Florence

1892 · 184236 — London: 1892-1938. I do not for a moment doubt that you will master or mistress the situation A group of encouraging letters to a younger nurse and mentee. De Laney trained at Nightingale's school for nurses and afterwards held senior positions in hospitals around the country. Nightingale's letters came at critical points of her career offering considered advice support and sympathy. They are accompanied by documents from de Laney's second occupation as housekeeper for the House of Lords. Amelia de Laney 1848-1940 attended the Nightingale Training School at St Thomas's Hospital between 1883 and 1886. Nightingale sent the first letter in 1891 when de Laney was considering leaving the Birmingham Workhouse Infirmary for a more senior role at the Royal Hospital for Consumption in Ventnor. Nightingale was cautiously supportive of the move. She wrote that de Laney "should have the promotion which you have well earned" but observed that the role came with a long list of duties: in addition to managing the care of patients and supervising her staff she would need to hire and train nurses look after the ten buildings and oversee the washing and cooking. Regardless Nightingale affirmed that "I do not for a moment doubt that you will master or mistress the situation if you are appointed". Nightingale provided Ventnor with an excellent reference for de Laney but the board rejected her for being insufficiently well-born. Instead de Laney moved in 1894 to a position as matron at the newly founded Epileptic Colony in Chalfont St Peter. Nightingale privately expressed her concerns to her friend Henry Bonham Carter commenting that the work was "entirely new. It is not hospital work at all. It seems to me an immense responsibility" McDonald pp. 230-31. Her concerns were proved valid. Nightingale's second letter dated April 1897 enquired after reports that de Laney had left her post. In her third letter dated May the same year Nightingale wrote to de Laney that "I grieve that you were obliged to resign & that you so much need rest" reassuring her that "you have done a good work & you will do much more good work for our cause". The fourth letter sent a month after extended Nightingale's ongoing sympathy for de Laney's "grief and distress". De Laney ultimately left nursing altogether. In 1902 she began working in the House of Lords holding the position until retirement in 1919. The correspondence here includes notices of appreciation sent on behalf of the Archduchess Maria Annunciata and Queen Alexandra. Other items include a letter from Nightingale seeking de Laney's address; an invitation card for an event at the Nightingale Training school; a document granting de Laney rooms in Westminster; a copy of Cecil Woodham-Smith's Florence Nightingale 1820-1910 1950; and a collection of clippings on Nightingale. Together 10 items: 5 autograph letters signed in black ink and pencil 1 across 2 single sheets with mourning borders 223 x 125 mm and four on bifolia 177 x 115 mm with 11 sides of writing; typed letter signed on single sheet notepaper; facsimile letter from the Home Office; invitation card; group of ephemera including newspaper cuttings and manuscript list; book octavo original blue cloth spine lettered in silver top edge blue. Modern bookplate of historian Arnold Daly Briscoe to front pastedown of volume extremities rubbed with occasional spots of wear; letters lightly creased from folding some lightly foxed one partially split along former folds. Overall a very well-preserved collection. Lynn McDonald ed. Florence Nightingale: Extending Nursing. Collected Works of Florence Nightingale vol. 13 2009. hardcover