Founded in 1973, the Center for Nursing History is one of a small number of centers dedicated to a historical appreciation of nursing’s influence in health care.
The heart of the center is the Historical Gallery, housed in UWM’s Cunningham Hall so researchers, students and visitors can experience rare artifacts, momentos and photos related to the advances in the art and science of nursing. The center contains more than 1,200 rare books and other publications and is the largest academic collection of its kind in Wisconsin.
The Historical Gallery aims to:
- instill the appreciation of the history related to nursing education and health care
- increase awareness of the historically significant role played by nurses
- serve as a learning resource for faculty, students and the community
- provide a rare viewing experience of historically significant artifacts
Director Information
Laurie K. Glass, PhD, RN, FAAN
Professor Emeritus/Director, Center for Nursing History
414-962-9342
lglass@uwm.edu
One of six Nursing Museums in the United States
Historical Collections
Schools (uniforms, photos, pins, some records)
- St Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing, Milwaukee
- Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing, Milwaukee
- Mt. Sinai Hospital School of Nursing, Milwaukee
- Milwaukee Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing, Milwaukee
- Milwaukee County Hospital/ John Doyne Medical Center, Milwaukee (limited amount)
- Milwaukee General Hospital School of Nursing, Milwaukee
- UW-Milwaukee College of Nursing, Milwaukee
- UW Madison School of Nursing (limited amount)
- Columbia School/College of Nursing, Milwaukee
Individuals
- Ada Garvey, WWI nurse and Wisconsin public health nurse
- Helen Creighton, nurse legal scholar
- Harriet H. Werley, nurse researcher
- Norma M. Lang, nurse researcher and quality of care scholar
- Inez Hinzvark, nurse educator, nurse historian
- Barbara Nichols, clinical nurse, nurse educator, nurse leader
Small collections of individuals
- Helen Swain
- Nancy Wright
- Sharon Hoffman
- Elise Fitzpatrick
- Frances Cunningham
- 2 WWI nurses
- 4 WWII nurses
- Capes
32 representing schools, and Armed Forces - Caps
110 representing schools, colleges and Armed Forces, Red Cross - School of Nursing Pins
- Uniforms
Numerous uniforms 1890 – 2010. Schools, Army Nurse Corps, Navy Nurse Corps, Air Force Nurse Corps, WWI Red Cross, WWII Cadet Corps, United Airline nurse stewardess. - Scrapbooks
World War I and World War II photos; various certificates, licenses, student notebooks and workbooks.
Donate memorabilia
The Historical Gallery is appreciative of donations of memorabilia that are or will be, of historical interest in the area of nursing. Memorabilia keeps nursing history alive and is meaningful to current students, the community and nursing historians.
Examples of in-kind donations include portraits; books; films; notes; equipment; posters; uniforms; pins and: momentos of student nursing, military nursing, hospital, and public health nursing. Financial support from individuals, groups or foundations is also greatly appreciated and used for acquisitions and upkeep of the Historical Gallery.
To make a financial donation please contact Shavonn Montgomery-Brown, Director of Advancement.
Related Sites
Barbara Nichols
Barbara Nichols celebrated her 87th birthday in July of 2025. To celebrate her long life as a dedicated nurse, she was honored with a birthday celebration. She was interviewed in 2018 by Diana Mason, those recordings can be listened to below.
About Barbara
Education
- 1959: diploma
- 1966: Bachelor of Science, Case Western Reserve University
- 1973: Master of Science in Behavioral Disabilities and Counseling, University of Wisconsin – Madison
- 1979-2009: received five Honorary doctorates
- First doctorate was in 1979 from UW-Milwaukee
- She was also the first nurse to receive one from UWM
Positions Held
- Various clinical nurse and teaching positions, including appointments with UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee
- 13 years as the Director of In-Service at St Mary’s Madison
- 3 years as the Wisconsin Secretary of Licensing and Regulation
- First nurse and black person to hold this cabinet position, 1983-1986
- January-September 1987: Interim Executive with Wisconsin Nurses Association
- 4+ years (1989-1993) as the Executive Director of California Nurses Association
- 5 Years (1993-1998) as the Wisconsin AHEC (Area Health Education Center)
- 13 years (1998-2011) CGFNS (Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools)
- 10 years (2015-2025) Wisconsin Center for Nursing
Examples of Impact
- Barbara’s leadership in the nursing organizations affected nurses worldwide. Her advocation for better work conditions, her policy work-building new policy, implementing policy at the international, federal level, state level.
- As the Secretary of Licensing and Regulation, she over saw the regulation of all licensed professionals from funeral directors (undertakers), barbers, nurse, physicians, and more.
- During her 13 years at CGFNS (United States organization that regulates the criteria to be met by nurses from foreign nursing schools who wish to work in the U.S.), she was known worldwide for her fairness and diplomacy.
- She provided leadership with the new (at the time) WCN which lasted 10 years; her leadership impacted the Wisconsin nursing workforce, and therefore the citizens of Wisconsin.
Organization Leadership
- Held more than 36 organization positions from 1974-2012
- WNA President (1970-1972) while working part-time and three kids during a time when married women didn’t work.
- NFW Board (1969-1974); President (1974-1976)
- ANA President (1978-1980, 1980-1982)
- ICN Board member (1981-1989)
- Wisconsin State Medical Society Joint Practice Committee (1990-1999); Chair in the late 1990s
Awards and Honors
Barbara has received 40+ awards over 50 years (1962-2022)
- ANA Hall of Fame (2022)
- American Academy of Nursing Living Legend (2010)
- American Nurses Association, Mary Mahoney Award (1996)
- This award is given for outstanding contributions in opening opportunities for ethnic minority nurses to move into the main stream of professional nursing.
- National Black Nurses Association Lifetime Achievement Award (2001)