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Mary C. Brennan papers
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Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing [Contact Us]Claire Fagin Hall, 418 Curie Boulevard, Floor 2U, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-4217
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Mary C. Brennan was born in 1903 and grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended the Germantown Dispensary and Hospital Nursing School, graduating in 1923. She worked as a private duty nurse from 1923 to 1936 and again from 1940 to 1941. Between the years 1936 and 1939 she worked as a ship's nurse on 10 cruises which traveled to Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. In 1941 she joined the Army Nurse Corp and was transferred west to Hawaii and then to Guam. While in the army she helped to set up field hospitals, which were then packed up and sent to battle areas. In 1946 her tour of duty with the army ended and she returned to Philadelphia, where she attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and received a BS in Education in 1947. She then went to work at Cornell University from 1947-1950. She assisted with a World Study Tour for nursing students in 1949 and the following year she received a MA degree from Columbia University. In 1950 she became the director of nursing at Roger Williams General Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. While there she became active in the Rhode Island State Nurses Association. In 1960 she became the director of nursing at Sewickley Valley Hospital in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. While there she became involved with the Pennsylvania League for Nursing and in 1960 she became president of the organization. During this time she was also involved with the National League for Nursing. In 1967 she retired from Sewickley Valley Hospital but still remained active in the professional organizations. In 1969 she returned to Philadelphia.
Mary C Brennan's papers consists of 3.7 linear feet and includes files of personal, professional, and organizational materials as well as photographs. This collection is strong in information during her time with the Pennsylvania League for Nursing, personal correspondence, and photographs especially those from the World War II era.
People
Organization
Subject
Occupation
- Publisher
- University of Pennsylvania: Barbara Bates Center for the Study of The History of Nursing
- Finding Aid Author
- Finding aid prepared by Center staff, updated by Bethany Myers
- Sponsor
- This collection was processed with funds provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission as part of the Nursing History Processing and Cataloging Project.
- Access Restrictions
-
This collection is unrestricted.
- Use Restrictions
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Copyright restrictions may apply. Please contact the Center with requests for copying and for authorization to publish, quote or reproduce the material.
Collection Inventory
Scope and Contents note
This series contains correspondence and general files regarding her life outside her profession.
Biographical Information, 1903-1992.
Box 1
Folder 1
News Clips, 1942-1988.
Box 1
Folder 2
Identification, 1937-1976.
Box 1
Folder 3
General Correspondence, undated.
Box 1
Folder 4
General Correspondence, 1940-1989.
Box 1
Folder 5
Correspondence from Honolulu, 1940-1964.
Box 1
Folder 6
Letters regarding departure from Roger Williams General Hospital (RWGH), 1959.
Box 1
Folder 7
Memorabilia, 1920-1988.
Box 1
Folder 8
Catholic Girls High School, 1920.
Box 1
Folder 9
Nursing Course Syllabus, 1920.
Box 1
Folder 10
Requirements for Nursing Degree, 1920-1923.
Box 1
Folder 11
Nutrition Examination, 1921.
Box 1
Folder 12
Anatomy Course Outline, 1939.
Box 1
Folder 13
Fall Course Essay, 1946.
Box 1
Folder 14
English 1C Assignments, Spring, 1946.
Box 1
Folder 15
Espanol 5C, 1946-1947.
Box 1
Folder 16
Hematology Course Outline, Spring, 1946.
Box 1
Folder 17
Summer Course Essay, 1946.
Box 1
Folder 18
Education in America Paper, Winter, 1947.
Box 1
Folder 19
Expectations of a Nurse, 1947.
Box 1
Folder 20
Education Course 291S Paper, Winter, 1950.
Box 1
Folder 21
Paper for MA Requirement, 1950.
Box 1
Folder 22
University of Pennsylvania Graduation Program, 1947.
Box 1
Folder 23
Professional Certificates, 1947-1983.
Box 1
Folder 24
Citations, 1952-1984.
