Paulson, Esther (1906-2004)

  • See Esther Paulson fonds 3 and OH147
  • See Pages of History Fonds 18, Subseries 9, Files 2

Esther Paulson was born in New Westminster on April 9.  She graduated from the Royal Columbian Hospital School of Nursing in 1928 and began her lifelong interest in tuberculosis as a staff nurse in the Tuberculosis building at the Royal Columbian Hospital.  In 1940, she joined the Metropolitan Health Committee in Vancouver, and in 1942 was on loan to the Division of Tuberculosis Control. One year later, she was appointed Director of Nursing for the province, overseeing nursing care for patients in Vancouver, Victoria, and Tranquille.  Her career in TB nursing continued until she retired in 1966 from being Director of Nursing at Pearson Hospital.

After retirement, Esther remained an active member of the Registered Nurses’ Association of BC, holding offices of secretary, Vice President and President (1951-1953).  She received the Centennial medal in 1967 for her contributions to the control of tuberculosis in Canada, and an Honorary Life Membership in the Canadian Lung Association for her leadership in the advancement of TB nursing in Canada.  Esther published numerous articles on TB nursing and professional issues in journals such as The Canadian Nurse and RNABC News.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Biographical Information Profile
  2. Transcript of interview with Irene Goldstone February 21, 1987.
  3. Transcript of interview by Ethel Warbinek October 1992.
  4. Transcript of interview by Ethel Warbinek, February 3, 1993.
  5. Biographical information, UBC School of Nursing History Project, March 1993.
  6. Autobiography, 1993.
  7. Letter from Mabel Gray to Paulson, August 16, 1933.
  8. Letter congratulating Paulson for winning $20 Provincial Board of Health Prize in nursing.
  9. Letter from Esther Paulson August 7, 1940 with reply by Amy Edwards, Supervisor Welfare Field Service.
  10. Letter from Alice Wright June 29, 1953.
  11. Letter from Dr. Taylor, Deputy Minister of Health, June 24, 1966.
  12. Awards received:
    1. Photocopied UBC diploma in Public Health nursing, 1934.
    2. Provincial Board of Health Prize in Nursing, 1934.
    3. Photocopy of Paulson notice of award of a Canadian Centennial Medal, July1, 1967.
    4. Photocopies of Honorary Life Membership Certificate, letter, and dedication from the Canadian Tuberculosis Association, 1968.
    5. Honorary life memberships, RNABC History of Nursing Group, April 19, 1994, and the Canadian Tuberculosis Association.
  13. Articles by Paulson
    1. “Private Duty in British Columbia,” The Canadian Nurse 30 (7) (1936), 317.
    2. “The Scope and Challenge of Tuberculosis Nursing”, The Canadian Nurse, 42,  (1) January 1946, 29-32.
    3. _________, Stalker, H.S. and Nichol, W.J., “A Tuberculosis Minimal Care Unit”, Nursing Outlook 8 (11) (1950), 620.
    4. Address of the President, RNABC Annual Meeting, May 8-10 1952.
    5. “Nursing Round-Up”, The Canadian Nurse, 49 (2) February 1953, 89-91.
    6. Address of the President, RNABC Annual Meeting, June 5-6, 1953.
    7. “The Structure Study C.N.A. by Pauline Jewitt.  Is it the Answer?”  The Canadian Nurse 50 (2) (1954), 111-115.
    8. ________ and Kunderman, Eleanor, “Tuberculosis Nursing in British Columbia,” Nursing Outlook 4 (7) (1956), 404-407.
    9. “TB Nursing: Has It Changed?”  Your Health 24 (3-4), March-April 1959, 10.
    10. The School of Nursing at the Royal Columbia Hospital and NursingEducation in Canada 1901-1976, excerpt, pp. 34-35.
    11. With Millard, N. and Harkness, I., “Nursing Care Requirements for a Polio Unit”, The Canadian Nurse 59 (7) (1963), 624-631.
    12. “Some Reminiscences,” RNABC News, June/July 1972, pp. 18-19.
    13. “TB Nursing 1908-1968”. 1987, unpublished.
    14. “The School of Nursing at R.C.H. and Nursing Education in Canada 1901-1976”.  1976, revised 1987, unpublished.
    15. “Tribute to Anna Dickman Lam,” History of Nursing News, Spring 1996, p. 5.
    16. “Summary of Different States of Tuberculosis and resources for treatment and later prevention from 1900-1970.”  (1996)
    17. “East Kootenay Health and Welfare Service 1935-1938”. BC Historical News, Fall 1997, pp. 17-21.
    18. “The Impressions of a Young Swedish Nurse on the ICN Congress and Vancouver”  Translated by Paulson from Vardfacket, the official journal of the Swedish Health Care System, Nr. 7, July-August 1997.
    19. “Highlights of the ICN Congress”, Translated by Paulson from Vardfacket, the official journal of the Swedish Health Care System, Nr. 7, July-August 1997.
    20. “Memories of Scharley Wright Brown and Helen Randal”, 2000. An unpublished monograph based on an interview by Jacqueline Ratzlaff.
  14. “Arduous Trip to Bring Out St. Mary’s Lake Prospector.”  Unsourced newspaper article.
  15. White, Marguerite, “American, Newfoundland Nurses to be Welcomed at C.N.A. Parley”.  On the 1950 biennium.
  16. Kermacks, Claire, Biographical Outline, 1983.
  17. Fletcher, Anne, “Times Change, Caring Doesn’t”, The Vancouver Sun, February 16, 1987, p. F8.
  18. Letter from P. Cutshall to E. Paulson May 25, 1995.
  19. Letters to Beth Fitzpatrick from Paulson, March 28 and April 3, 1996.
  20. List of donations to RNABC Archives
  21. Zilm, Glennis and Ethel Warbinek, “Fighting a Dangerous Legacy” Esther Paulson:Pioneer in Tuberculosis Care in BC”.  For BC Historical News, 1996.
  22. Article submitted for “Pages of History”, 2002.
  23. Warbinek, Ethel, “In Memory of Esther Paulson 1906-2004”, History of Nursing News, March 2004, pp. 1-2.
  24. “Esther Paulson” ” from Glennis Zilm and Ethel Warbinek, “TB Nurses in BC 1895-1960:  A Biographical Dictionary”: White Rock, 2006.
  25. Obituaries
  26. Photographs: Paulson’s graduation, photocopied; ca. 1950; 1953; 1987; colour (1998).
  27. Exhibit Materials
  28. Seven digital photographs, some with notes, of Paulson’s early nursing. (On