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Title: Lydia Schmitt
Dates: 1943-2008
Collection Number: MSS 11235
Quantity: 1 foot
Abstract: Consists of a scrapbook that documents Schmitt's life as a nurse, first in the United States Cadet Nurse Corps, at the Bismarck Evangelical Hospital (Bismarck Hospital) (Medcenter One), the Crippled Children's School (Anne Carlsen Center) in Jamestown, ND and at St. Luke's Hospital in Fargo, ND. The album includes photographs, correspondence, printed material and a memory message from each classmate in her 1946 graduating class.
Provenance: The Lydia Schmitt Papers were donated to the State Historical Society of North Dakota by Ida Schmitt, Lydia's sister, on September 11, 2014.
Property rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to the collection.
Copyrights: Copyrights to materials in this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U.S. Code and an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed. Permission to use any radio or television broadcast portions of the collection must be sought from the creator.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Related Collections:
MSS 10205 North Dakota Nurses Association (NDNA) Records
Series 30356 State Board of Nursing Administrative Files.
Series 30357 State Board of Nursing Aid Project Records.
Series 30697 State Board of Nursing Minutes.
Series 31306 State Board of Nursing Scholarship Committee Minutes.
Series 31307 State Board of Nursing School Accreditation Files.
Series 31308 State Board of Nursing Nurse Training School Records.
Series 31309 State Board of Nursing Audit Reports.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Lydia Maria Schmitt was born February 9, 1923, to Jacob and Albina (Bertsch) Schmitt on the farmstead nine miles southeast of Regent. She was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church in Mott (ND); attended rural school at Chilton Township and graduated from Mott Lincoln High School in 1942.
Lydia entered nurse's training at the Bismarck Evangelical Hospital, and, as a student, joined the Nurses Cadet Corp but did not serve in the military as World War II ended before her graduation in 1946 as a registered nurse.
Her 40 year career included Hospital Nursing (on medical/surgical floors) at St. Luke's Hospital in Fargo, the Jamestown Hospital, and at the Bismarck Evangelical Hospital (Medcenter One). A favorite position was that of Head Nurse at the Crippled Children's School (Anne Carlsen Center) at Jamestown for seven years. She also worked Pediatric Clinic in Jamestown and as a Public Health Nurse in Bismarck for three years.
While a student at the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis (Minn.), she worked part time at the Sister Kenny Institute which was well known for its work with Polio patients in the 1950s. During her last position at Medcenter One, she was more involved with the terminally ill and their families which she regarded as a valuable opportunity to serve others. During this time, she attended the University of Mary part-time. She retired in 1985.
Lydia enjoyed many hobbies, including painting. She entered local art shows and was especially pleased when two of her oil paintings were selected to hang in the State Treasurer's office. She played the guitar and enjoyed being part of a trio for many years in Jamestown as well as singing in the church choir. Later, the autoharp became her favorite instrument. Her greatest joy was involvement with church activities.
Lydia passed away on June 3, 2008, and was survived by her brother Reverend Otto Schmitt of Fargo (ND) and two sisters, Emma Kamka and Ida Schmitt. She was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters: Alma Erlenbusch, Clara Oberlander, Martha Frisvold and Ester Schmitt, and one brother, Emanuel Schmitt.
Source: "Lydia M. Schmitt." North Dakota Heritage Family. State Historical Society of North Dakota Foundation, 2008. MSS 11235 page 86.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BISMARCK EVANGELICAL HOSPITAL
In 1907, Dr. N. O. Ramstad asked the annual conference of the Evangelical Church to consider construction of a hospital in Bismarck. With the assistance of Reverend W. C. Menges, missionary of the Bismarck Evangelical Association, a hospital was formed. The first unit of Bismarck Hospital, a three-story brick building with a bed capacity of 60 was officially opened for patients in 1909. The same year, the Bismarck Hospital School of Nursing was established. The first class graduated from the Nursing School in 1912. In 1955, the Bismarck Hospital ended its religious affiliation with the Evangelical Church, and was renamed the Bismarck Hospital. A new Bismarck Hospital School of nursing building was completed in 1982. A new north wing was opened and dedicated in 1984. The same year, Bismarck Hospital announced its new name, Medcenter One. In 2012, Medcenter One became Sanford Health.
Source: "Medcenter One Chronicle." MSS 11235 page 45.
