(Henderson, Nev.; June 1, 2012) – St. Rose Dominican Hospitals and the Henderson District Public Libraries unveiled today its “Women of St. Rose” digital historic collection. The collection preserves and documents more than 65 years of history of St. Rose Dominican Hospitals and the women who were an integral part of that history.
The collection includes the 1947 dedication book of St. Rose Dominican Hospitals – Rose de Lima Campus that features intricate drawings and signatures of those who attended the opening ceremony. Also in the collection are applications for volunteers, asking female applicants such questions as “What does your husband do?” and “Do you drive?” Hospital annals are also preserved within the collection, thoroughly documenting the early days of what was then called Rose de Lima Hospital.
All documents have been scanned and preserved in archival-quality document holders. The collection is searchable by key words to help researchers or those simply interested in the history of St. Rose and the community.
“It was such a joy to work with St. Rose in preserving these materials for future generations,” said Wendy Walker, Digital Projects Librarian. “What stood out to me in going through the materials were the central roles not just the Adrian Dominican Sisters played in shaping the hospital but those the women of our early community played.”
L-R: Sister Katie McGrail, OP, Vice President of Mission Integration-Siena Campus,
Tom Fay, Director-Henderson District Public Libraries;
Wendy Walker, Digital Projects Librarian
Walker said documents such as meeting minutes and the volunteer applications are windows into the past for women, their roles in family and society and how the hospital was an anchor within the community.
“We are so thankful that the Henderson Libraries reached out to us to help us preserve our historic documents,” said Sister Katie McGrail, Vice President of Mission Integration at St. Rose Dominican Hospitals – Siena Campus. “This collection makes the history of St. Rose and the Adrian Dominican Sisters available to the community.”
The collection can be accessed digitally by visiting the library website, clicking on the Research tab, then the Local History tab or at: www.mypubliclibrary.com/catalog/library/userdef/digitalcollections.aspx .
