Select Page

Erline P. McGriff Papers

This collection contains primarily professional papers and memorabilia of Dr. Erline P. McGriff spanning 1924-2004. The largest amount of materials in this collection represent the many publications with which she she was involved throughout her career, the various awards Dr. McGriff received, and professional correspondence and papers relating to her positions at Trenton College and New York University.

Highlights of the collection include memorabilia and photographs from Dr. McGriff’s trips to Asia. Also among the artifacts in this collection are plaques and medals received as honors by Dr. McGriff. While the photograph collection is small, it is highlighted by a photograph of a young Erline Perkins dressed as Florence Nightingale for a pageant.

Finally, the collection includes items relating to Martha Rogers, a colleague and friend of Erline McGriff’s, including a great deal of correspondence at the time of Martha Rogers’s death.

 

Finding Aid for the Erline Perkins McGriff Papers, 1923-2004   (MC29)

Compiled by Rachel Donaldson, Archivist April 2004

 

VOLUME: 8.45 cubic feet
ACQUISITION: The items in this collection were donated to the Bellevue Alumnae Center for Nursing History, Foundation of the New York State Nurses Association by Erline Perkins McGriff in three separate accessions in June 2001, December 2002, and July 2007.
ACCESS: This collection is open to the public by appointment.
COPYRIGHT: Please consult the repository for information about duplication or publishing of any materials from this collection.
PREFERRED
CITATION:		 Erline Perkins McGriff Papers, 1923-2004 (MC29), Bellevue Alumnae Center for Nursing History, Foundation of New York State Nurses, Guilderland, NY 12084

Table of Contents

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Erline Perkins McGriff was born on February 18, 1924 in Petersburg, Virginia, where her parents ran a grocery store.[1]

Erline McGriff graduated from the Lucy Webb Hayes School of Nursing at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. in 1945. She received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Nursing Education from the Catholic University of America, Washington D.C. in 1950 and 1953, respectively. She received her Doctor of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York in 1967.[2]

Dr. McGriff has held positions in nursing service administration, nursing education and leadership roles in professional organizations. She became Dean of the School of Nursing at Trenton State College in Trenton, New Jersey in 1973 and held the position until 1975 when she took on the position of Head, Division of Nursing at New York University, as well as a professor of nursing. She remained in this role until 1982. She continued to teach at NYU through 2001. As a leader in the field of nursing education, she has published many articles on the topic and, until her retirement, was a frequent speaker on the subject at conferences and conventions, as well as in the classroom. In her position at NYU she worked closely with other distinguished leaders in the field, including Martha Rogers.

Dr. McGriff has proven to be a leader in AIDS education for health care providers. Her efforts in this area led to funds in excess of $12 million being raised for education programs at NYU with over 55,000 health care providers taking part in the programs. She has written extensively on the health care of AIDS patients and edited various publications on the subject.

Among the many professional organizations which Dr. McGriff has been involved, as a leader as well as a member, are the American Nurses Association, the National League for Nursing and the National Student Nurses Association, the Nursing Education Alumni Association of Teachers College, Columbia University and the Foundation of the New York State Nurses Association.

Erline McGriff has been honored numerous times throughout her career. Among the many awards bestowed on her are:

  • The naming of the Erline Perkins McGriff Professorship of Nursing at NYU, along with a weeklong celebration in her honor, 1999
  • Being named a “Living Legend” of Greenwich Village, 1998
  • Honorary Recognition from the New York State Nurses Association- the Association’s highest honor, 1997
  • The R. Louise McManus Medal for Distinguished Service to the Nursing Profession from Teachers College, Columbia University, 1994
  • The creation of the Erline P. McGriff Nursing Scholarship Award by the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, New Jersey, 1993
  • The creation of the Erline McGriff Scholarship Fund by the Division of Nursing, School of Education at NYU, 1993
  • The Teachers College, Columbia University Distinguished Alumni Award, 1990
  • The Jane Delano Distinguished Service Award from District 13, New York State Nurses Association, 1985[3]

Scope and Contents Notes

This collection contains primarily professional papers and memorabilia of Martha Rogers spanning 1923-2002. The largest amount of materials in this collection represent the many publications Erline McGriff took part in throughout her career, the various awards received by Dr. McGriff and professional correspondence and papers relating to her positions at Trenton College and New York University.

