MS 9041
Records of the National Florence Nightingale Committee



Scope and Content Note

  • 1946-1993
  • 2.7 m (17 boxes + 1 carton) + 1 folio box
  • Available for reference

The collection comprises records of the National Florence Nightingale Committee and its related associations, which were originally housed at the Committee's offices in the Nurses Memorial Centre, Melbourne. The Committee was dissolved in 1993, and its archive was transferred to the new Canberra headquarters of the Royal College of Nursing, which was designated the organisation's official trustee. Prior to the final transfer of the collection to the National Library, records relating exclusively to the activities of the Victorian Branch of the Committee were extracted and returned to Melbourne for rehousing at the Nurses Memorial Centre.

The collection includes a variety of material, with the larger part of the papers comprising correspondence, minutes, financial records and reports of the various national and state arms of the organisation, together with records of its subordinate committees.

The collection has been arranged in the order in which it was transferred to the Library, based on a list provided by an archivist of the Royal College of Nursing. Accordingly, apart from some minor refoldering, the Committee's filing system has essentially been retained.

History of the Florence Nightingale Committee

The Florence Nightingale International Foundation was established in London in 1934, in memory of the life and work of the distinguished English nurse Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), and for the purpose of fostering post graduate nursing education.

Until World War II, when activities of the organisation went into recess, Committees of the Foundation were formed in many countries, and in the Australian states of Victoria, South, and Western Australia. In Australia, with the return to peace, Committees were reformed or created in each state, and in 1946 the National Florence Nightingale Memorial Committee was established at a conference in Melbourne (the word Memorial was dropped by resolution in 1955). This federal organisation comprised two delegates from each of the six member states, plus two representatives from the Royal Australian Nursing Federation and the Australian Red Cross Society.

Amongst the many achievements of the National Committee stands the creation of the College of Nursing, Australia in collaboration with the Australian Nursing Federation and the Australian United Nurses' Association (both later combining to form the Royal Australian Nursing Federation). In addition, the National Nursing Education Division of the Committee operated between 1959 and 1968 as a nursing information and research centre, with members drawn from the Executive Committees of the National Florence Nightingale Committee and the Royal Australian Nursing Federation. For much of its history the National Committee convened in alternate years an Executive Meeting and Biennial Conference, and during the latter the Florence Nightingale Oration was presented, usually by a distinguished past Florence Nightingale Scholar.

In 1992, a Special Working Party was set up between representatives of the National Florence Nightingale Committee and the Royal College of Nursing, to administer the dissolution of the Committee and the transfer of its assets to the Florence Nightingale Memorial Trust. The Working Party met between March and November, and the final meeting of the National Florence Nightingale Committee took place on 15 July 1992. The Trust was officially launched on 19 May 1993, to be administered by the Royal College of Nursing.


Series Description

Box 1Correspondence with National Library of Australia, International Standard Book Number Agency (ISBN), 1978-80
General correspondence concerning awards and honours, 1983-85
Correspondence and notes relating to death of Olive Anstey, 1982-83
Biennial Conference brochures and invitations, 1973-81
Biennial Conference notes and correspondence, 1963, 1965
College of Nursing (Australia) correspondence, 1974-87
College of Nursing (N.S.W.) orations, 1976-80
Correspondence with National Health Service, Ministry of Education and Royal
Australian Nursing Federation regarding education and training, 1980-81
Nursing education correspondence, 1983-89
Notes and correspondence relating to death of Edith Hughes-Jones, 1975-77
Emblem competition correspondence and notes, 1975
Study grant correspondence, 1985
Florence Nightingale Committee letters of introduction, 1954-64
Correspondence regarding nursing education in Victoria, 1956
Contact with Florence Nightingale Committees in other countries, 1975-77
Handbooks, budget papers, 1982-83
Australasian Nurse Registering Authorities Conference competencies correspondence, 1988-89
Notes on the history and organisation of the Florence Nightingale International Foundation, c.1950
Policy manual and working papers, 1961
Florence Nightingale Centenary Fund minutes, accounts and correspondence, 1961-73
Notes and correspondence regarding history of nursing and notable nurses, c. 1950-83
Notes and correspondence relating to domiciliary and community nursing, 1982-83

Box 2International Council of Nursing correspondence, 1956-63 and newsletter, 1955
Press cuttings, 1964-69
Press cuttings and photograph, 1970-80
Correspondence and notes relating to Dorothy Kergin and other Orators, 1965-83
Florence Nightingale Committee newsletters, 1972-80
Florence Nightingale Committee newsletters, 1981-82
Liaison with Australian Red Cross Society, 1968-87
Correspondence and other contact with Royal Australian Nursing Federation, 1978-85
Papers relating to National Steering Committee and Task Forces for Implementing 'Goals in Nursing Education', 1982-85
Wellow Foundation Appeal correspondence, 1982

