DeKalb General Hospital mass resignation records

Collection

Identifier: L1995-01

Staff Only

Scope and Content of the Collection

The collection consists of records pertaining to the mass resignation of nurses at DeKalb General Hospital in 1968-1969. These records were collected by Cathleen Conway Johnson while researching her doctoral thesis, The Troubles with Angels of Mercy: The Mass Resignation of Registered Nurses at DeKalb General Hospital, Decatur, Georgia, January 22, 1969 (Emory University, 1994).

The records include correspondence, reports, press releases, newsletters, minutes, newspaper clippings, publications, photographs, and scrapbooks related specifically to the events at DeKalb General Hospital and the role played by the Georgia State Nurses Association. Also included are notes and correspondence written by or pertaining to Margaret Ford, Director of Nursing at DeKalb General Hospital, and Mary Osburne, one of the nurses who resigned from DeKalb General Hospital. In addition, the collection contains publications and newspaper clippings regarding collective bargaining, labor disputes in Atlanta in 1970, and other nursing labor disputes in the United States.

Dates

1959-1973

Creator

Georgia State Nurses' Association (Organization)

Restrictions on Access

Unrestricted access.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

To quote in print, or otherwise reproduce in whole or in part in any publication, including on the Worldwide Web, any material from this collection, the researcher must obtain permission from (1) the owner of the physical property and (2) the holder of the copyright. Persons wishing to quote from this collection should consult the reference archivist to determine copyright holders for information in this collection. Reproduction of any item must contain the complete citation to the original.

History of the DeKalb General Hospital Mass Resignation

In 1968, the nurses at DeKalb General Hospital elected to form a local unit of the Georgia State Nurses Association to act as their bargaining agent for collective bargaining purposes. The nurses wanted the hospital administration to negotiate with their elected committee concerning terms and conditions of employment. When the DeKalb General Hospital refused to recognize or negotiate with the Georgia States Nurses Association local unit, the nurses resigned en masse with their resignations effective in six weeks. However, when the hospital abruptly fired the Director and Assistant Director of Nursing, the nurses tendered new resignations that went into effect in five days. On January 22, 1969 over 100 nurses from DeKalb General Hospital resigned. After the resignation, the hospital continued to operate using volunteers and nurses from the surrounding community. While a few of the nurses who resigned did resume their positions at the hospital, most eventually sought work elsewhere.

Extent

1.5 Linear Feet (in 2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract:

In 1968, the nurses at DeKalb General Hospital elected to form a local unit of the Georgia State Nurses Association to act as their bargaining agent for collective bargaining purposes. The Hospital administration refused to budge and over 100 nurses resigned in protest. The collection consists of records pertaining to the mass resignation of nurses at DeKalb General Hospital in 1968-1969. These records were collected by Cathleen Conway Johnson while researching her doctoral thesis, The Troubles with Angels of Mercy: The Mass Resignation of Registered Nurses at DeKalb General Hospital, Decatur, Georgia, January 22, 1969 (Emory University, 1994).