The early years of Memorial University School of Nursing are documented in a new website that includes a virtual exhibit of the papers of Joyce Nevitt, the first director of the school. The project is part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the school.

Shaina Goudie, a graduate student in history at Memorial University, compiled material for the website over five months. The work included going through 18 boxes of papers from Ms. Nevitt and transcribing all handwritten materials. She worked with Marilyn Beaton, a faculty member in the School of Nursing with a particular interest in the school’s history, as well as archivists Stephanie Harlick, Linda White and Bert Riggs.

The virtual exhibit includes a biography of Ms. Nevitt as well as archival documents on the establishment and development of the School of Nursing, speeches and memoirs, and correspondence and miscellany.

The website also includes a list of directors of the school, faculty members, early class lists and a variety of photos from the school’s early years.

In addition to the work available on the website, Ms. Goudie also recorded videotapes with past directors Drs. Caroline White and Marianne Lamb as well as former faculty members Ruby Dewling and Marilyn Marsh. Ms. Goudie expects that the material available on this archival website will expand in future to include more materials representing 40 years of nursing history at Memorial.

The website can be viewed at www.mun.ca/nursing/archives/.