Box 1
Folder 25
Evaluation of the Institution Program, Duquesne University, 1950.
Box 1
Folder 26
Trip to Mexico with Associated University of Pennsylvania Clubs, November 1954.
Box 1
Folder 28
Hollis L Caswell, Inauguration as President of Columbia University Teacher's College, 1955.
Box 2
Folder 29
Penn Alumni Club, 1956-1959.
Box 1
Folder 27
Articles by Brennan, 1954-1958.
Box 2
Folder 30
Graduation Speeches, 1967-1969.
Box 2
Folder 31
Notes on Use of Word and Nursing Secretary, April 1961.
Box 2
Folder 32
Pennsylvania College Energy Debates, 1981-1987.
Box 2
Folder 33
Mediterranean/ Black Sea Cruise Vacation, October-November 1959.
Box 2
Folder 34
Cunard World Cruise Vacation, February-April 1960.
Box 2
Folder 35
Post Cards of Various Tourist Sites.
Box 2
Folder 36
Scope and Contents note
This series contains general files with information on her career from her first job in 1923 to her retirement in 1967.
Germantown Dispensary, 1923.
Box 2
Folder 1
Ship's Nurse on Grace Cruise Line, 1935.
Box 2
Folder 2
Ship's Nurse on Holland-American Cruise Line, 1936-1939.
Box 2
Folder 3
Army Correspondence, 1941-1947.
Box 2
Folder 4
Misc. Army Documents, 1941-1945.
Box 3
Folder 5
Transportation Documents, 1943-1945.
Box 3
Folder 6
Administrative Nurse Handbook, 1944.
Box 3
Folder 7
Army Awards & Certificates, 1940-1945.
Box 3
Folder 8
Uncle Sam Productions, 1944-1945.
Box 3
Folder 9
Columbia University, 1947-1950.
Box 3
Folder 10
Columbia World Studies Tour, 1947.
Box 3
Folder 11
Roger Williams Hospital, 1953-1960.
Box 3
Folder 12
Sewickley Valley Hospital, 1960-1967.
Box 3
Folder 13
Retirement from Sewickley, 1967.
Box 3
Folder 14
Scope and Contents note
This series contains information on her involvement with the Rhode Island State Nurses Association, the Pennsylvania League for Nursing, and the National League for Nursing.
Nursing Statistics from Various Sources, 1948-1967.
Box 3
Folder 1
International Council on Nursing, 1949.
Box 3
Folder 2
General Health Care Organizations, 1949-1969.
Box 4
Folder 3
General Health Care Pamphlets & Brochures, 1968-1986.
Box 4
Folder 4
Rhode Island State Nurses Association (RISNA), 1955.
Box 4
Folder 5
Western PA Association of Women Deans, Counselors & Personnel, April 1964.
Box 4
Folder 6
American Nurses Association.
Box 4
Folder 7
Pennsylvania Nurses' Association.
Box 4
Folder 8
Helen Fairchild American Legion Post 412, 1966-1983.
Box 4
Folder 9
Governor's Health Care Conferences - National.
Box 4
Folder 10
Governor's Health Care Conferences - Regional.
Box 4
Folder 11
NLN - General, 1963-1969.
Box 4
Folder 12
Descriptions of NLN, 1970.
Box 4
Folder 13
NLN Correspondence, 1964-1969.
Box 4
Folder 14
NLN Structure, Positions & By-Laws, 1965-1969.
Box 4
Folder 15
NLN Stricture Revisions, 1966-1970.
Box 4
Folder 16
NLN Policy Statements, 1968-1986.
Box 4
Folder 17
NLN Publications, 1954-1983.
Box 5
Folder 18
NLN Nursing Education, 1963-1983.
Box 5
Folder 19
NLN Committee on Resolutions, 1963-1970.
Box 5
Folder 20
NLN Committee of the Assembly of Constituent Leagues, 1968-1972.
Box 5
Folder 21
NLN Council on Community Planning for Nurses, 1968-1969.
