Archives

Welcome to the Archives of Saint Thomas Hospital!

The history of Saint Thomas Hospital dates back to 1898 when the Daughters of Charity established an infirmary in what had been the beautiful suburban home of Judge Joseph McGavock Dickinson.  Over a century later, the Archives collects, preserves, organizes, and makes available all materials that have a permanent value for the history of the hospital, and acts as a resource center for medical staff, historians, and other qualified researchers.

What sort of materials does the Archives collect?

•    Departmental and organizational minutes, correspondence, bulleting, brochures and other publications and photographs.
•    Personal reminiscences of the hospital
•    Programs and photographs of past and contemporary events

What sort of materials are in the Archives?

•    A history of the early days of the hospital, written by Sister Philomena Coupe, who became the first administrator in 1898.
•    The souvenir program of the grand opening of the new Saint Thomas Hospital on Hayes Street in 1902.
•    Lists of past administrators and presidents of the medical staff, administrative boards, and volunteers.
•    Illustrated catalogs and photographs from the Saint Thomas School of Nursing, which graduated its first class in 1905 and its last in 1970.
•    Back issues of the employee newsletters
•    Photographs and programs of hospital anniversaries, such as the 100th anniversary celebration in 1998.
•    Clippings and photographs documenting over 50 years of open-heart surgery.

The montages of photographs in the corridors of the hospital are from the Saint Thomas Hospital Archives. They can be reproduced on request. The book A Century of Caring, 1898-1998, is a history of the first hundred years of the hospital, and is available in the Gift Shop.  The book Heart to Heart, a History of the Saint Thomas Hospital School of Nursing, 1902-1970, is another book book published with assistance from the Archives. The information and photographs in both books are from the Archives.

If you are interested in adding your documents, photographs, or memorabilia to the Archives, where they will become a part of the permanent history of Saint Thomas Hospital please, contact the Archivist.

Archives of Saint Thomas Hospital
The Julius Jacobs Health Sciences Library
Phone: 615-222-3853 or 615-222-6658
Fax: 615-222-6765
Email: Jhaley@stthomas.org