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
Box 1:
1 Scrapbook, pages 1-29
2 Scrapbook, pages 30-59
3 Scrapbook, pages 60-89
PHOTOGRAPH INVENTORY
11235-00001 Lydia Schmitt in nurse's uniform outside nurses' residence Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00002 Portrait of Lydia Schmitt in Cadet Corps uniform ca. 1944
11235-00003 Graduation portrait from Bismarck Evangelical Hospital Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00004 Portrait of Lydia Schmitt ca. 1960s
11235-00005 Portrait of Lydia Schmitt ca. 1986
11235-00006 Lydia Schmitt in Cadet Corps uniform ca. 1944
11235-00007 Lydia Schmitt in Cadet Corps uniform ca. 1944
11235-00008 Street view of the Bismarck Evangelical Hospital Bismarck (ND) ca. 1946
11235-00009 Lydia Schmitt with roommate and friend Eileen Hoff, wearing Cadet Corps winter uniforms Bismarck (ND) ca. 1945
11235-00010 Portrait of Bismarck Junior College Students outside Bismarck High School/Bismarck Junior College Bismarck (ND) 1943/09/00
11235-00011 Exterior view of Bismarck High School/Bismarck Junior College Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00012 Lydia Schmitt in student nurse's uniform before capping outside nurses' residence Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00013 Lydia Schmitt in student nurse's uniform after capping outside nurses' residence Bismarck (ND) ca. 1944
11235-00014 Portrait of first year student nurses at the Bismarck Evangelical Hospital Bismarck (ND) 1943/09/00
11235-00015 Dorothy Anderson, Bernice Wahl, Lydia Schmitt, June Teichmann and Kathleen Anderson outside nurses' residence Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00016 Gunda Watson, Ileen Grauberger, Verna Mae Cain, Lydia Schmitt and Carol Westermann Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00017 Group of nurses in uniform outside nurses' residence Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00018 Exterior view of nurses' residence, 610 7th Street Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00019 Lydia Schmitt with brother Otto in front of nurses' residence, 610 7th Street Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00020 Exterior view of nurses' residence, 610 7th Street Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00021 Exterior view of Bismarck Evangelical Hospital and School of Nursing living quarters Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00022 Exterior view of nurses' residence, 610 7th Street Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00023 Eileen Hoff and Lydia Schmitt on steps of nursing living quarters Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00024 Lydia Schmitt and Carol Westermann on steps of nurses' residence, 610 7th Street Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00025 Eileen Hoff and Carol Westermann outside nurses' residence, 610 7th Street Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00026 Dorothy Anderson Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00027 Lydia Schmitt outside nurses' residence, 610 7th Street Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00028 Bernice Wahl and Lydia Schmitt with Eileen Hoff's doll Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00029 Eileen Hoff upon arrival to Bismarck Evangelical Hospital Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00030 Martha Harju and Lydia Schmitt wearing surgery garb Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00031 Lydia Schmitt with nurses in nurses' residence Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00032 Coffee time: Renee Johns, Bernice Wahl, Eileen Hoff and Rose Marie Lorentzen Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00033 Delores Krueger, Martha Harju, Agnes Buchli, Lenora Ochsner, Kathleen Anderson, Dorothy Wasem, Lydia Schmitt, Margaret Swensen, and Ileen Grauberger Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00034 Ileen Grauberger, Verna Mae Cain and Doris Steidl Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00035 Bernice Wahl and Lydia Schmitt ca. 1943
11235-00036 Two unidentified nurses beside operating table Bismarck Evangelical Hospital Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00037 Miss Hardin, Superintendent Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00038 Miss Effie Swenson, Assistant Director Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00039 Dr. S.W. Schoregge, Surgeon Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00040 Dr. N.O. Ramstad, Surgeon Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00041 Dr. N.O. Brink, Surgeon Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00042 Dr. Larson, Pathologist Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00043 Dr. P.W. Freise, O.B. Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00044 Dr. Brandt, O.B. Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00045 Dr. Arnson, Medical Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00046 Dr. Fredricks, Medical Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00047 Dr. Grorud, Medical and student's physician Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00048 Dr. Perrin, ENT Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00049 Dr. Rosenberger, ENT Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00050 Dr. G.M. Constans Bismarck (ND) ca. 1943
11235-00051 Portrait of the Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing graduating class of 1946 Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00052 Exterior view of the Bismarck Hospital Bismarck (ND) ca. 1982
11235-00052 Panorama of the Bismarck Hospital (Medcenter One) Bismarck (ND) ca. 1984
