1900-11 Handwritten Album & Diary St Vincents Hospital Portland OR Marysville WA

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1900-11 Handwritten Album & Diary St Vincents Hospital Portland OR Marysville WA:
$60.00

WELCOMETO SALLY’S DIARIES:

Boththe diary and the autograph album originally belonged to Irma E.Bearce who lived in Marysville Washington State. She was born in 1886to the parents of William A. and Sarah Bearce. Irma became a nurseand was trained (and worked) at St. Vincent’s Hospital in PortlandOregon.

Theautograph album dates from 1900-1901 so Irma is just 14 years oldwhen she began this autograph album. The diary however is from1907-1910 and as far as Irma’s diary is concerned it contains 38handwritten pages and 29 of those are all about her work at St.Vincent’s Hospital in Portland Oregon. In fact there is one latersignature and sentiment in the autograph album that dates 1909 and isfrom someone at St. Vincent’s Hospital. In the front of the albumit says, “Irma Eva Bearce Marysville Washington.” The great thingabout this album is that it includes 8 small snapshot portraitphotos. Some of the names represented in the album are: T. J.Wallace, Bertha Beaman, John Hilton, Frank Farrar, Phoebe JaneNagley, Mary Gross, Mollie Anderson, Guy Gellerson, Eliza H.Houghton, Frances Solomon, Vernon E. Cady, Zella and Inez Spithell,Martha McLaughlin, Minnie Anderson, W. Gibbon (From St. Vincent’sHospital in Portland Oregon), Nina Mason, Mable Anderson, Uncle Peas,Neva Downing, Floss Lashua, May Mapes, Dorothy Bean, Mrs. E. Donovan,Billy Bram, Ulysses Jeans, Frank Workman, Coral Cecil Curtis, MaronaSchafer, Atha M. Dimick, Ellen Anderson, Mary Williams, Anna White,Willie S. Guy, Cassie Johnson, and more.

Mostof the places represented in the album are Marysville but the townsof Wendling Oregon, Monroe Washington, and Flagstaff Oregon are alsomentioned. On an additional note, I couldn’t find Flagstaff Oregononly Flagstaff Hill and that’s a remote and historical section ofSouthern Oregon and has to do with the Oregon Trail.

Thediary is kind of like a summary from when she began her training atthe end of 1907 through to 1911 when the entries suddenly stop. Hereare a few example entries from the diary…….

1907

“Enteredtraining November the twenty eight, Thanksgiving day. Was put on dutyon first floor with Miss O’Neal in the wards 29 and 31 and thethree private rooms, 22, 23, and 25. Sister Christiana in charge. Wassick and lost one day during probation, it being the day beforeChristmas. On January 23,1908 was put on duty on fourth floor inwards 104, 107 and 109 with Miss Peterie and Miss King, SisterJustina in charge. Stayed only two days when I was changed to thewards 116 and 118, with Sister John of Egypt in charge. Worked in 116and 118 a little over a week, was then given the fever ward, 122,where I stayed a few days and was given 116 and 118 again where Istayed until March the eighth when I began my night work with MissStilson, Miss Lau, Miss Sellers, Miss Douglas and Miss Laura McDonaldwith Sister Ignasus and sister Mary in charge.” (She then headsto Astoria Oregon and also spends time in Seaside Oregon.)

“Sundaythe _______ (shedoesn’t write the date) wentout on specialduty. My patient being a little boy aged six with Cholera Morbis, hisname being Arthur Hilderbrand. Dr. Kinney being in charge, stayeduntil ______ (Againshe doesn’t write the date) whenthe patient was taken worse and I went back for four days. When Icame back I took my old office on the third floor where I stayeduntil Oct. 27. When I came to second floor taking the private roomsin Miss Stevenson’s place, working with Sister Amy and Miss Kurath.On the 27 of October I sponged for two operations, one for theremoval of a fractured rib and one an appendectomy, this being myfirst experience in the surgery.”(She talks about more operations, one being a young woman who endedup dying.)

1909

“OnWednesday morning March 3rd,went to work in Hogan’s Alley on the 2ndfloor working for surgery putting up aprons and gauzeand sheets, etc. and helping sterilize. Thursday morning worked forsurgery until 8:30, went on special with Mrs. Black in room 124 onfourth floor, plastic work on face. Dr. Tilzer and Dr. Rockey. Stayeduntil Sunday morning when patient went home…..”

“May16th,went on special duty in room 50 for Dr. Trommald, the patient being aman who was injured in Invan and Poukam Mill having the right armamputated at shoulder joint, the left broken and dislocated, a brokenjaw, broken collarbone, broken rib and many small wounds. Stayeduntil June 30, the patient having recovered.”

1910

“Feb.20th,went to Sanatorium, sick for 2 days. April 20 taken sick withdiphtheria. Did not work again until May 11. Came back home May 7th,May 11, 9 A.M. went on duty on second floor in 41 & 43, SisterMary DeSocos in charge and Miss McKinna in 46. Graduation June 1,1910. “The Seven Wonder”. June 2 began night duty on 5thfloor in 102 and the wing. Sat. morning June 11 taken sick. Sundaywent to 500 on the 5thfloor, Thursday June 16 had operations. Went to 502 after operation.Dr. Tucker and Dr. Peas being my doctors. Dr. Brook gavethe anesthetic. Stitches removed, ThursdayJune 23. Was up in wheel chair for about ½ hour. Friday walked avery little. Sunday walked quite a good deal. Sunday walked to 23 andWashington, Tuesday June 28. Left Portland on the 8:30 train forWendling. Arrivedin W. about 5 P.M. July 4thin Marcola, had a good time, dance in the evening. Got home at 5:30in the A.M. Sat. July 9thClaud, Nera, Carland and I started for the Mohawk on a fishing trip.Started about 7 P.M.reached camp about 8:30. Got up at 5 A.M. had breakfast and startedon horseback up the Mohawk, fished all day. Started for home about8:30, arrived at 10 o’clock and brought a nicemess of fish.(she heads to Newport the next day and by August 30thback on duty at the hospital.)

Shecontinues on for several more pages for the year 1911. At one pointshe goes to Hood River Oregon for a patient. And the last page hasher in Yamhill Oregon with another patient.

Thereare also 10 pages in the back with handwritten poems. The diary’scover is very worn and torn around the edges but the binding andpages themselves look good. It measures about 3 3/4” x 6”. Theautograph album is in poor shape because the cover is falling off andthe outside spine is all torn up. A few pages are also loose.