The College archive is the central repository for all material pertaining to the NSW College of Nursing and its successor organisation, The College of Nursing. The collection of material began when the College was established in January 1949. The archive was formally established in 1985 with the purpose of maintaining a historical record of both the College's work and of nursing in Australia. Since that time the collections have been expanded to include the records of some notable nurses and selected nursing organisations. The archival and historical collection represents a major research resource which may be accessed by bona fide researchers.

The archives are located on Level 2, 14 Railway Parade, Burwood NSW.

Collections held

• NSW College of Nursing records from 1949, including educational records and teaching material, photographs and publications
• RCNA NSW Committee/Chapter records
• Florence Nightingale Committee Australia - NSW Branch records
• Patient Assessment Information Systems (PAIS) Special Interest Group records
• Major collections, including records, reference material, photographs and ephemera from Muriel Knox Doherty, Bartz Schultz and Graeme Curry 
• Marrickville Hospital Nursing Administration records, photographs and ephemera
• Bush Nurses Association, partial collection of records of the late Kathleen Guest Thompson and Mollie Scott, including annual reports, photographs and histories, also records from the Tullabidgeal Centre
• Nurses Christian Foundation (NCF) complete collection of ANCM & NCF records
• NSW Operating Theatre Association collection, records and ephemera
• Collections donated by individual nurses, eg Agnes Mary Lions, Hazel Henry, Merle Parkes, Rosalie Pratt, Dorothy Platt, Hazel Labka, et al.

The collection also includes

• a large collection of badges from nurse training schools, universities, nursing organisations and many of the nursing specialty group badges
• Australian and international publications relating to nursing
• research findings
• historical texts and printed material
• assorted nursing material and ephemera
• College publications and monographs
• The heritage collection is also a part of the College's cultural heritage and unique identity. The collection has significant links to other forms of evidence of past & present nursing and healthcare activity. Drawing on all available forms of evidence, we are able to develop a much richer understanding of our own heritage.

Address
14 Railway Parade, Burwood 2134
Locked Bag 3030, Burwood NSW 1805

Telephone
Australia 02 9745 7500 ext 570
International 61 2 97457500

Email
jcornell@nursing.edu.au

Hours & Facilities
Thursdays 9.30am to 3.30pm. Other times by appointment
Closed weekends and public holidays
Reference assistance and scanning/copying available
Introductory brochure available

Networks and Links
The archive associates maintain an active network on behalf of the College and its membership with other health industry and professional organisations such as:

• Collections Australia (CAN) then type College of Nursing in the search field
• Australian Nursing History Project. See also http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs
• Australian Society of Archivists
• Lucy Osburn-Nightingale Foundation, Sydney Hospital
• University Sydney Nursing History Research Centre
• Specialty Nursing Organisations
• Australasian & New Zealand Society for the History of Medicine

Access application
Please download the PDF form.