Sister Henrietta, C.S.M. and A.A. Bloemfontein. Kimberley 1874-1911

"The foundation of professional nursing and modern hospital organisation in Southern Africa"

First edition.  Crown 8vo; original dark blue cloth, lettered in gilt on spine and upper cover; pp. (viii) + 157; two portrait plates.  Spine a little darkened; light wear to extremities; ink stamp and blind-stamp of Community of St. Francis (South Petherton, Somerset) to front free endpaper, with hand-stamp of 'Sister Vera' and penned inscription (Sister Vera / June 21. 1914 / With Ella's love); small, penned code to front endpaper and suggestion of code label having been removed from tail of backstrip; scattered, moderate foxing.  Good to very good condition.  Uncommon.  (SABIB 3, p. 143)  

"In 1873, after answering an appeal by the Bishop of Bloemfontein for teachers and nurses for the Orange Free State, [Henrietta Stockdale] went to the Clewer Hospital and to the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London to study nursing. ... She started her work at Kimberley in 1876 as a district nurse in the mining camps, but by 1877 was assigned as a sister to the Carnarvon Hospital there, where she started the first training school for nurses in South Africa. ... As a result of Stockdale's vision and drive, South Africa became the first country in the world to provide for state registration of both nurses and midwives ...

This remarkable woman, who laid the foundation of professional nursing and modern hospital organisation in Southern Africa, was a singularly attractive person, tall, well-built, with a creamy complexion, soft, dark brown hair, blue eyes and a pleasant voice.  She was regarded as a saint by some, and as a keen business woman politician by others.  She had a fearless approach to the political questions of the day, and never hesitated to enlist the aid of a Royal Princess when she felt that nursing and the care of the sick were threatened." - DSAB II, pp. 716-7.  

"I trust that this little Memoir of one of the finest women characters I have ever known in my long life will be of interest, not only to Sister Henrietta's friends, but also to the many men and women whom she helped, and to those who knew her only by name.  It has been urged that the record of Sister Henrietta's life may be an inspiration to other women and girls as an example of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty.  The sketch of her early life is written by her sister, Miss Christine Stockdale." - Elizabeth Loch.