Claude Moore Health Sciences Library 1300 Jefferson Park Avenue P.O. Box 800722 Charlottesville, Virginia 22908-0722 mailto:hsl-historical@virginia.edu URL: https://www.hsl.virginia.edu/historical/
Ella Thomas Whitten Papers, MS-59, Historical Collections & Services, Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of
Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials were donated to the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library in or before 2000.
Ella Thomas Whitten was born in Faber, Nelson County, Virginia on 7 February 1890, to William Thomas Whitten and Martha Ann
Clements, and had nine brothers and sisters. In 1915 she graduated from the Davis-Fischer Sanatorium Training School of Atlanta,
Georgia. When she was 27, she enlisted as a nurse in the United States Army Nurse Corps, and traveled overseas to serve in
Blois, France, at Base Hospital No. 43, a unit sponsored by Emory University. She finished her service and returned to the
United States in 1918. After the war, she received a certificate of commendation from the Graduate Nurses Association of Virginia
for her service. She later attended the College of William and Mary, attaining a certificate in public health nursing from
the School of Social Work and Public Health of the College of William and Mary in 1933, and graduating with a Bachelor of
Science in Nursing in 1937. Whitten was a long-time member of the American National Red Cross and the Graduate Nurses Association
of Virginia. She received an American Red Cross certificate for 50 years of service in 1967. In 1958 she married Dr. Carl
Clinton; the couple lived in Lynchburg, Virginia. Dr. Clinton died 12 January 1969, and Ella Whitten Akers died 2 March 1984.
Both are buried in Faber, Virginia.
This collection consists of 28 folders containing postcards, photographs, and publications pertaining to Ella Thomas Whitten's
experiences in World War I and later service as a nurse in Virginia. The collection also includes 9 certificates and diplomas
recieved by Ella Thomas Whitten throughout her nursing career. 14 nursing artifacts, mostly related to Ella Thomas Whitten's
service during World War I, are cataloged with the medical artifacts collection and are also listed as part of this collection.
French postcards depicting scenes of World War I battlefields
circa 1914-1915
9 postcards
French.
Scope and Contents
Includes images of trench digging, bombardment sites, and German prisoners.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 2
French postcards of World War I graves and an American hospital in Mesves-sur-Loire
circa 1917-1918
10 postcards
French.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 4
Postcards of World War I battle scenes
circa 1917-1918
12 postcards
English.
Scope and Contents
Postcards from the Chicago Daily News War Postals, include captions in English
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 3
Postcards of United States soldiers in uniform
circa 1917-1918
6 postcards
Scope and Contents
Subjects unidentified. One postcard is stamped "Grout Blois Photo," likely from Blois, France.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 5
Photographs of unidentified subjects and landscapes
circa 1917-1918
8 photographs
Scope and Contents
Item number 1 is possibly a photograph of Ella Thomas Whitten.
Scope and Contents
Item number 4 shows a soldier standing in front of a house and palm trees. The reverse of the image contains text: "Frank,
It's awful hot down here today, I am turning black. Al."
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 6
Postcards from Ella Thomas Whitten to Mrs. William T. Whitten and Mr. F.H. Whitten
1918 October 10-1918 December 20-26
5 handwritten postcards
Scope and Contents
Postcards depict various French cities and landscapes
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 7
Postcards from Earl B. Boyce to an American woman, and from Frye, Haggard, Campbell, and Baugus to "Big Sis"
1918 October 16 - 1918 December 2
2 handwritten postcards
English.
Scope and Contents
Both postcards are labeled "Blois, France."
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 8
Postcard from Lew Shepherd (?) to Miss Virginia Whitten
1918 November(?)
1 handwritten postcard
English.
Scope and Contents
Postcard sent to Hospital Américain #43 in Blois, France. Postcard depicts Monte-Carlo, message reads "Am down at Nice at
last & having a fine time. Was over at Monte Carlo yesterday, but didn't win a fortune. Bestest, Lew Shepherd(?)."
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 9
Postcard from Pvt. George C. Cotten to Miss Mildred Kidd
circa 1918
1 handwritten postcard
English.
Scope and Contents
Postcard sent to Covesville, VA from France. Postcard depicts Monte-Carlo, message reads "I am spending my furlough in Nice,
went to Monte Carlo day before yesterday, am having a good time [unknown]."
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 10
Postcards wishing good luck, honor, and victory to the children of France
circa 1918
2 postcards in English and French
English, French
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 11
French postcards of locations in France and Monaco
circa 1918
44 postcards
French.
Scope and Contents
Includes images of Nièvre, Digne, Arcy-sur-Cure, Bretagne, Amboise, Monte Carlo, and other locations.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 12
French postcards of locations in France
circa 1918
46 postcards
French.
