Two volunteer historians carefully preserving a chunk of Southwestern Ontario’s medical past are appealing for help as they attempt to expand a collection of artefacts tucked away in the basement of a Stratford hospital.
Two volunteer historians carefully preserving a chunk of Southwestern Ontario’s medical past are appealing to help as they attempt to expand a collection of artifacts tucked away in the basement of a Stratford hospital.
Joan MacDermid and Janette Veal are the caretakers of the Stratford General Hospital Archives. Officially established in 1993, the archives contain records, photographs, vintage medical equipment, and a wide variety of other rarely seen artifacts detailing the history of both the hospital and the former Stratford General Hospital School of Nursing.
“Each and every piece from the collection tells a story,” said Veal, a registrar for the historical collection at Museum London before retiring to Stratford. “It’s the real deal about our past. It reflects the values and influences of its time in our institution and in our community.”
The collection includes, for example, the sterling silver sugar bowl presented to the hospital at its grand opening in May 1891. That was a gift from Mrs. WE Jones and her husband Mr. William Jones, a jeweler on Market Street at the time.
It also features uniforms and equipment used by students training at the influential nursing school operated in Stratford between 1892 to 1971.
Protecting the history of that school, which eventually made way for the college-based training system used in Ontario now, is of particular interest to MacDermid, a graduate herself in 1956. After a 40-year career, she’s decided to volunteer her time keeping the memory of her alma mater alive.
“I’ve always been interested in history,” MacDermid said. “I think that once an artifact is lost, it’s gone. We would like to have a fuller display, especially of the nursing pins, the jewelry that we wore as students and graduates.”
The Stratford General Hospital Archives have for the most part been off limits to the public over the years, but that’s beginning to change. An attempt to expand the amount of space Veal and MacDermid have to create displays near the hospital’s front entrance is gradually moving forward after being delayed by the pandemic.
In anticipation, Veal and MacDermid are reaching out to the public for help. They’re hoping to expand their collection with items local families and relatives of former nursing students may have hidden away.
“We have quite a collection of nursing uniforms – the dresses and aprons and caps,” Veal said. “We don’t have duty shoes, so just little pieces that we need to finish the story.”
Nursing documents, early 20th- or late 19th-century napkin rings, nurses’ instrument kits, vintage medical equipment and medication containers and wrought iron basin stands are also of interest.
All of those donations will be cataloged and preserved by the archive’s volunteers. Those interested in donating items can leave a message at 519-272-8210 ext. 2547 or fill out a form on the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance’s website.
“It is our hope … to expand our exhibit space with the creation of a new gallery to accommodate larger furnishings, medical equipment, and mannequins,” Veal said. “Community donations are an excellent opportunity to contribute to the growing awareness of the rich resources of our hospital history.”