Florence Nightingale and Jessie Lennox correspondence, 1883-1933, bulk 1883-1900

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Summary

Abstract:
The collection contains fifteen letters written and signed by Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing, to her friend and student Jessie Lennox from between 1883 and 1896 discussing various aspects of the profession. Also includes a 1917 letter from Jessie Lennox to Dr. Lilias Maclay that mentions Nightingale's legacy and a 1933 letter from Lennox's lawyer following her death that bequeaths her correspondence with Nightingale to Maclay.
Extent:
0.21 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Florence Nightingale and Jessie Lennox correspondence, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains seventeen letters. Fifteen letters were written and signed by Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing, to her friend and student Jessie Lennox from 1883 to 1896. The correspondence discusses the evolving role of nurses, the challenges faced by women in the field, and the ideal qualities of a nursing leader. A 1900 facsimile letter addressed to all her nurses and signed by Nightingale discusses medical advancement and nursing professionalization. The collection also includes a 1917 letter from Jessie Lennox to Dr. Lilias Maclay that mentions Nightingale's legacy and a 1933 letter from Lennox's lawyer following her death that bequeaths her correspondence with Nightingale to Maclay.

Biographical / historical:

Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy on May 12, 1820 to William Edward Nightingale, born William Edward Shore, and Frances (Smith) Nightingale. Her family returned to England in 1821 and split their time between their summer home in Derbyshire and winter home in Hampshire.

She studied at Pastor Theodore Fliedner's hospital and school for Lutheran Deaconesses for three months and then went to Paris to study with the Sisters of Mercy. During the Crimean War, Secretary of War Sidney Herbert asked Nightingale to manage a group of nurses being sent to treat wounded soldiers in Constantinople (current day Istanbul). Nightingale and her nurses improved military hospital conditions through supplies, nutritious food, and cleanliness and sanitation. The Nightingale Training School at St. Thomas' Hospital opened in London in 1860 and helped create nursing as a profession. Nightingale died in 1910.

During the 1850s, Jessie Lennox (1830-1933) worked as a missionary in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa with Bishop Charles Frederick Frazier Mackenzie. Lennox attended the Nightingale Training School for Nurses in 1860 and was among the first Army Sisters appointed by the War Office to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Netley, England. She also served as matron of the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children for eighteen years.

Dr. Lilias Maclay graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1917 and become a medical missionary. During World War I, she was attached to the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Acquisition information:
Purchased for the Huntington from Antiquariat Inlibris, Gilhofer Nfg. GmbH, by the Library Collectors' Council, March 2024.
Processing information:

Processed at the time of accessioning by Kahlee Leingang in May 2024.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Florence Nightingale and Jessie Lennox correspondence, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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