Box 3Correspondence with the Tasmanian State Committee, College of Nursing,
Australia, 1978-81; Florence Nightingale Society (Tasmania) Annual report, 1955; A background to the history of nursing in Tasmania, 1977
Florence Nightingale Committee (Queensland Branch) Annual report, 1984-86 and correspondence, 1969, 1985
Florence Nightingale Committee (N.S.W. Branch) Annual report, 1981-82, correspondence, 1985-86 and list of scholarship holders, 1947-86
Florence Nightingale Committee (W.A. Branch) Annual report, 1984-86, correspondence, 1988 and notes
Florence Nightingale Committee (Victorian Branch) Annual report, 1984-86 and correspondence, 1969-89
Correspondence of the Joint Committee of the College of Nursing, Australia and the N.S.W. College of Nursing in the A.C.T. regarding establishment of a branch in Canberra, 1979
Florence Nightingale Committee budget, 1986-87
Florence Nightingale Old Internationals Association (later Florence Nightingale International Nurses Association) correspondence and notes, 1952-66
Florence Nightingale Old Internationals Association correspondence, 1955-58
Gilchrist Educational Trust correspondence and notes, 1959-78
4th and 5th Florence Nightingale National Scholarship papers, 1976-77
Correspondence and notes regarding Bessie Deakin, 1961-72
2nd Florence Nightingale National Scholarship papers, 1964-75
3rd Florence Nightingale National Scholarship papers, 1968
Correspondence and notes regarding Sister Mary Paulina Pilkington, 1968-77
Correspondence and notes regarding Margaret Bennett, 1972-81

Box 4Correspondence and notes regarding Barbara Place, 1976-81
Report to the Florence Nightingale Committee (N.S.W. Branch) by Merle Parkes, c.1955
Florence Nightingale Committee Rotating Scholarship papers, 1972-75
Submission by the Victorian State Committee, College of Nursing, Australia and the Florence Nightingale Committee (Victorian Branch) to the Working Committee, Royal Australian Nursing Federation and College of Nursing, Australia on developments in nursing education, c.1966
Promotions and presentations, including 2nd South East Asian Regional Nursing Conference, Interhealth '88 and correspondence with Australian Bicentennial Authority, 1987-88
Victorian State Committee, College of Nursing, Australia correspondence, 1951-73
Florence Nightingale Register forms and list of scholarship holders, 1946-72
Notes relating to the Educational Division of the International Council of Nurses, Florence Nightingale International Foundation, c.1947-52
Correspondence and notes relating to Florence Nightingale Scholarships, 1955-73
Minutes, reports and correspondence of the National Nursing Education Division of the Royal Australian Nursing Federation and the National Florence Nightingale Committee of Australia, 1951-66
Florence Nightingale Committee Executive minutes, 1951-55, financial papers, 1960, draft constitution, c.1950 and correspondence regarding Biennial Conference, 1961-65

Box 5National Nursing Education Division, Florence Nightingale Committee correspondence, 1961-65
ICN staff news letter and ICN news letter, 1963-67
Correspondence relating to printing and distribution of Survey report on the wastage of general trained nurses from nursing in Australia, November 1960-November 1967
Florence Nightingale Committee general correspondence, 1955-58
Florence Nightingale Committee general correspondence, 1955-61
Royal Australian Nursing Federation general correspondence, 1957-65
Correspondence relating to National Register of Florence Nightingale Scholars, 1955-73, together with list of scholarship recipients, 1947-71
Album of photographs taken on the occasion of a visit of Dorothy Kergin to Sydney, October 1975

Box 6Programs and notes relating to Florence Nightingale Commemoration Day Church Services, 1973-88
Florence Nightingale Committee sample letterheads, compliments slips and buttons
Florence Nightingale Committee (Victorian Branch) receipts, 1947-61
Florence Nightingale Committee (Victorian Branch) receipts, 1962-66
Florence Nightingale Committee (Victorian Branch) receipts, 1966-71
Florence Nightingale Committee (Victorian Branch) receipts, 1971-73
Button Day receipt book, 1961-65 and petty cash book, 1955-82
Auditor's financial statements, 1949-81

Box 7Fourth Florence Nightingale Oration by Helen Molesworth and related correspondence, 1955-59
Correspondence relating to the Fourth and Fifth Florence Nightingale Orations, 1956-57
Correspondence relating to the Fifth Florence Nightingale Oration, 1957-59
Transcript of 'Florence Nightingale : a personal memory' by Mrs Frank Newton, 1938
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1951-52
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1953-54
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1955
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1956-57
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1958
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1959
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1960
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1961
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1962
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1963
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1964
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1965
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1966
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1967
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1968
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1969
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1970
Florence Nightingale Sunday Church Service correspondence, 1971

Box 8Florence Nightingale Education Committee correspondence, 1955-58
ICN monthly news letter, 1958-59
ICN staff news letter, 1959-61
ICN staff news letter, 1961-63
Florence Nightingale Committee (Victorian Branch) general papers and correspondence, 1961-72
Clive Steele Memorial Nursing Library correspondence, 1962-69
National Nursing Education Division Executive Committee reports, 1968-69
National Nursing Education Division financial correspondence, 1961-70
List of Australasian Conference Committee members, c.1960?

