Books and Manuscripts

Two Typed Letters Regarding A Pioneering Public Health Nurse

Osler, William
Typed Letter, signed and annotated 
Baltimore, December 2, 1904. Single sheet, 6 3/8 x 9 1/8 in. (162 x 232 mm). Warm one-page typed letter, signed, annotated, and with an autograph postscript, by William Osler, to nurse Reba Thelin--the first tuberculosis nurse at John Hopkins Hospital and in Baltimore--regarding her decision on whether to stay in Baltimore and continue her work treating TB patients: “Dear Miss Thelin:- Are you giving up altogether, or do you wish to go ahead for another year? It seems a pity for you to interrupt the work! Sincerely yours, W Osler (1) Unless for a definite reason connected with your heart”. On Osler's 1, West Franklin Street home address stationery; creasing from contemporary folds.

Together with:

Osler, William
Typed Letter, signed
Oxford, February 13, 1906. Single sheet, 7 1/8 x 8 7/8 in. (181 x 225 mm). One-page typed letter, signed by Osler to an unknown recipient, being a letter of recommendation for Ms. Thelin: “To whom it may concern. Miss Thelin has been known to me for some years past. She is a highly trained nurse and very much interested in the subject of tuberculosis. She has exceptional qualifications for taking charge of an institution. (Signed). Wm Osler.” On Osler's Oxford University stationery, with blind-stamped coat of arms of the University at top; creasing from contemporary folds.

A group of two letters from noted physician William Osler regarding pioneering public health nurse Reba Thelin. Thelin, a 1902 graduate of John Hopkins Training School for Nurses, was hired by John Hopkins Hospital in 1903 as their first tuberculosis nurse. She was tasked with providing a novel treatment championed by Osler of providing home care and hygienic instruction for tuberculosis patients.

Since 1889, Osler had urged home treatment and instruction for TB patients, believing that if they better understood the disease and carried out proper hygiene under the supervision of a physician, death could be prevented and suffering lessened. That same year Osler called for volunteers from senior medical students at John Hopkins to partake in a year-long study to visit patients in their homes and instruct them on the nature of the disease, ways to prevent it, and to report on domestic conditions in which the disease could arise. When the program ended Osler was allocated a special fund by the hospital to hire a full-time nurse to continue the program, and 32-year-old Thelin was hired. While her medical training provided her with no instruction in public health, it can be gleaned from the above letters that she excelled at the pioneering position, often with the encouragement of Osler and other doctors at Hopkins who understood the challenges she faced. In her role she was to ensure that patients received fresh air, rest, and regular meals, and she reported directly to Osler, informing him of her patients condition and progress, and also making reports for the State Health Board. After a year in the field and, as can be seen here, against Osler's urging, Thelin resigned her position to work at Lilian Wald's New York Henry Street Settlement.

A fine group of two letters regarding pioneering work in public health.