Highlights of the collection include memorabilia and photographs from Dr. McGriff’s trips to Asia. Also among the artifacts in this collection are plaques and medals received as honors by Dr. McGriff. While the photograph collection is small, it is highlighted by a photograph of a young Erline Perkins dressed as Florence Nightingale for a pageant.

Finally, the collection includes items relating to Martha Rogers, a colleague and friend of Erline McGriff’s, including a great deal of correspondence at the time of her death.

Series Descriptions

Series 1: Professional Activities, 1944-2001
1.5 cu. ft.This series follows Dr. McGriff’s professional career, from a 1945 yearbook documenting her education at Sibley Memorial Hospital, throughout her years at New York University. Among the papers found in this series are many speeches Dr. McGriff presented at various events, both the completed versions and handwritten notes. It also features papers on the professional organizations she was involved in and a large amount of correspondence. Highlights of this series include papers and memorabilia from Dr. McGriff’s involvement in international programs, such as the Citizen Ambassadors Program on the Management of HIV Disease in China. This series also includes some of Dr. McGriff’s licenses and certificates of nursing and material on Martha Rogers.
Series 2: Publications and Papers, 1953-1997
1.0 cu. ft.This series contains much of the large body of work Erline McGriff published throughout her career. It includes complete publications as well as drafts of some of the papers and articles. It also features Dr. McGriff’s dissertations.
Series 3: Awards and Honors, 1973-2001
0.4 cu. ft.This series holds many of the awards and honor bestowed upon Dr. McGriff throughout her career. Among the papers in this series are publicity relating to New York University’s Erline McGriff Recognition Week in 1993, records of Dr. McGriff’s induction into the Nursing Hall of Fame in 1999 and certificates and correspondence relating to the various scholarships and professorships in her honor. Many plaques and framed awards can be found in Series 6: Artifacts.
Series 4: Photographs, 1945-2004
0.5 cu. ft.One of the smallest series in the collection, this series contains photographs of Erline McGriff among friends and colleagues. Interesting highlights include a photograph of a young Dr. McGriff dressed as Florence Nightingale for a pageant in 1945 and photos from Dr. McGriff’s visit to Japan in 1980.
Series 5: Books, 1923-2002
1.0 cu. ft.Reference, critical and historical books belonging to Erline McGriff. Works by Martha Rogers and Veronica Driscoll are inscribed to Dr. McGriff. Includes “Nurses Remember 9/11” a brief booklet published by the NYU Division of Nursing after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
Series 6: Artifacts, 1962-2004
1.8 cu. ft.Primarily made up of plaques, framed certificates and medals awarded to Erline McGriff throughout her career. Also includes audio/visual materials, such as tapes of speeches made by Dr. McGriff and a vinyl record album entitled “A History of American Nursing.” Includes some conference materials and professional pins. Also includes Dr. McGriff’s wedding album, one of the rare personal artifacts in the collection.

Box and Folder List

Series 1: Professional Activities, 1944-2001

Box 1
Folder:

