Records of the Committee on the Directory for Nurses II

Collection

Identifier: CPP 10/001-02

Overview

The Directory for Nurses of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia was founded on 14 May 1882. This referral service allowed doctors and patients to employ qualified nurses in a quick and efficient manner. Over the years, the directories of other hospitals and agencies created competition for the Directory for Nurses of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. In addition, the earnings of the directory jeopardized the non-profit, tax-exempt status of the College. After consulting with the College's legal counsel, the committee recommended that the directory be liquidated. The College voted to accept the committee's recommendation on 6 January 1936, and the directory's operations were discontinued as of 31 March 1936.

The Records of the Directory for Nurses consist of 17 large, bound volumes, dating from 1881 through 1936. They include 1 account book, 1881-1909; the register of nurses' names; and a scrapbook documenting the operations of the Directory.

Dates

1881-1936

Creator

College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Committee on the Directory for Nurses (Organization)

Biographical / Historical

The Directory for Nurses of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia was founded on 14 May 1882. This referral service allowed doctors and patients to employ qualified nurses in a quick and efficient manner. S. Weir Mitchell and William W. Keen were instrumental in the creation of the directory. At their prompting, on 1 March 1882, the College appointed committee to oversee the establishment of a nurses directory. Mitchell, Keen, and Albert H. Smith were elected to serve on the committee, and a Ladies' Advisory Committee was formed to assist them.

The Ladies' Committee, led by Mrs. S. Weir Mitchell, solicited Sl,000 in pledges to meet the initial expenses of the directory. Additional funds were derived from nurse registration fees and the fees of individuals using the referral service. All proceeds were donated to the College Library. The directory was enormously successful and quite lucrative; from 1882 to 1936 over 7,500 nurses were registered, and more than 150,000 calls were filled.

Over the years, the directories of other hospitals and agencies created competition for the Directory for Nurses of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. In addition, the earnings of the directory jeopardized the non-profit, tax-exempt status of the College. On 23 April 1935, the Council of U-ie College elected to form a committee to investigllte the finances of the Directory for Nurses and recommend whether or not it should be continued. After consulting with the College's legal counsel, the committee recommended that the directory be liquidated. The College voted to accept the committee's recommendation on 6 January 1936, and the directory's operations were discontinued as of 31 March 1936.