11235-00053 Graduation portrait of Anita Lehner, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00054 Graduation portrait of Carol Westermann, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00055 Graduation portrait of Dorothy Wasem, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00056 Graduation portrait of Lenora Oshsner, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00057 Graduation portrait of Doris Steidl, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00058 Graduation portrait of Ileen Grauberger, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00059 Graduation portrait of Verna Mae Cain, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00060 Graduation portrait of Agnes Buchli, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00061 Graduation portrait of Ruth Wittmer, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00062 Graduation portrait of either Dorothy or Kathleen Anderson, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00063 Graduation portrait of Gunda Watson, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00064 Graduation portrait of Marilyn Roeder, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00065 Graduation portrait of Eileen Hoff, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00066 Graduation portrait of June Teichmann, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00067 Graduation portrait of Martha Harju, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00068 Graduation portrait of Erma Hochhalter, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00069 Graduation portrait of Erma Hochhalter, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00070 Graduation portrait of Mary Louise Jones, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00071 Graduation portrait of Renee Johns, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00072 Graduation portrait of Rose Marie Lorentzen, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00073 Graduation portrait of Eunice Roesler, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00074 Graduation portrait of "Esse" (possibly Hilda Eslinger), Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00075 Graduation portrait of Hilda Eslinger, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00076 Graduation portrait of Bernice Wahl, Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00077 Group of 1946 Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing graduates at reunion Bismarck (ND) 1982
11235-00078 Group of 1946 Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing graduates at reunion: Dorothy Anderson, Gunda Watson, Dorothy Wasem, Martha Harju, Lenora Ochsner, Kay Anderson, Lydia Schmitt, Carol Westermann, and Ilene Grauberger Bismarck (ND) 1982
11235-00079 Group of 1946 Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing graduates at first reunion: Martha Harju, Bernice Wahl, Agnes Buchli, Dorothy Price, Carol Westermann, Verna Mae Cain, Eileen Hoff, Dorothy Anderson, Lenora Ochsner, Gunda Watson, Hilda Eslinger, "Chase," Lydia Schmitt, and Kay Anderson Bismarck (ND) 1954/08/00
11235-00080 40th Anniversary reunion committee of 1946 Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing graduates: Verna Mae Cain Holden, Carol Westermann Schwarting, Eileen Hoff Belakjon, Kay Anderson McDonald and Lydia Schmitt Bismarck (ND) 1986/07/19
11235-00081 Group of 1946 Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing graduates at 40th reunion Bismarck (ND) 1986/07/19
11235-00082 Group of 1946 Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing graduates with spouses at 40th reunion Bismarck (ND) 1986/07/19
11235-00083 Peggy Swenson and Lydia Schmitt Bismarck (ND) 1991
11235-00084 Group of 1946 Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing graduates with spouses at 40th reunion Bismarck (ND) 1986/07/19
11235-00085 Group of 1946 Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing graduates at 40th reunion with airplane Bismarck (ND) 1986/07/19
11235-00086 Computer print of Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing graduates at all school reunion: Elda Weisser, Jeannette Gaebe, Leontine Schaell, Iris Meier Schoregge, Betty Bohrer, Carol Schwarting, Kay McDonald, Lydia Schmitt, Verna Asker, Maxine Kraft, Thelma Barstad, Hilda Keller, Martin, Ruth Kraft Orchert, and Irene Reiger Gross Bismarck (ND) 1946
11235-00087 Group of 1946 Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing graduates Bismarck (ND) 1995
11235-00088 Group of 1946 Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing graduates at Lydia Schmitt's home Bismarck (ND) ca. 1980s
11235-00089 Group of 1946 Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing graduates at Perkins Bismarck (ND) ca. 1995
11235-00090 Group of 1946 Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing graduates at the home of Dorothy Wasem Hess for their 50th reunion Cheyenne (Wyo.) 1996
11235-00091 Group of 1946 Bismarck Evangelical Hospital School of Nursing graduates at their 50th reunion Cheyenne (Wyo.) 1996
11235-00092 Pastors and church workers in a Pastoral Care training program, at The Golden Dragon restaurant 1980
11235-00093 Exterior view of buildings at the Crippled Children's School (Anne Carlsen Center) Jamestown (ND) n.d.
11235-00094 Lydia Schmitt treating children at the Crippled Children's School (Anne Carlsen Center) Jamestown (ND) ca. 1940s-1950s
11235-00095 Staff and friends at the Crippled Children's School (Anne Carlsen Center) Jamestown (ND) ca. 1940s-1950s
11235-00096 Lydia Schmitt with an unidentified child at the Crippled Children's School (Anne Carlsen Center) Jamestown (ND) ca. 1940s-1950s
11235-00097 Lydia Schmitt with an unidentified child at the Crippled Children's School (Anne Carlsen Center) Jamestown (ND) ca. 1940s-1950s
11235-00098 Lydia Schmitt with unidentified child at St. Luke's Hospital Fargo (ND) ca. 1947-1951
11235-00099 Lydia Schmitt outside apartment near St. Luke's Hospital Fargo (ND) ca. 1947-1951
11235-00100 Lydia Schmitt beside tractor which she had ridden home because snow prohibited automobile traffic 1949
11235-00101 Lydia Schmitt with group at Jamestown Hospital Jamestown (ND) 1966
11235-00102 Lydia Schmitt leaving for a home visit, City Nursing Services Bismarck (ND) 1967
11235-00103 Retirement party for Lydia Schmitt after 40 years of nursing Bismarck (ND) 1986
11235-00104 Lydia Schmitt receiving a retirement gift from Terry Brosseau Bismarck (ND) 1986
11235-00105 Retirement party for Lydia Schmitt at Medcenter One Bismarck (ND) 1986
11235-00106 Bulletin boards arranged by Lydia Schmitt for her retirement parties Bismarck (ND)
1986
11235-00107 Bulletin boards arranged by Lydia Schmitt for her retirement parties Bismarck (ND) 1986
11235-00108 Retirement dinner for Lydia Schmitt after 40 years of nursing, Royal Fork restaurant Bismarck (ND) 1986
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