  1. American Nurses Foundation, Inc., 1992
  2. Biographical sketch, undated
  3. Citizen Ambassador Program on the Management of HIV Disease- Delegation to the People’s Republic of China (1 of 2), 1991
    (Also SEE photograph in Series 4: Photographs)
  4. Citizen Ambassador Program on the Management of HIV Disease- Delegation to the People’s Republic of China (2 of 2), 1991
  5. Conferences and symposiums, 1982, 1991
  6. Correspondence, 1973-1975, 1977, 1987, 1989, 1992, undated
  7. Council for Baccalaureate Higher Degree Program, NLN, undated
  8. Curriculum vitae, 1979, 1999
  9. “The Gleam,” yearbook of the Sibley Memorial Hospital Training School, Washington, D.C., 1945
  10. Japan visit (1 of 2), 1980 (also SEE photographs in Series 4: Photographs)
  11. Japan visit (2 of 2), 1980
  12. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 1991
  13. Journal of Professional Nursing, c. 1996
  14. Licenses and certificates, 1944-1977
  15. McGriff Monopoly Playing Instructions, 1993 (Also SEE slides in Series 4: Photographs)
  16. Medicare funding for nursing education, 1984, 1995
  17. Miscellaneous, 1973, 1998, 2001
  18. National League for Nursing, 1973, 1976, 1983
  19. New York University activities, 1969-1973, 1975
  20. New York University activities, 1982, 1987, 1989, 1992, 2000-2002
  21. New York University and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 1996
  22. New York University appointment correspondence (1 of 2), 1975
  23. New York University appointment correspondence (2 of 2), 1975
  24. New York University appointments, 1989-1990, 1993
  25. New York University correspondence, 1969-1971, 1975-1979, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990-1993, 1995-1996, 1998, 2000
  26. New York University evaluations, 1986-1988
  27. New York University grants and projects, 1993
  28. New York University memoranda, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1985, 1988-1989, 1992-1993, 1995-1996, 1998-1999
  29. New York University professional activities forms, 1989-1994
  30. New York University professional activities forms, 1994-2000
  31. Portrait for New York University, 1995
  32. Publicity, 1951, 1971, 1976, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1994, 2001, undated
  33. Red Cross Nursing pageant, 1954 (Also SEE photograph in Series 4: Photographs)
  34. Research and reference materials, 1990-1992
  35. Retirement reception guestbook, 2001
  36. Rogers, Martha, 1969, 1975, 1977, 1993
  37. Rogers, Martha, 1994-
  38. Speeches, 1973-1977
Box 2
Folder:

  1. Speeches and presentation, 1978-1979
  2. Speeches and presentations, 1980, 1982
  3. Speeches and presentations, 1984-1989
  4. Speeches and presentations, 1990, 1992-1994, 1997
  5. Speeches and presentations, undated
  6. Transcripts, 1945, 1950
  7. Trenton State College, 1973-1975
  8. Workshops, programs and classes, 1976-1977, 1990, undated

Series 2: Publications and Papers, 1953-1997

Box 3
Folder:

  1. “AIDS: a concern for nurses around the world,” 1988
  2. “The AIDS decade: a challenge to action on multiple fronts,” 1988
  3. “The AIDS epidemic: challenges for the nursing profession,” 1989
  4. “AIDS: its impact on nursing education practice,” 1989
  5. Aseptic techniques for operating room personnel, 1959, 1964
  6. “Bridging the gap between nursing education and nursing service: directives for nursing education,” 1995
  7. “A case for mandatory continuing education in nursing,” 1972
  8. “Continuing education in nursing,” 1973
  9. “The courage for effective leadership in nursing,” 1976
  10. “Current issues effecting the image of nursing as a learned profession,” 1979
  11. “Differentiation for licensure of the Independent Nurse (IN) and the Grandfather Mechanism,” 1978
  12. Doctoral dissertation- Administrators of graduate programs of nursing as educational leaders, 1967
  13. “Educational program planning: strategies,” 1974
  14. “Educational requirements for entry into the profession of nursing- an alternative plan to NYSNA’s proposal,” 1977
  15. “Final report on the commission on the future of nursing at New York University,” 1982
  16. “Focus paper on nursing education prepared for the workshop: Nursing and the HIV epidemic: a national action agenda,” 1989
  17. “Fulfilling the commitment to practice without joint faculty appointments,” 1985
  18. “Graduate education in nursing,” 1996, 1997
  19. HIV/AIDS and mental hygiene, 1994
  20. “If not the 1985 resolution, then what?” 1980
  21. letter to the editor, 1986
  22. “Mandatory continuing education for nurses,” c. 1972
  23. Masters dissertation- A study of the qualifications, preparation and functions of non-professional personnel in the operating room units of a selected group of sixteen hospitals in a large metropolitan area, 1953
  24. “Meeting the challenge of AIDS: caring for the providers,” 1988
  25. “NLN’s role in continuing education in nursing,” 1974
  26. “The New York State Nurses Association 1985 proposal,” 1977
  27. “Nurses, AIDS and society,” 1989
  28. “Nursing leadership in interdisciplinary university-based AIDS education,” 1988
  29. “Overview of critical issues in nursing education,” 1985
  30. “Post convention views on the ANA position paper,” 1966
  31. Japanese publication, 1980
  32. Readings in nursing research: selected papers from the 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987 Isabel Maitland Stewart Conferences on Research in Nursing, 1988
  33. “Requisites for student success in baccalaureate programs in nursing,” 1986
  34. Society for Advancement in Nursing (SAIN)- Newsletter Vol. 1-4, 1974-1980
  35. Society for Advancement in Nursing (SAIN)- Newsletter Vol. 5-7, 1981-1987
  36. Society for Advancement in Nursing, 1975-1995
  37. Society for Advancement in Nursing membership, 1974-1978
  38. “Social revolution- nursing evolution,” 1970-1971
  39. “Students perceptions of their preparation for AIDS patient care: a national survey,” 1996, 1997
  40. “Trends in practical nursing for the future,” 1962
  41. Virginia Nurse Quarterly, 1961-1962
    “Who supports the nurse when the patient has AIDS?” 1990

