Looking for Nurses and Midwives in Your Family?
05 Jun 2024, 10:00 - 16:00
Choose event information:
Would you like to find out about nurses or midwives connected to your family but not sure where to start the research?
On Wednesday 5 June, Edinburgh Napier University (ENU), the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), and the National Library of Scotland are offering a 1-day event for people to learn more.
Nurses and midwives have historically been under researched and underrepresented. This event, launching alongside International Day of the Midwife (5 May) and International Nurses Day (12 May), is helping to change that!
You can investigate a nurse or midwife of any era, who worked in any setting (e.g., hospital, community, asylums, industry, prisons, military). They may have worked before or after the NHS was set up in 1948 or worked privately or spent time working outside the UK. Everyone is welcome!
What will the day involve?
There will be short presentations and introductions to family history research from researchers and archivists with opportunities to learn about online searching. There will also be the chance to ask questions and get guidance from a range of experts on how to find out more about your nursing or midwifery ancestors.
No previous experience or knowledge is needed.
Those attending are invited to bring along a photo, or other small memento, of the person(s) they are interested in finding out more about and would be happy to show on the day.
Event speakers and contributors include:
- Teresa Doherty: Joint Head of Library & Archives and RCN Professional Lead for History of Nursing who will talk about nurse registration and how to access nurse registers.
- Nicola Ring: Professor of Nursing and Nessa McHugh Midwifery Lecturer at ENU will talk about their experiences of finding 19th century nurses and midwives and searching for early nurses and midwives accused of Witchcraft in 16-17th Century Scotland.
- Sana Bilgrani: Film Lecturer at ENU who has researched nurses in her family history and produced a film about her search.
- Lucy Church, Dora Petherbridge and Patrick Hart: Will talk about how the National Library of Scotland and its collections and resources can help people find their family histories.
- Rosie Al-Mulla: NHS Forth Valley Archivist, University of Stirling who will talk about using NHS archives to find nurses and midwives.
Those attending will be given notebooks, pens, and lunch free of charge.
Chair of the RCN History of Nursing Forum, Dianne Yarwood said:
'It’s not unusual to hear people say: “oh yes, my great gran was a hospital nurse, or my uncle worked as a mental health nurse”. Often, they would like to know more about this person’s nursing career but have no idea where, or how, to start searching. Do join us for this exciting, informative 1-day event and learn how to find that elusive ancestor. You will meet experts, gain advice and guidance and leave with the knowledge and confidence to find that nurse or midwife of yesterday'.
Where will the event take place?
The event will take place at the National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge Edinburgh from 10am-4pm. If you cannot attend for the whole day, please do still join us!
To sign up to this in-person event, please follow the link: https://tinyurl.com/NMFamilyHistory
People interested in attending who require disability adjustments on the day, should contact CMHPPLR@napier.ac.uk
Those on low income and not entitled to free bus travel, may be eligible for some travel compensation. Please contact: CMHPPLR@napier.ac.uk
CMHPPLR@napier.ac.uk
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh
EH1 1EW
The National Library of Scotland is one of the country's National Collections. It is one of the largest libraries in the United Kingdom. As well as a public programme of exhibitions, events, workshops, and tours, the National Library of Scotland has reading rooms where visitors can access the collections. It is the legal deposit library of Scotland and is a member of Research Libraries UK and the Consortium of European Research Libraries.
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Page last updated - 14/05/2024
