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Rare 1896 Colorado Nursing Diploma – St. Luke’s Hospital Training School for Nurses – Denver, Colorado – Lucy Eldridge – Historic Leadville Framing
Offered is an original nursing diploma/certificate issued to Lucy Eldridge by the St. Luke’s Hospital Training School for Nurses in Denver, Colorado, dated July 11, 1896.
The certificate states that Lucy Eldridge successfully completed the hospital’s two-year course of instruction and practical training in nursing.
This is an unusually early piece of Colorado nursing and medical history dating from a period when formal hospital-based nursing schools were still developing in the American West.
An especially interesting feature is the original backing and framing label:
Leadville Wall Paper and Paint Co.
613 Harrison Ave.
Leadville, Colorado
The Leadville city directories document residents, occupations and businesses from this period, and the Leadville directory collection survives today. No directory was published in 1896, making the 1897 directory the first directory following Lucy Eldridge’s graduation.
The Leadville framing label establishes that this diploma had a historical Leadville, Colorado association. It is possible that Lucy Eldridge lived or practiced nursing in Leadville after completing her training in Denver; however, I have not located documentation proving that connection, so it is offered simply as an interesting area for future historical or genealogical research.
Leadville had an active medical community during this period, including hospitals and private-duty nurses, making the Leadville association particularly interesting.
The diploma remains in its old frame with its original aged backing. The frame and backing show substantial age, wear and deterioration consistent with a piece approximately 130 years old. Please examine all photographs carefully for condition.
I have intentionally left the original backing and framing label intact because they are important evidence of the piece’s Leadville history.
A very interesting item for collectors of:
Colorado history
Leadville history
Denver history
Medical history
Nursing history
Women’s history
St. Luke’s Hospital memorabilia
Victorian-era documents
Colorado genealogy
Name: Lucy Eldridge
Institution: St. Luke’s Hospital Training School for Nurses
Location: Denver, Colorado
Date: July 11, 1896
Course: Two-year nursing training program
Framing: Leadville Wall Paper and Paint Co., 613 Harrison Avenue, Leadville, Colorado
Sold as an original historical artifact exactly as photographed.