Box 5
Folder 22
NLN Division of Community Services, 1968-1969.
Box 5
Folder 23
NLN Mid-Atlantic Regional Assembly, 1968-1970.
Box 5
Folder 24
NLN News, 1974-1979.
Box 5
Folder 25
NLN Biennial Conventions, 1983-1985.
Box 5
Folder 26
NLN Booklet: Essentials of Good Nursing, 1942.
Box 5
Folder 27
Descriptions of PLN.
Box 5
Folder 28
PLN - General.
Box 5
Folder 29
PLN Structure, Positions & By-Laws, 1967-1983.
Box 5
Folder 30
PLN - Policy Statements.
Box 5
Folder 31
PLN - News, 1969-1986.
Box 6
Folder 32
Correspondence - General, 1963-1985.
Box 6
Folder 33
Correspondence - Legislation, 1968.
Box 6
Folder 34
PLN Board of Directors, 1974-1980.
Box 6
Folder 35
PLN Certificates, 1977-1982.
Box 6
Folder 36
PLN Committee on Nominations, 1968.
Box 6
Folder 38
PLN Committee on Membership, 1968-1973.
Box 6
Folder 39
PLN Committee on Finance, 1968-1974.
Box 6
Folder 40
PLN Committee on Continuing Education, 1967-1968.
Box 6
Folder 41
PLN Biennial Reports, 1964-1970.
Box 6
Folder 42
PLN Annual Meeting Agendas, 1970-1986.
Box 6
Folder 43
PLN Annual Reports, 1976-1986.
Box 6
Folder 44
Scope and Contents note
This series contains photographs, which either include her or were collected by her. There are several photographs from the World War II era and some negatives from her retirement party.
MB with Girl's High Seniors of the Basketball Team, 1920.
Box 7
Photo 1
MB holding a baby, 1924.
Box 7
Photo 2
MB wearing sombrero, 1917.
Box 7
Photo 3
MB among the staff of the S.S. Rotterdam, 1937.
Box 7
Photo 4
Misty DeJong and MB going ashore, 1937.
Box 7
Photo 5
MB and Misty DeJong with passengers aboard the S.S. Rotterdam, 1937.
Box 7
Photo 6
MB and Misty DeJong, 1937.
Box 7
Photo 7
MB off duty, 1937.
Box 7
Photo 8
MB looking at the S.S. Rotterdam, 1937.
Box 7
Photo 9
MB with other nurses outside quarters for Mitchell Field, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 10-11
MB with other nurses outside Con's on day of leaving, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 12
Edith carving Mitchell Field on tree in Berkeley, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 13
Old St Mary's Church in Chinatown, San Francisco, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 14
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 15
MB with Group resting on hill in Berkeley, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 16
19 MB with group on bicycling trip in San Francisco, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 17
Powell St Cable Car after being turned, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 20
MB with other army nurses, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 21
MB and others in group salute, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 22
MB at Air Evacuation Hanger, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 23
Jo, Edith, Margaret, and Ruth, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 24
MB with Edith, Ruth, Margaret, and Mary, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 25-29
MB and other nurses with Mr MC Leon, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 30-31
MB and others at Mission Delores, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 32-36
MB and other nurses in Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 37-40
MB with people from 147th General Hospital, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 41-42
MB in Oohu, Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 43-44
MB with army nurses and officers, Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 45
MB and other nurses off duty in Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 46-47
MB relaxing under a palm tree, Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 48
MB with other nurses off duty, Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 49
MB relaxing while off duty, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 50-55
MB by the pool side. Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 56
MB at a field hospital in Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 57
MB off duty with other nurses, Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 58
MB with a dog, Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 59
MB in a foxhole during field training, Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 60
MB in full hiking gear during field training, Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 61
MB and unidentified man, Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 62
MB and two army officers, Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 63
MB with two other nurses, Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 64
MB at officer's club, Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 65
MB and other nurses at 36th Field Hospital, Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 66
MB outside a tent at 36th Field Hospital, Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 67
MB at 36th Field Hospital, Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 68
MB with others eating in the shade at 36th Field Hospital, Hawaii, 1942.
