Tribbeck, Victoria Louise (1915- 2004)

Tribbeck (nee Protti), Victoria Louise (1915- 2004)

  • See Pages of History Fonds 18, Series 3, Subseries 9, File 2

Victoria Protti was born in Pocahontas, Alberta.  Because her parents both died when she was two, she was raised in a convent.  She received her RN from the Edmonton General Hospital in 1938.  She also received a Teaching and Supervision certificate from McGill in 1948, and a BSCN from the University of Alberta in 1965.  She worked at a number of hospitals in Alberta, and instructed at Edmonton General Hospital.  From 1955 to 1959 she was Assistant Director of Nursing at the Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.

Bernadet Ratsoy described Victoria as a mentor and innovator, who risked the repercussions of standing up to doctors whose work was poor.  She spent the latter years of her life in her White Rock home.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Biographical Information Profile
  2. Biographical release form
  3. Letter from Benadet Ratsoy to Jill Thompson, August 14, 2001.
  4. Letter from Tribbeck to Bernadet Ratsoy, January 24, 2001.
  5. Letter from Glennis Zilm to Ethel Warbinek, December 15, 2001.
  6. Two photographs
  7. Obituary

Trout, Margaret Ferne (1919-2006)

Trout, Margaret Ferne (1919-2006)

  • See Oral History files, Fonds 18, Series 3, Subseries 8
  • See Pages of History Fonds 18, Series 3, Subseries 9, File 2

Ferne  Trout was born in Arcola, Saskatchewan, growing up in various parts of British Columbia.  She attended UBC where she received her Bachelor of Arts in 1939, a diploma from VGH in 1942  and her Bachelor of Applied Science in Nursing from UBC in 1944.  Later she received a Diploma in Hospital Administration from the University of Toronto (1964).  During her UBC training she contracted tuberculosis and was hospitalized in Tranquille for six months, after which she ran the new affiliation program with the Division of TB control.

Her numerous positions included a year at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, itinerant instructor for the RNABC, Assistant Director of Nursing at the new Pearson Hospital in Vancouver, Educational Director of the Royal Inland Hospital, and Associate Executive Director for the Canadian Council on Hospital Accreditation.  Her final positions were Director of Patient Services at Shaughnessy Hospital in Vancouver from 1978-1980, and Director of Special Projects at the Vancouver General Hospital from 1980-1983.  After her retirement in 1983, her active life included taking a safari to Africa in her 80s.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Biographical Information Profile
  2. Biographical release form
  3. Biographical referral form
  4. Career autobiography of Ferne Trout.
  5. Biography from “1940’s Amazing Alumni Stories” on Internet
  6. Transcript of 1983 Oral History Interview by Audrey Stegen, March 4, 1993.
  7. Articles by Fern Trout
    1. “Tuberculosis Affiliation Course”, The Canadian Nurse (June 1945) 41 (6), 451-454.
    2. “Report of the Itinerant Instructors”.  Annual report, 1952.
    3. “The Nurse and the Family Physician”, Canadian Family Physician, June 1969, pp. 23-26.
    4. “The Doctor-Nurse Game”, RNABC News, August September 1969, pp. 5-6.
    5. “Medical Nursing Relationships”, RNABC News, February/March 1970, pp. 14-15.
    6. “Travelling Instructor”, January 1987.
    7. “Prologue” and “Kemano”, May 1996.
    8. “Diploma School of Nursing (1954-1957), Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops”, February 1998.  Paper submitted to the B.C. History of Nursing Professional Practice Group.
    9. “Open Heart Surgery”, 1998.
    10. “Memories of Nursing in British Columbia 1919-2006”.
    11. “The Art of Private Duty Nursing”
    12. “Northwest Territories”
    13. “Bella Coola.”
    14. “Safari in Kenya and Tanzania”
  8. “Nursing Profiles”, The Canadian Nurse, January 1951, p. 40.
  9. “Ferne Trout”, The.Canadian Nurse, October 1973, p. 26.
  10. “To the Graduating Class”, by Ferne Trout, ca. 195-.
  11. “In Appreciation of Ferne M. Trout”, ca. 195-.
  12. Correspondence between Ferne Trout and Glennis Zilm, 1998-2005.
  13. Letter from Trout to E. Warbinek, April 4, 2001
  14. Miscellaneous correspondence and other materials, 2006-2009.
  15. “In Memory: M. Ferne Trout”, History of Nursing News, 17 (2), July 2006.
  16. In Honour of M. Ferne Trout (Feb. 13, 1919-March 23, 2006).
  17. “Margaret Ferne Trout” from Trek, Spring 2007, p. 53.  Formerly UBC Alumni Chronicle.
  18. Obituary
  19. Funeral program

Twiddy, Martha Anna (1888-1965)

Twiddy, Martha Anna (1888-1965)

Martha (Annie) was born on a farm south of present day Madoc, Ontario.  After completing her matriculation at Albert College, Belleville, she moved to Saskatchewan, where she completed her training at the Moose Jaw General Hospital School of Nursing in 1913.  She followed this with six months of training in City Infectious Cases at the Women’s Hospital in Buffalo, New York.

