Download this summary catalogue (PDF) ›MONK, Katherine Henrietta (1855-1915)

Identity statement

Reference code(s)

GB0100 KH/NL/PP21

Title

MONK, Katherine Henrietta (1855-1915)

Date(s)

1887

Level of description

Collection (fonds)

Extent and medium of the unit of description (quantity, bulk, or size)

1 item, 1 volume

Context

Name of creator(s)

Monk, Katherine Henrietta, Sister Katherine 1855-1915, nurse

Administrative / Biographical history

Katherine Monk was born on 2 Jan 1855. She commenced nursing at the Hospital for Incurables, Edinburgh, in 1874, and attended nursing lectures and classes at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. In 1878, she became a Probationer Nurse at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, obtaining the Certificate of Proficiency in 1879. She undertook private nursing at St Bartholomew's Hospital for a number of years, before taking up the post of Night Sister at King's College and Charing Cross Hospitals, both of which were under the direction of the Sisterhood of St John's, in 1883. Later that same year, Monk was appointed Ward Sister at Charing Cross Hospital. In 1884 she was appinted Sister Matron at King's College Hospital. Monk resigned from King's College Hospital in July 1885 in consequence of the difficulties between the St John's Nurses and the Hospital authorities. With the withdrawal of the Sisterhood of St John's House for King's, Monk was again appointed as Sister Matron, commencing on 5 Aug 1885. She quickly introduced new nursing staff to the hospital, reorganised the Nursing Department and founded the Training School for Nurses. Monk was a founding member of the Committee of the Royal Pension Fund for Nurses, inaugurated in 1887, and was also one of two Civil Matron's appointed on Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Advisory Board for the improvement and reorganization of Military Hosptials. She was Also appointed to the Council of the Red Cross Society. She took an active role in the work of the KCH Building Committee of the new Hospital, 1904. However, following a severe illness in 1905, she resigned as Sister Matron and left King's in May 1906. She died on 20 Feb 1916, at Southampton. The Monk Memorial Prize Fund was raised as a memorial. It is awarded to the nurse who obtains first place in the examinations of nursing staff. Miss Clara Sibbald Peddie, daughter of Dr Alexander Peddie of Edinburgh, was appointed as Home Sister, Apr 1888, having trained at the Nightingale School of St Thomas's Hospital. Sister Sibbald was superintendent of the Nurses' Home. She died suddenly following and operation in 1895.

Archival history

Acquired by King's College Hospital Nurses' League.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Transferred from King's College Hospital Nurses' League, [1985-2000].

Content & structure

Scope and content

Katherine Monk's copy of A dictionary of terms used in medicine and the collateral sciences , Richard D Hoblyn, 11th edition, revised by John A P Price, Whittaker & Co, London, 1887; stamp for bookplate of 'Sister Sibbald, King's College Hospital Nurses Medical Library'. Inscription states that this stamp was engraved by 'Alma-Tadema's best Engraver', and belonged to K H Monk.

System of arrangement

As outlined in the Scope and Content

Conditions of access & use

Conditions governing access

Open, subject to signature of Reader's undertaking form, and appropriate provision of two forms of identification, to include one photographic ID.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Director of Archive and Corporate Record Services.

Language/scripts of material

English

Finding aids

This collection level description.

Allied materials

Existence and location of originals

King's College London College Archives

Description control

Archivist's Note

Source: An addendum to King's and some King's men (London), H Willoughby Lyle, Oxford University Press, London 1950. Compiled by Alison Field

Rules or conventions

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

This catalogue is made available under the Open Data Commons Attribution License. This catalogue may be updated from time to time in order to reflect additional material and/or new understandings of the material.

Date(s) of descriptions

April 2004