Series 3: Awards and Honors, 1973-2001

Box 4
Folder:

  1. Erline McGriff Recognition Week, September 27-October 1, 1993
  2. The Erline P. McGriff Nursing Scholarship Award, 1993
  3. Erline Perkins McGriff Professorship in Nursing, New York University, 1999
  4. International Society for AIDS Education membership certificate, 1991
  5. Maes MacInnes Award, 1993
  6. NEAA Distinguished Service Award, 1973
  7. New York University Division of Nursing Honorary Alumna, 2001
  8. NSNA Honorary Membership, 1999
  9. Nursing Education Alumni Association of Teachers College, Columbia University Life Membership, 1980
  10. Nursing Hall of Fame, 1999
  11. Nursing Students Association of New York State Lifetime Membership, 1997
  12. NYSNA awards, 1974, 1997
  13. Sigma Theta Tau, Inc. awards, 1979, 1992, 1995
  14. Sister Mary Alma Distinguished Leader in Nursing Award, 1984
  15. Teachers College Distinguished Alumni Award, 1990

Series 4: Photographs, 1945-2004

Box 5
Folder:

  1. ANA Honorary Recognition Award Ceremony, 2004
  2. Citizen Ambassador Program on the Management of HIV Disease Delegation to the People’s Republic of China, 1991
  3. Erline McGriff Recognition Week, 1993 (album)
  4. Events, c. 1980s, 1990s
  5. Hurley, Pat, undated
  6. Japan visit, 1980
  7. Marcus, Ann, undated
  8. McGriff, Erline Perkins, c. 1980, undated
  9. McGriff Monopoly Playing Instructions, 1993 (slides)
  10. NEAA awards luncheon, 1997
  11. Red Cross nursing pageant, 1954
  12. Rogers, Martha, c. 1994

Series 5: Books, 1923-2002

Box 6
Folder:

