, however, the collection may contain materials for which copyright is not held. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials. Consult with HC&A to determine if we can provide permission for use.

Preferred Citation

Grace Phelps papers, Collection Number 2010-005, Oregon Health & Science University, Historical Collections & Archives

Alternative Forms Available

Some images from this collection have been digitized and are available in the OHSU Digital Collections.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into three series: "Series 1: Photographs" (circa 1889-1937), "Series 2: Papers" (1900-2008), and "Series 3: Artifacts" (circa 1900-1982).

Acquisition Information

Donated to School of Nursing in 1990 by Grace Williams, then transferred to HC&A in 2008.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

I. Photographs, 1889-1937Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
Base Hospitals 45 and 46; University of Oregon Medical School: School of Nursing and Doernbecher Children's Hospital
1889, 1917-1919, 1937, undated
1 2
Duplicates of Base Hospital 46 nurses
circa 1917-1919

II. Papers, 1900-2008Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 3
Professional correspondence regarding Doernbecher; ceremonial announcements; biographical writing and news; University of Oregon Medical School and The Oregon Clubwoman newsletters
1900-1958, undated
1 4
Single newspaper clipping regarding Base Hospital 46
1918
1 5
Aquitania ticket and ship procedures
1918
1 6
Newspaper clippings regarding Base Hospital 46
circa 1918
1 7
Memorandums, ordinances, and correspondence regarding Base Hospital 46, Army Nurse Corps, and Red Cross; news clippings regarding Base Hospital 46
1918-1919
1 8
Correspondence, receipts and ledgers, and news regarding Base Hospital 46
1918-1920
1 9
Base Hospital 46; Portland eye, ear, nose, and throat hospital; Red Cross nursing; Women in the history of Oregon
1918-1919, 1998
1 10
Administrative information, news, poetry, and personal and professional correspondence regarding Base Hospital 46 and Army Nurse Corps
1918-1919, 1949-1950, 1980
1 11
Dance card for "Miss Phelps"
circa 1918-1919
1 12
Illustrations, poetry, and administrative information regarding Base Hospital 46
circa 1918-1919
1 13
History of Doernbecher; Army Nurse Corps; news and photographs regarding Base Hospital 46; Nursing in Oregon
1918-1931, 1948-1959, 1998, undated
1 14
Essays regarding women in nursing; interview transcripts with Woman's World and The Oregonian; correspondence
1924-1929, 1941-1943
1 15
Correspondence with Cosmopolitan; The Oregon Clubwoman, May 1935; Multnomah Training School for Nurses pamphlet
1927, 1935, undated
1 16
Women in the history of Oregon; correspondence with the Oregon Lung Association
1982, undated
1 17
Doernbecher Annual Report
1987-1988
1 18
Collection administrative information
2008 August, undated

III. Artifacts, 1900-1982Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
2 1
Training school pin
circa 1900
2 2
Wrist pouch
circa 1918
2 3
Personnel log
circa 1918
2 4
Waist pouch with ID and various medals
circa 1918
2 5
The Soroptimist Award, 1937
1937
2 6
The Who Award, from The Christmas Seal People, 1982
1982
2 7
Address book
undated
2 8
Scrap book
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Hospital Administration
  • Medicine, Military
  • Public Health
  • World War (1914-1918)

Corporate Names

  • Doernbecher Memorial Hospital for Children
  • Oregon Nurses Association
  • Portland Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital
  • United States. Army. Base Hospital No. 46
  • University of Oregon. Medical School

Geographical Names

  • Oregon

Occupations

  • Nursing