Box 9National Steering Committee and Task Forces for Implementing 'Goals in Nursing Education' papers and correspondence, 1980
National Steering Committee and Task Forces for Implementing 'Goals in Nursing Education' papers and correspondence, 1981
National Steering Committee and Task Forces for Implementing 'Goals in Nursing Education' papers and correspondence, 1982
National Steering Committee and Task Forces for Implementing 'Goals in Nursing Education' papers and correspondence, 1983
National Steering Committee and Task Forces for Implementing 'Goals in Nursing Education' correspondence, notes and submissions, 1973-78
National Steering Committee and Task Forces for Implementing 'Goals in Nursing Education' papers and correspondence, 1976-80
National Steering Committee and Task Forces for Implementing 'Goals in Nursing Education' papers and correspondence, 1976-80 (duplicate file)

Box 10Unused receipt book
National Florence Nightingale Committee of Australia handbook, c.1969
Sample stationery and brochures
'The preparation of the nurse today and in the future', 10th Florence Nightingale Oration by Bess Deakin, 1969
'In the beginning...', 11th Florence Nightingale Oration by Beryl Grant, 1971
'University education for nurses : for what purpose?', 12th Florence Nightingale Oration by Dorothy Kergin, 1975
'Nursing education : what can we afford?', 13th Florence Nightingale Oration by Sister Paulina Pilkington, 1977
'Nightingale power : anachronism or challenge for contemporary Australian nursing'. 15th Florence Nightingale Oration by Margaret Bennett, 1981
Florence Nightingale Committee miscellaneous papers and correspondence, c.1956-88, including notes on the Committee's history, minutes, 1972, 1976 and notes about the National League for Nursing
Miscellaneous file including Florence Nightingale Committee, 15th Biennial Conference agenda, 1981; Nurses Memorial Centre Sub-Committee, Royal Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian Branch) agendas and minutes, 1979-80; record of meeting between the Royal Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian Branch) Council Members and the Hospitals Division of the Health Commission of Victoria, 1979; Associate and Non-Practising Members Group of the Royal Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian Branch) constitution; agenda and minutes of the Centaur War Nurses' Memorial Trust Scholarship Selection Committee meetings, 1979
Report on Community Health Nursing Course by Jeanette Hyland, 1975
Florence Nightingale Education Committee correspondence and papers, 1956
Florence Nightingale Centenary Fund correspondence and notes, 1954-73, including Florence Nightingale Committee (Victorian Branch) statement of receipts and expenditure, 1973
Florence Nightingale Centenary Fund, Button Day Appeal correspondence, 1954-73
Australian Nursing Conference, 1950, correspondence, minutes and notes, 1949-50
Florence Nightingale Committee ledger, 1948-69

Box 11Florence Nightingale Committee receipts and expenditure book, 1948-69
'Report to Florence Nightingale Committee of Australia regarding the meeting convened by the Australian Nursing Federation regarding nursing organisations on 21st October 1991' with attachments
Florence Nightingale Committee contact address list, c.1975 and other address information, together with correspondence relating to National Steering Committee for Implementing 'Goals in Nursing Education' matters, 1982 and Florence Nightingale Committee (Queensland Branch) annual report, 1981-82
Florence Nightingale Week Committee and Florence Nightingale Appeal Committee minute book, 1962-67
Florence Nightingale Committee Biennial Conference minutes and appendices, 1957, 1959
Florence Nightingale Committee Executive Meeting minutes and appendices, 1970-71
Florence Nightingale Committee Executive Meeting minutes and appendices, 1972-74
Florence Nightingale Committee Executive Meeting minutes and appendices, 1975-76

Box 12Florence Nightingale Committee Executive Meeting minutes and appendices, 1977-79
Florence Nightingale Memorial Committee of Australia constitution, minutes, reports, 1946-55
Florence Nightingale Committee proof letterhead, 1990

Box 13Florence Nightingale Register, c.1950-70, Part 1/2
Florence Nightingale Register, c.1950-70, Part 2/2 with index
Florence Nightingale Committee correspondence and notes, 1990-91, Part 1/4
Florence Nightingale Committee correspondence and notes, 1990-91, Part 2/4
Florence Nightingale Committee correspondence and notes, 1990-91, Part 3/4
Florence Nightingale Committee correspondence and notes, 1990-91, Part 4/4: papers relating to Biennial Conference, 1991
Annual Church Service, 1972, notes and papers

