Material Type

Mixed Media

Date Range

1917-1995

Physical Condition

Excellent

History Biographical

Joan Fortune Linn was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1918. When she was three years old, the family moved to Frank, Alberta. They lived in Frank until Joan was ready to enter high school, when the family moved to Blairmore, Alberta where there was a high school. After graduation in June 1937, Joan Linn decided to train as a nurse and applied to four places, including the Galt School of Nursing in Lethbridge. Accepted by all of them, Joan chose the Galt School of Nursing and began her training in January 1938. During the first three months of training, the students were on probation and most of their education came in the classroom. Doctors taught some of the classes. On the weekends, "probies" as they were nicknamed donned yellow smocks to work as cleaning staff in the Galt Hospital. At the end of three months their probation was completed, and the prospective nurses were given their student uniforms: blue short-sleeve dress, white bib and apron, black stockings and black shoes. The first two years of training were in general nursing. In the third years the student nurses did specialty rotations: operating room, labour and delivery (obstetrics), and pediatrics. Students could also spend two weeks in the x-ray department as well. Galt School of Nursing students lived by a strict set of rules that governed their lives both at and away from their studies and training. All students, whether from Lethbridge or out of town, lived in the nurses' residence. Curfews were in effect and strictly enforced. Students had two weeks vacation annually. In October 1940 Joan Linn wrote her final examinations on a Saturday and Sunday at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute. She passed, and earned three months' wages working in the Galt Hospital in the time between the examinations and graduation in January 1941. After graduation Joan Linn secured a job with the Galt Hospital that paid $30 per minth, with room, board and laundry services. Three months later, she took at job in the hospital at Kaslo, British Columbia with the same services, but at $50 per month. The hospital in Kaslo had only 25 beds. The two nurses on staff stetched the limits of their training at times by doing work that doctors would normally do in larger communities. In 1942 a large number of Japanese Canadians were forcibly relocated to Kaslo, which created additional challenges. On 20 February 1944 Joan Linn married Bill Tonkin, a hosptial administrator in Kaslo. Their two children, Murray [7 August 1946] and Tola [23 September 1948] were both born in Kaslo. Joan left nursing when her children were born, and the family moved back to Lethbridge in 1954 when Bill was offered the position of Assistant Administrator at the Lethbrige Municipal Hospital. When her son Murray left home to continue his studies, Joan decided to return to nursing. She started work in 1965 in the Lethbridge Municipal Hospital, and spent just over 15 years working in the surgical wards. Joan Tonkin retired in 1981. Source: "The Life and Times of Joan Tonkin" by Judith C. Kulig, 3 April 1995. Paper is based on an oral history interview, and was an assignment for the Nursing 4850 course, University of Lethbridge.

Language

English

Acquisition Source

Nelson, Joan P.O. Box 156 250 Mountain Drive Holisbay, British Columbia V0N 2E0

Scope and Content

Textbooks, student yearbooks, souvenir anniversary books, a diploma, certificate and other items relating to Joan Fortune Linn's time as a student in the Galt School of Nursing, and her membership in the Galt School of Nursing Alumnae Association.

Notes

The book "White Caps and Red Roses" has been placed in the Archives Reference Room.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

20011047000

Collection

Archive

Less detail