SCRAPBOOK, MOLLEY JOHNSON
1945A thick hardcover scrapbook with a colour illustration of a nurse glued on the front cover. In black lettering ‘Scrap Book’ is printed across the cover by the manufacturer.
Collaged paper lettering reads:
‘Perth Royal Hospital
Servio
Western Australia’.
The scrapbook is comprised of brown paper pages tied together with green cord through punched holes with white ring reinforcements. The spine is covered with green linen.
Handwriting on the first page in blue pen reads:
‘Molley Gale (nee Johnson)
31 The Esplanade
South Perth
6151
Tel: 3678374’.
The book is dated from 1945, evident from collaged dates and letters and telegrams that are glued in the pages. Molley (sometimes spelled ‘Molly’) Johnson was accepted as a trainee nurse at Perth Hospital via telegram, advising her to commence training on 31 December 1945. The poems, notes, photographs, newspaper cuttings, cut-out pictures and nursing memorabilia show she was excited about becoming a nurse. Photographs and attendance at a 1985 Nurses’ Reunion show that she was proud of her nursing role and maintained a long association with RPH.
Details
Details
Western Australia
Australia
The owner of this scrapbook began her nursing training at the end of 1945, just before the Perth Hospital changed name to the ‘Royal’ Perth Hospital in 1946. It provides insight into the process of applying for, and being accepted, as a trainee nurse in the 1940s. It follows her journey as a live-in nurse, her friendships, medical interests and events of the day including the wedding of Princess Elizabeth to Philip Mountbatten in 1947. Newspaper cuttings reveal her interest in debate surrounding nurses’ working conditions.
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