Make a Gift - Bring the Past to Life
Today we can identify numerous examples of “history repeating itself.” Consider these two examples in health care. First, Americans are experiencing a return to the provision of home care for the sick and elderly, as hospitals struggle with overcrowding and HMOs continue to narrow the requirements for in-patient care. Until the mind-20th century, nursing home visits were customary. Parish nursing is one example of a growing movement in professional nursing that combines home care with spirituality, creating an environment much like the one nurses and their patients experienced over a century ago. Second, American health care providers are faced with the uncertainty that accompanies a domestic resurgence of tuberculosis. One hundred years ago, many nurses throughout the nation specialized in caring for tuberculosis patients.
These examples beg the question: What can we learn from the accumulated knowledge of nurses throughout history as we face health care challenges in the twenty-first century? As one of only two university centers for the scholarly study of nursing history in the United States, the Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry (CNHI) at the University of Virginia is committed to answer this question in thoughtful and creative terms. Faculty and student researchers affiliated with the CNHI believe that when national health care challenges are understood from a historical perspective, current practitioners can more effectively benchmark best practices and develop new treatments.
The Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry was established in 1991 by long-time nursing faculty member Barbara Brodie, who remains Associate Director. Under the current leadership of Dr. Arlene Keeling, this national center has maintained its stellar commitment to encouraging the study of nursing history, preserving the historical record of the nursing profession, and mining that record for the knowledge and important lessons it unveils. The history center provides unique opportunities for students and scholars of nursing and health care history to explore the creation of the American health care system and the role that professional nurses played in shaping it, and to generate new knowledge.
Since its establishment, the center has flourished, obtaining rich archival collections from organizations and individual nurse leaders, as well as a diverse and extensive photographic collection from many sources. Scholars have conducted a wide range of research projects, from a study of the challenges faced by nurses and physicians caring for the Ellis Island immigrants, to the development of coronary care and emergency nursing. The possible topics worthy of historical inquiry remain nearly limitless.
A gift to name or endow any component of the Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry will help ensure that future generations of nurses and health care providers benefit from the discoveries made and lessons learned by past practitioners.
Naming Opportunities in the Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry
| The Center |
$1,500,000 |
| Unrestricted Endowment |
$1,000,000 |
| Endowed Research Fund |
$500,000 |
| Two Endowed Fellowships ($100,000 each) |
$200,000 total |
| Visiting Scholars Endowed Fund |
$100,000 |
| Endowed Lectureship |
$50,000 [Reserved] |
For more information on making a gift to the Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry, contact a development officer.