A variety of publications, archives and institutions provide discovery and access to a wealth of knowledge and artifacts related to nursing history. The resources in this section provide a jumping off point for delving deeper into the development of the field and practice of nursing in the state of North Carolina.
Types of Resources
A Century of Caring: This video resource explores the vital roles of the NCNA and the N.C. Board of Nursing in standardizing nursing education, expanding nursing practice, and dealing with critical nursing shortages like that facing the state and nation today. Produced by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker John Wilson and nurse practitioner Ashley Lefler Wilson, the documentary is narrated by National Public Radio’s Liane Hansen. Chris Frank of the Red Clay Ramblers composed the original music score. Transcripts of interviews are also available.
Digital Collections: Images - photographs, graphics, videos, etc. - provede a rich source for historical context, adding a depth to understanding the social forces of each era in North Carolina. This section connects researchers with a selection of image and video collections from insitutions across the state, which have been digitized to make them accessible for a broader audience.
NC Nursing History Bookshelf: A selection of publications about the history and practice of nursing in North Carolina. Many of these sources are presented in bibliographic format, and can be found in print from various libraries throughout the UNC system. Others have links to digital versions that can be read online.
Oral Histories: Oral history interviews provide researchers with historical context from the individuals' own words. Oral histories come in the form of audio files, video interviews, and/or interview transcripts. Learn about history directly from those who created it.
Other Featured Resources
The History of Nursing in North Carolina (digitized ebook). Written by Mary Lewis Wyche and originally published in 1938. Old letters, newspapers, library and state records, and personal interviews have contributed to this history. Beginning with the first recorded public care of the sick in the colony, Wyche discusses the progress of nursing to the time of the book's writing. This digitized copy requires an account with the host website to read. Print copies of the book can be found in both public and university libraries throughout the state.
The Health Bulletin, 1914-1973. The Health Bulletin is a publication of the North Carolina State Board of Health, and contains many articles by and about nurses and the practice of nursing in the state. Digitized collection is from UNC's Health Science Library and is available through the Internet Archive.
Tar Heel Nurse Archives. Tar Heel Nurse is a publication of the North Carolina Nurses Association. Archives are available through UNC University Libraries. Current issues can be found on the NCNA website.
American Journal of Nursing Annotated Bibliography (PDF). The American Journal of Nursing (AJN) is the oldest nursing journal in the world. This bibliography contains select articles related to nursing history, spanning the years 1901 to 1937. Many of AJN's articles are open access and available online through their website.
Publications of Phoebe Ann Pollitt, PhD (NC Docks). Dr. Phoebe A. Pollitt is a historian of North Carolina nursing history and a retired professor of App State's Department of Nursing. Her ongoing publications cover a breadth of topics related to the history of nursing in the state.