Record Accession Number: 1094
First UVA program	NURS	Second UVA program
Comments on UVA programs
Home town	Chevy Chase	Home state	MD
Comments on Home town and state
Home town classification	Suburb
Comments on Home town classification
High school classification	Public
Comments on High school classification
Was your high school co-ed?	Yes
Comments on Co-ed high school
Did you come directly from high school to UVA?	Yes
Comments if not directly from high school
Important activities before coming to UVA
Comments on important activities	school, dating at the naval academy, summer vacation in cape Cod
If married, was it before, during, or after UVA?	After
Comments on time of marriage
Was your spouse associated with UVA?	No
Comments on spouses association with UVA
Mother's first degree	Teaching	Mother's first college	Business school - teaching cer
Mother's second college		Mother's second degree
Mother's third college		Mother's third degree
Father's first degree	B.S.	Father's first college
Father's second college		Father's second degree
Father's third school		Father's third degree
Comments on parents' schooling
First sister's level of schooling		Second sister's level of schooling
Third sister's level of schooling		First brother's level of schooling
Second brother's level of schooling		Third brother's level of schooling
Comments on siblings' schooling
Family members at UVA
Comments on family members at UVA
Mother's first occupation		Mother's second occupation
Mother's third occupation		Father's first occupation
Father's second occupation		Father's third occupation
Comments on parents' occupations
Date entered UVA		Date left UVA
First other college		First other concentration
First other degree		First other dates of attendance
Second other college		Second other concentration
Second other degree		Second other dates of attendance
Third other college		Third other concentration
Third other degree		Third other dates of attendance
Fourth other college		Fourth other concentration
Fourth other degree		Fourth other dates of attendance
Fifth other college		Fifth other concentration
Fifth other degree		Fifth other dates of attendance
Comments on college experiences
Why did you choose UVA?
Comments on choice to attend UVA	My family had close friend, a doctor, who graduated from the University. Also, the spring of '42 I saw an ad showing a couple sitting in front of the Rotunda which said " she's in love, she's engaged, she used Pond soap!"
How did you finance UVA?
Comments on financing	My family the first year there, the cadet corps
Why did you choose your UVA concentration(s)?
Comments on choice of concentration	since childhood I wanted to be a nurse
Description of UVA classroom experiences
Comments on classroom experiences	We had excellent, but very severe teachers-most graduated from Johns Hopkins. They taught us well, but put the fear of God in us. Because of the war we were given huge responsibilities for our youth and experience.
Description of UVA professor interactions
Comments on professor interactions	We had no contact with our teaching staff outside of the classroom. We had medical doctors also for our [science?] in OB Ped- I believe med.surgery were taught in the clinic by our nursing teachers (we were taught by OB doctor nothing went across the cord to the baby but venerial disease).
Who impacted your life at UVA?
Comments on life impact	Our teachers and our floor supervisors. We had little contact with Dr.'s. We had to hold the doors open for them or also stand when they approached us while we were [charting?] etc. We did have a wonderful nurse instructor-Miss Coleman, I believe. She knew I was very homesick and was so encouraging and kind, I decided to stay. Some of the med students were very good to us and helped us with homework, bringing food to us on duty, etc.
Most memorable UVA educational experience
Comments on memorable educational experience	I believe I had an exceptional training as a nurse and I am still so proud to say I graduated from U.Va. It was desperately hard work and we were tired and hungry all 3 years. The social life saved us with 9 boys to every girl and in spite of our very hard life, we had a marvelous time. My time spent at Woodrow Wilson Military Hospital my last 6 months was worth the whole 3 years.
UVA weekend activities
Comments on weekend activities	At frat parties, dances, movies, just walking with a [?], sodas at the drugstore across the street.
UVA extra-curricular organizations
Comments on extra-curricular organizations	There was no time for extra curricular activity. Most of the men were in V-12 Army and had to keep their grades up to keep out of the service. Not much drinking, or late [hours?].
Important local, state, national, and international issues while at UVA
Comments on important issues	We all were deeply commited to winning WWII. Most of our plans were to join the services after graduation.
How interest in issues was expressed
Comments on how interest was expressed	One of my greatest life experiences was working as a student my senior year at Woodrow Wilson Army Hosp, in Staunton. I was there when Pres. Roosevelt died, the war in Europe after, the dropping of the bomb, and the end of the war. Nursing those GI's was a most new aiding experience. They were injured on "D-Day or "Battle of the Bulge" - General Patton's 3rd Army.