In 1916 she joined the Canadian Army Medical Corps and travelled to England with the 8th Stationary Hospital.  Surgery for appendicitis led to her return to Canada, but in 1917 she was posted to the 2nd Canadian Hospital in France.   After the war she studied and worked in Buffalo, later taking her diploma in Public Health Nursing from the University of Toronto.  She worked for the VON in Trenton, then in 1928 became the first VON Public Health nurse in the Okanagan.  In her later years her hobbies included beekeeping and painting.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Biography by Robin Russell, 2014
  2. “Nursing Sister Martha Anna Twiddy”, Great Canadian War Project.
  3. “Officers’ Declaration Paper, Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force”, Library and Archives Canada.
  4. Two photocopied photographs
  5. Correspondence between Robin Russell and Glennis Zilm, 2014.

Uprichard, Muriel (1911-1995s)

Uprichard, Muriel (1911-1995)

  • See also UBC Archives

Never a nurse, Muriel Uprichard started her working life as a teacher.  During the Depression she taught in Saskatchewan schools, following which she studied at Queens University, receiving her BA in 1943, and subsequently her MA from Smith College.  She went to England on a British Council Scholarship, and received her PHd in educational psychology magna cum laude from the University of London in 1947.

On her return to Canada in 1948 she joined the Red Cross, and began to work as well with the Canadian Nurses’ Association.  She was a consultant to the CNA from 1950 to 1955 on an experiment to improve patient care.  A decade teaching at the University of Toronto was followed by teaching at the University of California’s School of Nursing from 1965 to 1971.  She was Director of the UBC School of Nursing from 1971 to 1977, tumultuous years in education; Ethel Warbinek describes her as “a woman of vision and a great conceptualizer and innovator”.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Correspondence between Dr. Uprichard and Beth McCann, 1971.
  2. Letter from Miss F.A. Kennedy, executive director of the Registered Nurses Association of British Columbia, 1971.
  3. Memos re visit by Dr. Uprichard to UBC School of Nursing, 1971.
  4. Letter from Sheila M. Stanton to School of Nursing Faculty, November 30, 1976.
  5. Letter from Judith M. MacDonald to Uprichard family, December 11, 1995.
  6. Two photographs
  7. Curriculum Vitae
  8. Information related to Canadian JuniorRed Cross. – 1948-1993.
  9. Muriel Uprichard, “Nursing for the Third World”, Lecture presented at UBC April 21, 1970.
  10. “Nursing Director Appointed,” UBC Reports, 17 No. 6, March 11, 1971, p. 2.
  11.  Alsop, Kay, “Any Idiot Can Count the Sheets”, The Province, March 18, 1971, p. 43
  12. Bateson, Helen, “A New Prescription for Nurses”, The Province, March 31, 1973, p51
  13. “Foundation Aids School”, UBC Reports, December 5, 1973, p. 9.
  14. Bateson, Helen, “A Grant of Recognition”, The Province, December 6, 1973, p. 52.
  15. Letter from Sheila M. Stanton to School of Nursing Faculty, November 30, 1976.

Upshall, Edna Muriel (1906-1989)

Upshall, Edna Muriel (1906-1989)

  • See Muriel Upshall Fonds 9

Muriel Upshall was born September 18, 1906 in High River, Alberta.  She graduated from the Vancouver General Hospital and University of British Columbia schools of nursing in 1929.

For seven and a half years, she worked for the Provincial Board of Health in Nanaimo.  From 1936-1937, she worked with tuberculosis patients as one of the first public health nurses in Richmond where she and Eileen Williams helped found the public health nursing program.  Upshall then joined the UBC Student Health Services on the campus and worked there until her retirement in 1971.

She was active with the Canadian Alpine Club, and part owner of a cabin on Hollyburn, above West Vancouver.  She made more than ten visits to Lake O’Hara in the Rocky Mountains, and also travelled extensively in the USA, Great Britain, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the West Indies.  She was also a member of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health,     and the VGH Alumnae Association.

Contents of Biographical file

  1. Biography by Ethel Warbinek, January 4, 2010.
  2. Curriculum Vitae
  3. Time Line
  4. UBC Notice of Appointment, July 18, 1950.
  5. 5. Muriel Upshall, The Health Service of the University of British Columbia.
  6. Three photographs
  7. City of Richmond Archives Oral History DATABASE Transcript- interviewer, David Jelliffe, February 4, 1972.
  8. City of Richmond Archives, Miss M, Upshall. A brief transcript of an interview – possibly by David Jellifee, February 4, 1972.
  9. Public School Nurse. By A.L. Dyball, February 23, 1975.

Wadsworth, Patricia Mary (1931-2017)

Wadsworth (nee Beck), Patricia Mary (1931-2017)

Patricia Wadsworth followed her 1954 diploma in nursing from VGH with a BSN in Nursing, Teaching and Administration from UBC in 1955, and her Master’s in Adult Education from UBC in 1970.  She spent many years as a teacher and nurse in BC, mostly in supervisory roles, and from 1975 to 1978 was Director Patient Services at VGH and from 1978-1985, Executive Director, B.C. Health Association.   She was an active contributor to many professional associations, gave many presentations, and was active as a consultant.  Her awards have included a Meritorious Award from the BC Health Association, and an Award of Distinction from RNABC.