Scope and Contents
Includes images of Arcy-sur-Cure, Chambord, Amboise, and Brest.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 13
French postcards of locations in France
circa 1918
38 postcards
French.
Scope and Contents
Includes images of Vierzon, Nice, Loup, La Turbie, Nevers, Cosne, and Vezelay.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 14
French postcards of locations in France including images of cattle, dog carts, and French dress
circa 1918
29 postcards
French.
Scope and Contents
Includes images from Sologne, Leon, Velay, and other locations.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 15
French postcards of landmarks in Tours, Orleans, Le Mans, and Bourques, France
circa 1918
35 postcards
French.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 16
French postcards of landmarks in Paris and Versailles
circa 1918
23 postcards
French.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 17
Postcard depicting 15 American soldiers in uniform
circa 1918
1 postcard
English.
Scope and Contents
Soldiers are identified by name in writing on the front of the postcard: Row 1: "Unidentified, Fabaiano, E. Pope, Creeknore
Richmond VA, Wread, Slobda, Puchella." Row 2: "Sorenson, Morgan, Anderson, F.E.B., Longson, Owens, Bartoes, Johnson".
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 18
French postcard depicting a plaque from Chateau de Blois in France
circa 1918
1 postcard
French.
Scope and Contents
No text on verso, but front of postcard is annotated with the words "Anne of Bretagne."
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 19
French postcards depicting views of Blois, France
circa 1918
47 postcards
French.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 20
Postcard albums depicting views of Blois, France
circa 1918
2 bound photo souvenir books
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 21
Miscellaneous postcards
circa 1918
11 postcards
Scope and Contents
Includes images of steamer ships, trains, Monaco, and unknown locations.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 22
Memories of Jane A. Delano, District III Graduate Nurses' Association of Virginia Spring Newsletter, and memorial for Ida
Lillian Gilchrist written by Ella Whitten Akers and published in The Lynchburg News
1934 April, 1955 April 1, 1968 February 7
1 bound book, 1 72-page pamphlet, 1 photocopy
English.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 23
American Red Cross Nursing Services history
circa 1956
18-page, unbound pamphlet
English.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 24
American Red Cross Home Nursing Care of the Sick and Injured, Instructor's Guide
1957 January
Unbound, printed, 154-page guide
English.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 25
American National Red Cross (Lynchburg Chapter) Certificate of Appreciation for 40 years of service presented to Mrs. Carl
Clinton Akers (Ella Thomas Whitten Akers)
1958 May
1 certificate
English.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 26
Virginia Nurse Quarterly Summer 1967: "District III Nurse Honored" and a photograph of a World War I nursing certificate
1967
100 page pamphlet, photograph with autograph addition
English.
Scope and Contents
The photograph shows a certificate given to Ella Whitten by the Graduate Nurses Association of Virginia for her service during
WWI.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 27
Letter from Ella Whitten Akers ("Sister Ella T.") to Estelle, Brother Lee, and Mother Pamplin
Davis-Fischer Sanatorium Training School of Atlanta, Georgia, Diploma presented to Ella Thomas Whitten
1915 November 27
1 document
English.
Mixed Materials box: 2
Registered Nurse certificate for Georgia presented to Ella T. Whitten
1916 May 18
1 document
English.
Mixed Materials box: 2
The Graduate Nurses Association of Virginia certificate of appreciation for nursing service during World War I, dated 1917
April 6-1918 November 11, presented to Ella Thomas Whitten
circa 1918
1 document
English.
Scope and Contents
Dates on certificate represent the period that the United States was actively involved in WWI, not necessarily Ella T. Whitten's
dates of service.
Mixed Materials box: 2
Registered Nurse certificate for Virginia presented to Ella Thomas Whitten
1925 March 17
1 document
English.
Mixed Materials box: 2
Certificate in Public Health Nursing from the School of Social Work and Public Health of the College of William and Mary,
presented to Ella T. Whitten
1933 June 8
1 document
English.
Mixed Materials box: 2
College of William and Mary Diploma for Bachelor of Science in Nursing, presented to Ella Thomas Whitten
1937 June 7
1 document
Latin.
Scope and Contents
Diploma is in Latin.
Mixed Materials box: 2
Registered Nurse certificate for North Carolina presented to Ella Thomas Whitten
1941 April 7
1 document
English.
Mixed Materials box: 2
Nurse's Certificate of Registration for North Carolina presented to Ella Thomas Whitten
1941 June 10
1 document
English.
Mixed Materials box: 2
The American Public Health Association Membership Certificate for Ella Thomas Whitten
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