GD6 Elsie Stephenson, nurse

Collection Summary


Reference Code: GB239 GD6
Title: Stephenson, Elsie
Dates of Creation of Material: 1902-1968
Level of Description: Fonds
Extent and Medium of the Unit of Description: 5.5 shelf metres: papers, photographic material


Name of creator(s): Elsie Stephenson (1916-1967), nurse
Biographical History: Elsie Stephenson trained as a State Registered Nurse, Midwife, Fever Nurse and Health Visitor in England 1935-1942. She undertook war work in Egypt, North Italy, Germany and Yugoslavia 1944-1946; she was Deputy Chief Matron British Red Cross Society 1947-1948, and Chief Nursing officer in East Suffolk and Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1948-1956. She became first director of what became known as the Nursing Studies Unit (1956) and later of the Department of Nursing at University of Edinburgh (1965), and had numerous special appointments and honours.
Archival History: Records held within family
Immediate Source of Acquisition or Transfer: Department of Nursing Studies, University of Edinburgh, 1982


Scope and Content: Nurse training and professional education 1935-1947; Red Cross work 1944-1967; Chief Nursing Officer posts 1948-1956; professional activities 1949-1967; personal papers 1934-1967; professional interests 1937-1959; nursing history and practice 1902-1967; publications 1937-1962; Bill Gardner's files 1918-1968; photographs

Conditions Governing Access: Permission required from Head of the Department of Nursing, University of Edinburgh. Please contact us for assistance. Public access to these records is governed by UK data protection legislation, the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, and the current Scottish Government Records Management: NHS Code of Practice (Scotland).
Language/Scripts of Material: English

Related Units of Description:
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (LHB1)
Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion (LHB3)
Publication Note:
Allan, Sheila. Fear not to sow: the story of Elsie Stephenson, first director of university nursing studies in Europe Cornwall: Patten Press, 1990


Archivists' Notes: Compiled by Mike Barfoot and Jenny McDermott using existing handlists
Rules or Conventions: Description based on ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description International Council on Archives (2nd edition), 2000
Date(s) of Description: May 2000; revised July 2002