Research: Military: They Also Served
They Also Served --- Series Descriptions
Nursing Council for War Service
A4277. Recruitment and Classification Files, 1942-1945. 24.5 cu. ft.
Arrangement: Organized into two subseries: Subseries 1, Administrative Files, 1942-1945, 1 cu. ft., has no apparent arrangement. Subseries 2, Classification Files, 1942-1943, 23 cu. ft., is alphabetical by name.
This series contains information on the War Council's efforts to attract women into the nursing profession in order to alleviate the acute shortage exacerbated by World War II and to assist in the recruitment of nurses into the armed services by keeping a roster of nursing personnel.
This series contains minutes, correspondence, memoranda, monthly reports, press releases, form letters, and publicity materials revealing the council's efforts to organize themselves and their recruiting efforts. Included are missives from the national to the State organization and communications from the State to local groups. Minutes from the national organization detail the number of nurses each state was asked to recruit and the states' response. Organizational efforts including information on how to direct local nursing councils and manage problems with recruitment are also discussed. Minutes from the New York State Nursing Council's Procurement and Assignment Committee reveal local chapters' efforts with recruitment and classification of nurses. Found throughout this series are the council's recruitment strategies promoting nursing as a valuable, patriotic career that was compatible with motherhood and family life.
This series also contains a wealth of demographic data on the classification forms collected by the Procurement and Assignment Committee. The inventory was done to assess the size, capability, and availability of the nursing force available for war service. These forms detail information on about two-thirds of all nurses residing in the State of New York during World War II, including name; address; place of employment; position; date of birth; marital status; number of dependents under and above 14 years old; physical handicaps (if any); classification rating; reasons for a temporary deferment (if one were granted); and date of availability. The form also includes the name and address of the originating county's procurement and assignment committee agent, the date of action, and the reasons for a deferment. (Reasons for a deferment included work in an "essential position," poor health, having young children, or being under age 25 and single.)
A4281. Newspaper Clippings Scrapbook, 1943-1944. 0.3 cu. ft.
Arrangement: By subject, then chronological.
The scrapbook, labelled "Sample newspaper clippings, September 1943 to April 1944," is comprised solely of clippings from New York State publications. Each clipping has the name and date of the publication from which it originated. It details the student recruitment efforts, activities of local nursing councils, and nursing issues, including the nursing shortage and post-war planning for the nursing profession. It was collected by the Nursing Council to partially document the many activities with which it was involved.