Her areas of expertise include organizational reviews, reorganization and on-site administration, and providing advice to individuals and organizations on a wide variety of healthcare issues.  She was invited by the American Hospital Association to be a surveyor for the first Canadian association on accreditation, and developed a national protocol for the sharing of resources and collaboration among provincial associations and the national association.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Biographical Information Profile
  2. Resume
  3. UBC School of Nursing Alumnae Recognition Award, April, 16, 1999.
  4. Obituary Vancouver Sun, August 19,  2017
  5. Photograph – 1978
  6. Oral History Summary – January 10, 2005
  7. Biographical information
  8. Photograph in Nursing BC, Jan/Feb 1995, p. 28
  9. On new appointment at Richmond Health Services, Vitality, March 23, 2000.

Wait, Ethel S. (1912-2009)

Wait (nee Cameron), Ethel S.  (1912-2009)

  • See Oral History files Fonds 18, Series 3, Subseries 8, AU0H34, CDOH43

Ethel started her training at Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary, but contracting TB in 1932 delayed her graduation until 1936 and limited her subsequent nursing.  She took a business course and did office nursing for four years, then worked at Tranquille TB Sanatorium in Kamloops.  She resigned after her marriage in 1941, but went back to general duty at the Nelson Hospital December 31, 1954.  She later worked in CSR for ten years.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Biographical Information Profile
  2. Obituary Time Colonist, Jan 9, 2010.

Waugh, Elsie L. (1908-1993)

Waugh (nee Connor), Elsie L. (1908-1993)

  • See Oral History files, Fonds 18, Series 3, Subseries 8

Elsie Connor was from a Heffley Creek pioneer ranching family north of Kamloops.  She completed her nursing training in 1929 at Kamloops’ Royal Inland Hospital, and worked in the Irving Clinic from 1930 to 1945.  She was a member of the Royal Inland Hospital Alumnae and the Hospital Auxiliary, and President of the Alumnae in 1957.  Gwen Kavanagh describes her as a “lovely lady.  The world is a better place for her kindness”.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Biographical Information Profile
  2. Obituary notice with photograph and funeral service program.

Whitehead, Ursula “Fif” (1899-1998)

Whitehead, Ursula “Fif” (1899-1998)

Ursula opened the first Lower Mainland clinic for venereal disease.  She had been born in Mauritius and spent much of her early life in England before coming to Kelowna in 1912 to help look after her invalid mother.  She took nursing at McGill, although it was not until 1959 that she completed her UBC BA.

In 1930 she moved with her sister from Victoria to Vancouver.  Here Fif became a social worker and nursing instructor at VGH.  She studied epidemiology in New York before opening a venereal disease clinic in Vancouver.  She became senior psychiatric social worker at Shaughnessy Military Hospital, and later Director of Social Work at VGH, retiring in 1963.

After her retirement, she and her sister took two extensive driving tours of Europe.  They are reported to have sung their praises of God in the morning, and in the evening capped their day with a stiff drink.  In retirement she was active in the University Women’s Club and the Unitarian Church.

Contents of Biographical File

  • ”First Clinic for VD Opened by Nurse on the Mainland” Times, March 1,1998.

Williamson, Eva Moody “Billie” (1917-2018)

Williamson, Eva Moody “Billie” (1917-2018)

  • See Oral History files in Fonds 18, series 3, subseries 8
  • See Pages of History, Fonds 18, Series 3, Subseries 9, File 2

Eva  “Billie” Williamson valued education as a lifelong pursuit.  She graduated from VGH in 1940, receiving the Alison Cumming medal in medical nursing.  She followed this with a Certificate in Public Health Nursing in1942 and a BASc(N) in 1947 from UBC.  Further education included a Master’s in Arts from Columbia University Teachers’ College in 1951 and a Master’s in Public Health Administration from UCLA (Berkeley).

She has held several positions as a Staff Nurse, Supervisor, and Associate Director/ Director of Public Health with the Vancouver Health Department.  This was followed by a rewarding time teaching Public Health Nursing for WHO in Sri Lanka from 1954 to 1956.  In her work she emphasized “health promotion through education and preventative measures to effect ‘high-level wellness’ in the people and communities served”.  On the City of Vancouver’s 100th birthday in 1986 she was honored with a Distinguished Pioneer award from the city. Billie wrote a book about her experiences titled Billie girl: a story of life in progress,  published in 2007.

Contents of Biographical File

  1. Biographical Information Profile and signed release form.
  2. Biography from “1940’s Amazing Alumni Stories” on Internet
  3. “Pages of History” biographical information
  4. Letter to Kristine Griffiths from Glennis Zilm, October 29, 2001.
  5. Three photographs, 1984 and 1990 (2)
  6. Obituary