School of Nursing: Connections

A pioneering proposal by a School of Nursing pioneer

"...The cold fall day, sharp and clear, is etched on my mind forever... I presented the courses, and there was complete silence... Finally Dr. Goodrich said, ‘Does this mean the words ‘gynecology’ and ‘obstetrics’ would appear in the catalogue?’ I said ‘Yes.’ And there was more silence while they thought about this. Finally Dr. Goodrich said, ‘I move the adoption of this curriculum.’ Dr. Benson put it to vote, and it passed . . The drama of the moment was heady." - Kathleen Leahy, as interviewed by Cora Lawrence.

Kathleen Leahy, first faculty member hired by Soule, assisted with administrative duties and took over much of the supervisory role for the public health nursing program. She also stood in for Soule when she was away, as in the above presentation to the University Curriculum Committee in 1930 about Soule’s revolutionary four-year nursing major. From study and teaching at Stanford and the University of Oregon, Leahy understood nursing’s role in the university and a Rockefeller Grant to study nursing education around the United States broadened these views. Leahy and Soule comprised the full-time staff for two years before Henrietta Adams was added in 1929 as the first teaching assistant. "They were partners and classmates in community research during 1928-29, shared the teaching of the graduate seminars, and shared a common dedication and spiritual motivation." - From the doctoral dissertation of Cora Lawrence, "University Education for Nursing in Seattle, 1912-1950."

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