VEIL, EMBROIDERED

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1908

Overview

A square fine white linen voile nurse's veil with embroidered signatures in red thread. The veil has a drawn thread border inset from the edge by approximately 3cm, surrounding the embroidered signatures.
A satin stitched diamond shape in the centre contains the wording:
'For the days of Auld Lang Syne.
Perth Public Hospital
Dot Beech
July 1908'.

This item was originally described as a tablecloth when donated but is actually a veil.

Historical information

If you can provide any information about Dot Beech, please contact the RPH Museum.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-48-OB1990.122

Item type

Clothing

Material

Linen (Material)

Width

800 mm

Height or length

805 mm

Themes

Medicine & Health

Inscriptions and markings

'For the days of Auld Lang Syne.
Perth Public Hospital
Dot Beech
July 1908'.

Stitched signatures in red thread including:

Hilda Lord
Beryl Chrisp
John S. Campbell
'Baby' Moore (The Infant)
H Owen Chapman
Mary Heston
Lily Keune
Clarrie Jeffrey
Isobel Curnow
Jean Borwick
N J Gerrard
M J Peile
Topsie Potten
Dolly Fischer
Gertrude Burt
Molly C Long
Madge Trafalgar Clark
Maynie H Allan 15.4.08.
Sulodgs Symonds
Ethel Kiss
Caroline Turner (Lina)
Bea Anderson
Nesta Hillman
Dorrie Donnell
Georie Cassell
Laura Field
Elizabeth Cox
Jessie Gibson 'germs'
Dora Ellis
Nelly Ellis (66)
G Cassell
Sue Lee 'Ah Sue'
(Tommy Atkins)
Laura Wood
Emily Otes
Pauline Trotter
M G Johnstone
Cecilia Burnett
Eleanor Harvey
A M Swipson 'Stiff & Stoney'
Maud James 'Jim'
(Tommy 1908)
Alice Ada Hedges
Maud Mitchell
Irene Manning
Daisy Johnson
Edith Marion Wilson
Thelma Letitia Crossley
Hilda Harris
Miriam Phillips
Jessie Peas 1908
Daisy Inglis
Pat Naughton
Allie Scharer
Nance Walsh
Margaret Ann Scott
F A Phillips
Marion Spaven
Flo Sparin
Madge Burt
Angela M Ross
E A Peale
Elsie Begg
A May Skinner
Isobel Loxton
Maude E Ballantyne
Ellie Scharin
Lily H Saw
Alice M Newnham
Phyllis Bromley
Plus (Husband of above)

Contextual Information

Matron Eleanor Alice Harvey was one of the early Western Australian nurses who actively encouraged and supported other nurses. The Eleanor Harvey Nurses Society (formerly the Society for the Care of Aged or Incapacitated Nurses (WA) Inc, grew out of a committee formed in 1925. The committee opened a fund to provide for nurses in need.
A house was purchased in Claremont to provide a home for nurses no longer able to continue active work. Eleanor Harvey Home was named in her memory. The home provided accommodation for nurses until 1979. The Eleanor Harvey Nurses Society continues to provide financial, emotional and social support to nurses in need.

Keywords

Nurse, nursing, veil, embroidery

Place made

Perth
Western Australia
Australia

Year

1908

Statement of significance

This embroidered nurse's veil features signatures by nurses and other staff working in the Perth Public Hospital in the early 20th Century. It provides a record of some of the earliest formerly trained nurses working at the hospital including well-known nurse Eleanor Harvey. A housekeeper and two Junior Registrar Medical Officers have also been identified. It is an example of women's handiwork popular in the first half of the 20th Century, and the tradition of giving hand embroidered linen to commemorate events.

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Object’s condition or completeness

Rare or representative

Well provenanced

Royal Perth Hospital Museum

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