SOCI 2043B: Sociology of the Family – Canada’s WW1 Nursing Sisters: Profiles from the frontlines
Canada’s WW1 Nursing Sisters: Profiles from the frontlines
SOCI 2043B: Sociology of the Family, Winter 2022
Instructor: Dr. Kathleen Moss
This course introduces students to diverse forms of family and kinship ties in Canada and the theoretical background necessary for analyzing them sociologically. We discuss the changing nature of families which impact past and present issues affecting family life. It is here, that the second half of the course is devoted to exploring the socio-historical family life of nurses serving in the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC).
Using official CAMC nursing files and a database created specifically for entering the nurse profile information, students are able to populate the database and capturing the untold stories of nurses who served in CAMC and their family life in WW1. The historical information explored through primary evidence collecting will assist historians interested in Canadian nursing profiles from WW1.
This archival project is in collaboration with community partner, Big Ideas Group Consulting, and course support and content expertise from Dr. Dominique Marshall, Department of History at Carleton University, Dr. Lydia Wytenbroek from University of British Columbia’s School of Nursing, and Jessica McIntyre (Department Head of World Studies and Social Science at Glebe Collegiate Institute) and her grade 10 history class. Throughout the project, students have been uncovering similarities and differences in family relations and delving into the socio-economic, cultural, race, gender and epidemic issues impacting nurses and their families during the first half of the Twentieth Century.
At the conclusion of the inter-institutional project, Carleton undergraduate students and grade 10 history students came together to present a documentary and infographics on nursing profiles with reflections. Selected student work will be posted on the Recipro website, an initiative resulting from a partnership between the history departments of the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. Recipro is made possible thanks to a Shared Online Projects Initiative (SOPI) grant from the vice-provosts of both institutions.
Learning Outcomes and Competencies:
- Demonstrate basic archival knowledge by researching & analyzing nursing files;
- Students will learn and use archival research tools and develop as an independent researcher by watching and recording historical research, and contributing to the construction of a database for other researchers;
- Practice the collaborative nature of knowledge and good ways to work collaboratively, by working in groups;
- Demonstrate critical thinking, ability to reflect with content, discipline-specific knowledge, and diversity & intercultural awareness when completing the project;
- Make links between sociology and other disciplines; and
- Show sensitivity to ethical issues in the family and of historical work.
Student from the Gr. 10 History class at Glebe Collegiate Institute. Nursing Sisters’ Documentary.
As we share the stories of these brave women who perished, we hope to bring recognition not only to them for their ultimate sacrifice, but to highlight the narratives of many Canadians whose stories have not yet been told in our history textbooks. It is our honour to use our voices today, to speak for these brave women who can no longer speak for themselves.
GCI Grade 10 Canadian History Students
Jacob, a student enrolled in my 2nd year class summed up the process:
This assignment was so meaningful. Many of the nursing sisters don’t have a lot of vivid or thorough documentation accounting for their lives and their stories. There is a backlog of stories waiting to be discovered. I would love to have a digital copy of the letters to continue with the research. The database alone does not paint a full picture of who these nurses were. Context is so important to the entire research process. It was amazing to be able to research and attempt to give the nursing sisters the justice they deserve by trying to bring that context back into their lives. It was a pleasure to reflect on a small, but important piece of nursing history.
For Jacob this was more than a project, it was an exploration into the nursing profession where family connections, travel, morbidity, tragedy, and death were uncovered; it is a piece of Canadian history.
Reflections from our community partner
The most important thing from our perspective is that students have an opportunity to work in a much different way than they have traditionally been exposed to and, after watching the presentations last week, it is very rewarding for us to see the ownership of the work Prof. Moss and Jessica McIntyre have fostered in their classes. Not to mention that the lives of soldiers and Nursing Sisters are finally able to be brought back to focus; and their students certainly did that.
Mason Black
To view some of the projects, please click here, here, and here.