Box 14Florence Nightingale Composite Committee on Standard Education of Candidates for Nursing, and Florence Nightingale Centenary Fund minutes, 1962-63
Florence Nightingale Education Committee (Victorian Branch) minutes, 1956-58
Florence Nightingale Committee Biennial Conference and Executive Meeting minutes and appendices, 1961-63
Florence Nightingale Committee Biennial Conference and Executive Meeting minutes and appendices, 1963-65
Florence Nightingale Committee Biennial Conference minutes and appendices, 1967
Florence Nightingale Committee Biennial Conference and Executive Meeting minutes and appendices, 1968-69
Florence Nightingale Committee Biennial Conference and Executive Meeting minutes and appendices, 1980-82

Box 15Florence Nightingale Committee Biennial Conference and Executive Meeting minutes and appendices, 1984-85
Florence Nightingale Committee Biennial Conference and Executive Meeting minutes and appendices, 1987-88
Rubber stamps: 'Vote 1 nursing education', 'Victorian Post-Graduate Nursing Education Committee Joint Appeal'
Miscellaneous file containing Handbook, c.1961; notes on Florence Nightingale Centenary Fund, 1963; National Register application forms; Biennial Conference minutes and appendices, 1959
Plastic binder for Biennial Conference, 1973
Biennial Conference reports, 1979
Notes and papers on National and State Branch constitutions, c.1959-83,
Notes and papers on National and State Branch constitutions, c.1959-79, including amendments, together with memorandum and articles of association of the New South Wales College of Nursing, 1952
Florence Nightingale Centenary Fund correspondence, minutes and papers, 1954-58, including trust deed

Box 16Florence Nightingale Scholarship Register, A-F
Florence Nightingale Scholarship Register, G-M
Florence Nightingale Scholarship Register, N-Z
Biennial Conference reports, 1957-77
Florence Nightingale Centenary Fund balance sheet and statement of account, 1963
Executive Committee reports, 1956-80
Copies of National Florence Nightingale Committee and Working Party minutes, November 1991 and March, July, November 1992
Original and photocopied correspondence of Garland Hawthorn Brahe solicitors, 1992
Copies of ratifications made by state branches of resolutions passed 6 November 1991, together with a copy of the FNC Constitution, 25 October 1979 (retyped November 1991)
Annotated copy of draft scholarship guidelines
Annotated draft Deed of Trust
Final signed Deed of Trust, 1993

Box 17Submission to the Committee of Inquiry Into Education and Training, 1977
Submission on nursing education, c.1963
Selection of student nurses : a review of some studies relating to the selection of the general nursing student, 1963
Survey of nurse education in Western Australia, 1962
The preparation of the nurse today and in the future, 1969
Nursing education in Victoria, 1962-63
National Florence Nightingale Committee of Australia handbook, c.1960, c.1969
Old International's Association address list, 1958, 1962
The lamp radiant : the story of an association of nurses from many lands, 1955
Florence Nightingale International Nurses Association list of members, 1966
Nightingale power : anachronism or challenge for contemporary Australian nursing, 1981
Monash University Graduation Ceremony program, 1974
Nurse education and training : report of the Committee of Inquiry Into Nurse Education and Training to the Tertiary Education Commission, 1978
Grey & scarlet, 1981
Nursing education : what can we afford?, 1977
University education for nurses : for what purpose?, 1975
Teaching of the legal responsibility of the nurse, c.1961
Nineteenth report of the Hospitals and Charities Commission, 1967
Search and research, action and reaction for learning and re-learning in nursing, 1973
...the countdown has begun...(16th Florence Nightingale Oration), 1983
The work of nurses in hospital wards : report of a job-analysis, 1953
Comment on the Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust job analysis of the work of nurses in hospital wards, 1953
Central Midwives Board rules, 1948
National Florence Nightingale Memorial Committee policy manual, 1948
The way ahead, 1979
Nursing education : Australian made, 1985

Box 18
Added April 12 2002

Miscellaneous papers of the National Florence Nightingale Committee of Australia, including constitutional amendments, newsletters (1987-91), policy manual (1948) and handbook
  Papers associated with the National Nursing Education Division, 1962-64
  Minutes and reports submitted to the National Florence Nightingale Committee of Australia from state branches, 1987-91
  Papers relating to the formation of the Florence Nightingale Memorial Trust, 1991-93
  Miscellaneous copies of Old internationals’ Association news letter (1961-64) and Florence Nightingale International Nurses Association news letter, (1964-70). Note: change of name occurred in 1964.
  Miscellaneous printed copies of Florence Nightingale Orations, 1950-86
  Papers and booklets relating to the international origins of the National Florence Nightingale Committee of Australia, 1948-89

Folio box 1National Florence Nightingale Memorial Committee Post Graduate Nurses Register