Box 7
Photo 69
Personnel of 36th Field Hospital, hawaii, 1943.
Box 7
Photo 70
MB in dress uniform speaking with another officer at 36th Field.
Box 7
Photo 71-72
MB at 36th Field Hospital, Hawaii, 1943.
Box 7
Photo 73
Personalized Greeting Card, Hawaii, 1943.
Box 7
Photo 74
MB at Elizabeth Arden, Hawaii, 1943.
Box 7
Photo 75-76
MB in uniform, Hawaii, 1943.
Box 7
Photo 77
MB with two dieticians from 147th General Hospital, Hawaii, 1943.
Box 7
Photo 78-79
MB with other nurses in front of 147th General Hospital sign, Hawaii, 1943.
Box 7
Photo 80
MB with some of the medical personnel from 147th General Hospital, Quarters, Hawaii, 1943.
Box 7
Photo 81
MB leading an exercise group, Hawaii, 1943.
Box 7
Photo 82
MB with another nurse from the 147th General Hospital, Hawaii, 1943.
Box 7
Photo 83
MB feeding the dogs, Hawaii, 1944.
Box 7
Photo 84
MB with other nurses relaxing outside their 147th General Hospital Quarters, Hawaii, 1944.
Box 7
Photo 85
MB with dogs Oohu, Hawaii, 1944.
Box 7
Photo 86
MB visiting the residents of 147th General Hospital, Hawaii, 1944.
Box 7
Photo 87
MB and other nurses relaxing after returning from field training, Hawaii, 1944.
Box 7
Photo 88
Margaret, MB, Mary, and Kay, Hawaii, 1944.
Box 7
Photo 89
92 MB at 147th General Hospital Officer's Club, Hawaii, 1944.
Box 7
Photo 90
94 MB and other nurses at a quiz show, 1944.
Box 7
Photo 93
MB at her desk, Guam, 1944.
Box 7
Photo 95
MB with other officers at the opening of the Officer's Club, Guam, 1945.
Box 7
Photo 100
MB with other officers relaxing outside, Guam, 1944.
Box 7
Photo 96-99
MB with an officer, Guam, 1945.
Box 7
Photo 101
MB at Guam Officer's Club, 1945.
Box 7
Photo 102-104
MB at a party with other officers, Guam, 1945.
Box 7
Photo 105
MB at New Years Eve party, Guam, 1945/1946.
Box 7
Photo 106
MB with other nurses in San Francisco on her way home, 1946.
Box 7
Photo 107
MB outside her Philadelphia home, 1946.
Box 7
Photo 108
MB and Pauline, a friend at Penn, 1947.
Box 7
Photo 109
MB at Stratford on Avon, 1949.
Box 7
Photo 110
MP about to board the plane for her World Studies Tour, 1947.
Box 7
Photo 111
MB at RWGH annual function, 1954.
Box 7
Photo 112
MB at RISNA dinner, 1955.
Box 7
Photo 113-117
MB during RISNA 50th Anniversary, Oct. 4, 1955.
Box 7
Photo 118
MB, 1955.
Box 7
Photo 119
MB watching graduating nursing students from RWGH, 1956.
Box 7
Photo 120
MB and faculty of RWGH School of Nursing," Striping Night", 1956.
Box 7
Photo 121
MB in Barcelona, Spain, 1959.
Box 7
Photo 122
MB in South Africa, 1959.
Box 7
Photo 123
127 MB at the Acropolis, Greece, 1959.
Box 7
Photo 124
MB with other passengers, 1959.
Box 7
Photo 128
MB in park outside Odessa next to statue of Lenin and Stalin, 1959.
Box 7
Photo 129
MB on a camel in Egypt, 1959.
Box 7
Photo 130
MB and Ethyl Jacobs in North Africa, 1959.
