Ella Thomas Whitten papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

No use restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Ella Thomas Whitten Papers, MS-59, Historical Collections & Services, Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.

Summary

Extent:
2 Linear Feet 2 boxes and 14 artifacts and 14 items
Language:
English, French
Preferred citation:

Ella Thomas Whitten Papers, MS-59, Historical Collections & Services, Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of 28 folders containing postcards, photographs, and publications pertaining to Ella Thomas Whitten's experiences in World War I and later service as a nurse in Virginia. The collection also includes 9 certificates and diplomas recieved by Ella Thomas Whitten throughout her nursing career. 14 nursing artifacts, mostly related to Ella Thomas Whitten's service during World War I, are cataloged with the medical artifacts collection and are also listed as part of this collection.

Includes images of trench digging, bombardment sites, and German prisoners.

Postcards from the Chicago Daily News War Postals, include captions in English

Subjects unidentified. One postcard is stamped "Grout Blois Photo," likely from Blois, France.

Item number 1 is possibly a photograph of Ella Thomas Whitten.

Item number 4 shows a soldier standing in front of a house and palm trees. The reverse of the image contains text: "Frank, It's awful hot down here today, I am turning black. Al."

Postcards depict various French cities and landscapes

Both postcards are labeled "Blois, France."

Postcard sent to Hospital Américain #43 in Blois, France. Postcard depicts Monte-Carlo, message reads "Am down at Nice at last & having a fine time. Was over at Monte Carlo yesterday, but didn't win a fortune. Bestest, Lew Shepherd(?)."

Postcard sent to Covesville, VA from France. Postcard depicts Monte-Carlo, message reads "I am spending my furlough in Nice, went to Monte Carlo day before yesterday, am having a good time [unknown]."

Includes images of Nièvre, Digne, Arcy-sur-Cure, Bretagne, Amboise, Monte Carlo, and other locations.

Includes images of Arcy-sur-Cure, Chambord, Amboise, and Brest.

Includes images of Vierzon, Nice, Loup, La Turbie, Nevers, Cosne, and Vezelay.

Includes images from Sologne, Leon, Velay, and other locations.

Soldiers are identified by name in writing on the front of the postcard: Row 1: "Unidentified, Fabaiano, E. Pope, Creeknore Richmond VA, Wread, Slobda, Puchella." Row 2: "Sorenson, Morgan, Anderson, F.E.B., Longson, Owens, Bartoes, Johnson".

No text on verso, but front of postcard is annotated with the words "Anne of Bretagne."

Includes images of steamer ships, trains, Monaco, and unknown locations.

The photograph shows a certificate given to Ella Whitten by the Graduate Nurses Association of Virginia for her service during WWI.

Written on the 60th anniversary of Armistice Day.

Mess kit inscribed "1917 Ft. Sill Camp Mill"

Hand-beaded flower decoration for a WWI soldier's grave.

Pins and patches related to the American Red Cross and WWI Nursing.

Dates on certificate represent the period that the United States was actively involved in WWI, not necessarily Ella T. Whitten's dates of service.

Diploma is in Latin.

Biographical / historical:

Ella Thomas Whitten was born in Faber, Nelson County, Virginia on 7 February 1890, to William Thomas Whitten and Martha Ann Clements, and had nine brothers and sisters. In 1915 she graduated from the Davis-Fischer Sanatorium Training School of Atlanta, Georgia. When she was 27, she enlisted as a nurse in the United States Army Nurse Corps, and traveled overseas to serve in Blois, France, at Base Hospital No. 43, a unit sponsored by Emory University. She finished her service and returned to the United States in 1918. After the war, she received a certificate of commendation from the Graduate Nurses Association of Virginia for her service. She later attended the College of William and Mary, attaining a certificate in public health nursing from the School of Social Work and Public Health of the College of William and Mary in 1933, and graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1937. Whitten was a long-time member of the American National Red Cross and the Graduate Nurses Association of Virginia. She received an American Red Cross certificate for 50 years of service in 1967. In 1958 she married Dr. Carl Clinton; the couple lived in Lynchburg, Virginia. Dr. Clinton died 12 January 1969, and Ella Whitten Akers died 2 March 1984. Both are buried in Faber, Virginia.

Acquisition information:
The materials were donated to the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library in or before 2000.
Arrangement:

Materials are arranged by type and chronology.

Physical description:
2 linear feet: 1 box with the dimensions of 5.5 inches x 10 inches x 15.5 inches and 1 box with the dimensions 17.25 x 3.5 x 11.5
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard