The history of nursing is an important chapter in the history of women. So it seemed appropriate that Queen's School of Nursing would celebrate it's 50th birthday with a handicraft that has traditionally been a product of women's hands, a commemorative quilt. "It represents women's artistic way of contributing to the world," said Rita Malony, Dean of the School of Nursing .

This magnificent quilt, designed by Kingston artist Roslyn Hanes, is the handiwork of 15 members of the Kingston Heirloom Quilters.

The centre panel features the Queen's University School of Nursing 50th Anniversary logo superimposed on a scene depicting a trio of male and female students, dressed in the nursing hood and framed by Florence Nightingale lamps, moving toward the traditional site of graduation ceremonies, Grant Hall.

A vine that embraces the centre panel, bears the thistle, shamrock, rose and pine trees of the Queen's crest.

Each of the symbols included in the border represent an institution or place where Queen's nurses have made a difference.

Clockwise from the top are:

• Summerhill, the School of Nursing home until 1981
• Ontario Psychiatric Hospital
• An airplane representing the Queen's-Moose Factory program
• Kingston General Hospital
• The Kingston Frontenac, Lennox & addington Health Unit
• The Victorian Order of Nurses
• Hotel Dieu Hospital.

After the 1991 Sesquicentennial festivities, the Queen's School of Nursing 50th Anniversary Commemorative Quilt was entrusted into the care of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queen's University, Kingston ON, for inclusion in the Heritage Quilt Collection.

For a more detailed picture, click on quilt.

Send questions and comments to: khq at quiltskingston.org
Last modified by dhh: November 16, 2006