Memorial Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association Collection

The collection includes minutes, financial records, scholarship, and event materials related to the Alumnae Association, photos of buildings and students of the Springfield Hospital and Training School, class and other photos, graduation programs, newspaper clippings from the Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. Patches and books related to the US Cadet Nurse Corps. The collection also includes photos and newspaper clippings from Springfield, Jacksonville, and Carlinville related to the Illinois Nurses Association.

Memorial's school of nursing began as part of Springfield Hospital and Training School, founded in 1897 under the auspices of the Lutheran Church. In 1943, the training school's name changed to Memorial Hospital of Springfield School of Nursing. It offered a three-year diploma program. After completing the training, graduates who passed the state board examination won the right to use RN (registered nurse) after their names. In 1951, Melba Irwin Tinsley and Delores Carter Irwin (now sisters-in-law) were the first two African-American students admitted to the school. In 1962, men were admitted. From 1897-1975, 1,552 graduates trained at Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. The alumni association was established in 1911 and dissolved in 2000. The association's work with Memorial Medical Center Foundation continued to provide scholarships in nursing through the Alpha Lee Loan Fund.