Eugenia Wassell Ohls papers

Guide to the Eugenia Wassell Ohls papers
1944-1991

Collection number: HMC-0371.
Creator: Ohls, Eugenia Wassell.
Title: Eugenia Wassell Ohls papers.
Dates: Undated, 1944-1991.
Volume of collection: 0.25 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials in English.
Collection summary: Papers concerning the work of a public health nurse in Alaska.

Biographical note:
Eugenia Wassell was born in Baltimore, Maryland. She obtained a diploma in nursing from Union Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Baltimore in 1935. She also studied at Johns Hopkins University, the University of Minnesota, and graduated from the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health in 1951. Between 1940 and 1949, Eugenia Wassell worked primarily as a nursing instructor and supervisor at Union Memorial Hospital. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1951 she became a public health nurse in Alaska and worked in Nome and Anchorage. She married Andrew Ohls in 1952. Mrs. Ohls became a school nurse (1961-1968) and was involved in nursing and public health issues and projects. She helped establish the first nursing school and the first critical care unit in Alaska and was involved in the establishment of the Alaska Mental Health Association and the Children’s Emotional Health Project. She was also politically active in issues relating to health and nursing. In addition, Mrs. Ohls was a member of the Alaska Board of Nursing (1963-1968), the American Nurses Association, and the American Association of University Women. She received the Outstanding Nurse Award from the School of Nursing of the University of Alaska Anchorage in 1991.

Collection description:
This collection consists of papers relating to the professional nursing and public health career of Eugenia Wassell Ohls. Most of the papers relate to her work in Alaska. Included are correspondence, certificates and other papers, photographs, and clippings.

Arrangement: Records arranged primarily by type and/or subject.

Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.

Rights note: Archives and Special Collections owns copyright to Eugenia Ohls’ papers.  Any papers in the collection not created by Eugenia Ohls maybe subject to copyright.

Preferred citation: Eugenia Wassell Ohls papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Acquisition note: Eugenia W. Ohls gave the collection to Archives in 1991.

Processing information: This collection was arranged and described by Dennis Walle in 1993.

Container list:

Box/Folder	Description	Dates
1/1	Letters Received: includes letters from U.S. Senator Bob Bartlett (5), Nick Begich (with photograph), Margery Goding Smith (2 plus obituary), Dr. Levi M. Browning, and Lulu Hassenplug. Also included is a copy of her 1965 Christmas letter. 14 items.	1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1971, 1986
1/2	Union Memorial Hospital: includes a photograph of Union Memorial Hospital Nursing Faculty, a postcard photograph of the hospital; a clipping on new UMH construction, copies of the UMH alumni publication The Owl, vol. 1, no. 1 (with a note and a photograph of E.W.O.) and vol. xiv, no. 2 (excerpt and note by E.W.O.), an excerpt from a history of UMH with a reference to E.W.O., and a copy of an announcement on the publication of the history of UMH. 7 items.	Undated, 1947, 1966, 1979, 1980
1/3	University of Michigan: copy of the program for the 28th annual honors convocation of the University of Michigan. 1 item.	27 April 1951
1/4	United State Public Health Service: includes a Public Health Service pamphlet “Public Health Problems in Alaska, a copy of Eugenia Ohls’ certificate of service; the War Manpower Commission classification of Eugenia Ohls as “head nurse” and “4-A, essential for unlimited duration for hospital service,” a travel authorization from PHS, a PHS telegram, an application for commission in the Public Health Service, a letter from Josephine Hawes, a copy of the Report of Separation from the Armed Forces of the United States Public Health Service, a “Statement of Service–Verification of Status of Commissioned Officers,” a letter terminating appointment as a commissioned officer in the Public Health Service with enclosure, a letter from the Reserve Officers Association of the United States, a Certificate of Appointment as Assistant Nurse Officer in PHS, and a Certificate of Appointment as Senior Assistant Nurse Officer in the Reserve Corps of PHS. 12 items.	1944-1977
1/5	Registered Nurse Certificate #880 issued by the Nurse Examining Board, Territory of Alaska. 1 item.	1954 September 14
1/6	Alaska State Board of Nursing: letters from William A. Egan, Louise Blanton (Alaska Nurses Association), and Walter J. Hickel, certificates of appointment, and a newspaper clipping. 7 items.	1963, 1967-1968
1/7	School Nurse: clippings on a special education program, revisions concerning a Certificate of Professional Workers–School Nurse in Alaska Department of Education Memo No. 83, a certificate from the American School Health Association, American Nurses Association publications “A rationale for school nurse certification” and “Functions and qualifications for school nurses,” a carbon copy of Eugenia Ohls’ letter to the Anchorage Borough School District, and a Certificate of Merit from District Six Alaska PTA Congress for her work in the Children’s Emotional Health Project of the PTA. 7 items.	Undated, 1964-1966, 1968
1/8	Alaska Nurses Association: press release on Eugenia Ohls’ appointment to a special committee to revise the School Nurse Certification Guide, letters (2) concerning membership on the special committee, and a survey letter. 4 items.	1965, 1976
1/9	Arctic Nursing Program: four page summary of the program as developed by Dr. Bartko in Nome in the 1960s.	Undated
1/10	Alaska Methodist University: letters from Lulu Hassenplug (University of California) and Fred McGinnis (Alaska Methodist University) and a questionnaire (answered) for the Conference on Education for Health Professionals in Alaska at University of Alaska-WICHE.	1964, 1965
1/11	Continuing Education in Public Health–Certificate of Attendance: certifies that she completed a special course “Web of Communications.”	1970
1/12	University of Alaska Anchorage–Outstanding Nurse Award: nomination form #49 and a program for the awards reception. 2 items.	1991
1/13	Memberships: letters concerning membership in the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences and the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health; and an envelope with note on memberships. 4 items.	Undated, 1965, 1968
1/14	Photographs: prints (17) and negatives (3) primarily depicting Eugenia Ohls and her activities in Alaska. 20 items.	Undated, 1952, 1962, 1963, 1967
1/15	Miscellaneous: Alaska Purchase Centennial first day cover sent by E.L. Bartlett (March 30, 1967) and three decals. 4 items.	1967
1/16	Clippings–Mental Health Association: articles on life memberships and on a meeting. 2 items.	1961
1/17	Clippings–Anchorage Community College Public Health Nursing Course: The articles concern the start and finish of the ACC course. 2 items.	1961.
1/18	Clipping and photograph–Dr. Reitlinger: The clipping concerns her tenth anniversary as a tuberculosis consultant for the Alaska Department of Health; the photograph is of Dr. Reitlinger, Governor Egan, and Mr. Paul Winsor. 2 items.	Undated, 1962.
1/19	Clippings–Hassenplug: clippings concern Mrs. Lulu Hassenplug, dean of the UCLA School of Nursing; the first relates to her visit to Alaska in 1959 and the second is biographical. 2 items.	1959, 1983.
1/20	Bob Bartlett: These relate to Senator Bob Bartlett’s activities, his death, and the dedication of a statue honoring him. 9 items.	Undated, 1968, 1971, 1989.
1/21	Vide Bartlett: These items primarily relate to the death of Senator Bartlett’s wife. 14 items.	Undated, 1968, 1972, 1976.
1/22	Clippings–Miscellaneous.	1960, 1966, 1979, 1987.