UVA housing
Comments on housing	Dormitory, rooming house. Our 2nd year we were moved into 2 large homes across the campus. I lived in Kelly House, it was wonderful after McKim Hall.
Likes and dislikes about housing
Comments on likes and dislikes	Our lives in McKim were very rigid. However, there were kitchens there we could make snacks. The diet during the war was terrible and we were always hungry, tired.
Where were meals eaten
Comments on meal location	The cafeteria-food was rationed and we were allowed one pat of margerine per meal. Big choice when there was corn on the cob and bread. I gained weight at the Army hospital, there was real butter and jam. weight: 98lbs-101 lbs! The food at the hospital was so poor, I got the only cavities in my life.
Did you interact outside of UVA?
Interaction detail	Some of my classmates were from Charlottesville, I dated one's brother who lived in a farm outside the town.
Memories of Charlottesville
Comments on Charlottesville memories	We were limited in traveling due to gas rationing. We walked or rode the bus. I mostly remember going to the movies, the theater is still there and going dancing at Fry's Springs, also swimming here in summer. We had very little time off. Loved the frat parties and our formal dances.
Did you feel part of UVA community?		Did you feel part of community?
Incidents that caused these community feelings	I had a wonderful social life and lots of boys as friends, not serious about any. I loved the people and culture of Va and always thought I'd retire there.
Vivid UVA memories
Comments on vivid memories	Because we were so young, our nursing supervisors and teachers were very severe we lived under fear of making a mistake. When I received my cap I was put on night duty on 1 North- a surgery floor. I had 1 hypodermic syringe to use-I had to sterilize it between injections. I had 30+ surgery patients to take care of by myself with one colored orderly. I was 15 min. late getting off duty and sacrificed my 1/2 day off as punishment. On night duty on the women's mental ward we spent a month on nights, my orderly died on me. We had to get up for day classes while working nights.
Did marital status affect UVA experiences
Comments on influence of marital status	Some of my classmates did marry during our 3 years mostly to doctors. This wasn't allowed before the war.
Did cultural background affect UVA experiences
Comments on influence of cultural background	As a white woman it was a great shock for me to work on the all blacks wards which were in the basement. One evening a bat was loose on the women's ward terrifying us all. Also, the cockroaches were enormous. If I'd been assigned there my first ward, I'd probably left. Also, I was shocked the blacks had to ride in back of the bus. On my first return in 1981 I was pleased to see women and blacks on the lawn. I'm sure Mr. Jefferson would be pleased.
Did UVA prepare you for post-UVA life?
Comments on preparedness	Absolutely, I worked in Georgetown Univ. Hosp. and when I assisted doctors on change and dressings, etc. they always asked where I received my training. I felt it was excellent in all ways.
Most significant post-UVA events
Comments on most significant event	I married in 1952 and had 6 children in 9 years. In 1965 our 6th child, a boy, died of a brain tumor. 2 years later our baby girl also died of a brain tumor. I had nursed a little boy while in training and it was this experience and my training saved my sanity. There were children leukemias at the same time in our area in Tacmo Wash.
Personal factors that affected professional life
Comments on personal factors
Other factors affecting life after the university
Comments on other factors	I had a great self assurance from my education and social background and felt capable to move from East coast to San Francisco where I knew no one, found an excellent job, good housing, and a husband.
First post-UVA job		First job dates
Second post-UVA job		Second job dates
Third post-UVA job		Third job dates
Comments on post-UVA jobs
First post-UVA volunteer position		First volunteer dates
Second post-UVA volunteer position		Second volunteer dates
Third post-UVA volunteer position		Third volunteer dates
Comments on volunteering
Do you think of yourself as a career woman?
Comments on career woman question
Barriers faced in work and volunteering
Comments on barriers question	I graduated Sept. '45 and immediately joined American Airlines as a flight hostess-returned to nursing due to an illness in my family and worked in many areas of nursing until the birth of our first child in 1954. No barriers, but very low pay in both fields.
Current marital status
Comments on current marital status
Current age range
Comments on current age range
Number of children
Comments on number of children
Current employment status
Comments on employment status
Additional comments	My husband and I attended my 50th anniversary in May 1995. We were treated like Royalty-no charge for my husband and all the activities were well planned and delightful. I wrote the alumni organization of our gratitude. One thing we, as nurses in WWII, would have liked a tour of the new hospital. I do hope to return in 2000!
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