  • Brown, Esther Lucile, Nursing reconsidered: a study of change. 1970, Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company.
  • Brown, Esther Lucile, Nursing reconsidered: a study of change part 2. 1971, Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company.
  • Christy, Teresa E. Cornerstone for nursing education. 1979, New York: Teachers College Press.
  • The Division of Nursing, The Steinhardt School of Education, New York University, Nurses Remember 9/11. 2002, New York: New York University.
  • Driscoll, Veronica M. Legitimizing the profession of nursing: the distinct mission of the New York State Nurses Association. 1976, Schenectady, NY: Benche Incorporated. (autographed)
  • Henderson, Virginia, Basic principles of nursing care. Revised edition, 1997, Washington: American Nurses Publishing.
  • Ed. Herrmann, Eleanor Krohn, Virginia Avenell Henderson: Signature for nursing. 1998, Indianapolis: Center Nursing Press.
  • Lambertsen, Eleanor C. Nursing team: organization and functioning. 1953, New York: Bureau of Publications, Teachers College, Columbia University.
  • Malinksi, Violet M. Explorations on Martha Rogers’ Science of Unitary Human Beings. 1986, Norwalk, CT: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
  • Malinski, Violet M. and Elizabeth Ann Manhart Barrett, Martha E. Rogers: her life and her work. 1994, Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company.
  • Montag, Mildred L. The education of nursing technicians. 1951, New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Nightingale, Florence, Notes on nursing. 1969, New York: Dover Publications.
  • A position paper. 1965, American Nurses’ Association.
  • Rogers, Martha, Educational revolution in nursing. 1961, New York: MacMillan Company.
  • Rogers, Martha, Reveille in nursing. 1964, Philadelphia: F.A. David Company. (autographed)
  • West, Margaret and Christy Hawkins, Nursing schools at the mid-century. 1950, New York: National Committee for the Improvement of Nursing Services.
  • Winslow, A. et. al. Nursing and nursing education in the United States. 1923, New York: The MacMillan Company.

Series 6: Artifacts, 1962-2004

Box 7
Folder:

  1. American Academy of Nursing Fellowship certificate, 1977
  2. District 13 Distinguished Service award, 1985
  3. Felician College Division of Nursing Sister Mary Alma Distinguished Leader in Nursing, 1984
  4. Honorary recognition award from the New York Counties Registered Nurses Association, 1995
  5. Honorary recognition certificate from the New York State Nurses Association, 1997
  6. New York University Division of Nursing congratulation on receiving Lifetime Membership with the NSA of New York State, 1997
  7. New York University School of Education, Health, Nursing and Arts Professions, GSO President’s Certificate of Appreciation, 1986
  8. Sigma Theta Tau recognition of Contributions to Excellence in Nursing Education, 1990

Box 8

  • New Jersey General Assembly citation, 1993
  • State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn certificate of appreciation, 1994
  • Teachers College, Columbia University Distinguished Alumni Award, 1990
Box 9
Folder:

  • Audio cassettes:
    1985 Resolution, 1975
    Continuing Education program, undated
    Martha Rogers interviewed by M. Anderson, 1994
    Nursing ’77, Keynote Address, 1977
    Upfront- WOR radio New York, 1983
  • Garfield Memorial Hospital Pin, undated
  • John Dewey Circle medal, undated
  • John Dewey medal, undated
  • NYSNA convention badge, 1997
  • People to People pins and sticker, undated
  • Portrait of Christ for Newlyweds wedding book, 1962
  • R. Louise McManus Award, undated
  • Red Cross Pin, undated
  • Spool of film, unlabeled, undated

Box 10 – See Oversized Shelf

  • ANA Honorary Recognition Award poster, 2004
  • Catholic University of America degree, oversized, framed
  • Doctor of Education degree, Columbia University, 1967
  • Erline Perkins McGriff Professorship of Nursing, New York University- framed, autographed material, 1998
  • New York University Division of Nursing Maes-MacInnes Award, 1993

Box 11 – See Oversized Shelf

  • Academic Vestments, Columbia University, 1967
    Doctoral Robe
    Cap with tassel
    Academic Hood
    Clothing carrier

On Shelf

  • A History of American Nursing, vinyl audio recording
  • [1]  Krishnamurthy, Kiran. 1994. Former resident honored for AIDS work. The Progress Index, January 23.
  • [2]  Box 1, Folder 2: Biographical Sketch
  • [3]  Box 1, Folder 8: Curriculum Vita, 1999
Revisions:
Rachel Donaldson, Archivist April, 2004
January, 2005
Gertrude Hutchinson, Archivist July, 2007
Back to Top

© 2001-2006 Foundation of the New York State Nurses Association, Inc.
© 2006-2017 Foundation of New York State Nurses, Inc.

 

Index code: MC29

Finding Guide:

Guide to Archival Records