Box 7
Photo 131
MB in front of the Taj Mahal, India, 1960.
Box 7
Photo 132
MB and Mrs Jacobs on World Cruise, 1960.
Box 7
Photo 133
MB and Ethyl Jacobs on World Cruise, 1960.
Box 7
Photo 134
MB going through a receiving line on World Cruise, 1960.
Box 7
Photo 135
MB with other passengers on World Cruise, 1960.
Box 7
Photo 136
MB in Oriental costume, 1960.
Box 7
Photo 137
MB and Mrs Jacobs in oriental costumes, 1960.
Box 7
Photo 138
MB and Mrs Jacobs with Chinese family at dinner as their guests, 1960.
Box 7
Photo 139
MB feeding deer in Japan, 1960.
Box 7
Photo 140
MB, 1960.
Box 7
Photo 141
MB in nurse's uniform, 1960.
Box 7
Photo 142
MB at unknown function, 1960.
Box 7
Photo 143
MB at her desk in Sewickley Valley Hospital, 1962.
Box 7
Photo 144
MB with May Wilcott a Sewickley board member,1965.
Box 7
Photo 145
Dr Clarence Miller and MB at Sewickley Valley Hospital, 1966.
Box 7
Photo 146
MB in nurse's uniform wearing Germantown Hospital School of Nursing pin and American Red Cross pin, 1968.
Box 7
Photo 147
MB, 1968.
Box 7
Photo 148
MB, 1968.
Box 7
Photo 149
Seated L-R, Lizanne Graff, MB, and Dorothy Noevello at PLN convention, 1969.
Box 7
Photo 150
MB, ?, and Elizabeth Zulli, 1969.
Box 7
Photo 151
MB at PLN meeting in the Hotel Hershey, 1969.
Box 7
Photo 152
Hospital Assembly at Penn State Work Shop, 1969.
Box 7
Photo 153
MB at unknown dinner, 1970.
Box 7
Photo 154
L-R starting with the back row, Nellie, Bill and Gerta Miller, Bernice Woodring, Jack Meyer, Malcel Yates, James McFranklin, MB and Eilien Meyer, May 2, 1970.
Box 7
Photo 155
Mr Lausdale, Mr Buel, ?, MB, ?, Mary Jane Lausdale, 1971.
Box 7
Photo 156
Nellie and MB, April 1971.
Box 7
Photo 157
MB, March 17, 1992.
Box 7
Photo 158
MB at Christmas party, undated.
Box 7
Photo 159
MN at Helen Fairchild Nurse's American Legion Post 412, undated.
Box 7
Photo 160-162
SS Rotterdam, 1937.
Box 8
Folder 3
36th Field Hospital, 1942-1943.
Box 8
Folder 4
147th General Hospital, 1943-1944.
Box 8
Folder 5
Guam, 1944-1945.
Box 8
Folder 6
Misc. photographs, 1935-1955.
Box 8
Folder 7
Negative of photograph 122.
Box 8
Folder 8
MB at her retirement party, 1967.
Box 8
Folder 9
The retirement party, 1968.
Box 8
Folder 10
Scope and Contents note
This series contains some of the diplomas she received from her education.
University of Pennsylvania, BS in Education, 1947.
Box 8
Photo 1
Columbia University, MA, 1950.
Box 8
Photo 2
American Hospital Association Continuing Education, 1952.
Box 8
Photo 3
Golden Jubilee Diploma from Girls High, 1970.
Box 8
Photo 4
Scope and Contents note
This series contains two scrapbooks put together by other people and given to her.
Put together by RISNA members for MB, 1955.
Box 9
Photo 1
Put together by Miss Johnson for MB's Retirement party, 1967.
Box 9
Photo 2
Scope and Contents note
This series contains two plaques she received from the College Debates on Energy.
College Debates on Energy plaque, 1981-1982.
Box 9
Photo 1
College Debates on Energy plaque, 1982-1983.
Box 9
Photo 2