As early as 1878 while prospecting for a site to establish a college for men in the Dakota Territory, Abbot Alexius Edelbrock, OSB, became aware of the need for a hospital in the still undeveloped area of Mandan and Bismarck. In 1885 he bought the Lamborn Hotel in Bismarck and succeeded in interesting Mother Scholastica Kerst in converting it to a hospital. It was a challenge to change the settlers' prejudice against hospitals as institutions for the wayward and shiftless. However, after five years and with the expertise of Dr. E. pageQuaine in surgery and Sister Boniface Timmers, OSB, in administration, the hospital gained favor and grew from a primitive institution to one of the finest hospitals in the land. With the help of a donation from St. John's Abbey, the Benedictine sisters were able to repay the abbey for the debt incurred by the original purchase and they named the hospital St. Alexius. By 1913, they were able to build a new hospital and to organize a school of nursing there (Saint Benedict's Monastery Archives; McDonald, pages 126-137).
Street view of the B Building at The Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis. The photograph was taken from the present corner of Eighth Street and Tenth Avenue. Modern Elliot Park is still Elliot Farm. The barb wire fence at the edge of the farm's pasture is visible in the photograph.
The interns' dining room at The Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis. A serving girl is posed behind one of the chairs. There is a silver bell at the head of the table to allow the diners to ring for service during the meal. The profusion of candles on the sideboard indicates that the interns were not frequently allowed to use the gas chandelier hanging above the table.
The Cook Block was built by John Ramsey Cook in 1877. Because of the confusion with the Cook Hotel building, which he built in 1869, he renamed the Cook Block the Ramsey Block (for his mother). This building was located at 20 Second Street SW (formerly Zumbro Street). C. F. Massey Company later moved to this location. In 1883, Dr. William Worrall Mayo rented the first floor for his offices, consulting and operating room. The laboratories were on the second floor. Dr. W. W. Mayo and his two sons, Dr. William J. Mayo and Dr. Charles H. Mayo, operated their medical practice in this building until 1901. This building is the earliest location of what would later become the Mayo Clinic.
The interior of Dr. Charles T. Granger's doctor's office is crowded with books, medical equipment and bottles of medicines. Dr. Granger's office was located over the Qvale Drug Store at 227 South Broadway.
The interior of Dr. Charles T. Granger's doctor's office is crowded with medical equipment. On the left is a large stove and hanging on the wall is a bird cage. Dr. Granger's office was located over the Qvale Drug Store at 227 South Broadway.
The interior of Dr. Charles T. Granger's doctor's office is crowded with various medical equipment. Dr. Granger's office was located over the Qvale Drug Store at 227 South Broadway.
The interior of Dr. Charles T. Granger's doctor's office is crowded with books, medical equipment and bottles of medicines. A microscope under a glass dome is on the table by the window. Dr. Granger's office was located over the Qvale Drug Store at 227 South Broadway.
This photograph shows Dr. Fred Paul Strathern (1869-1962) in his first office in St. Peter in the Bennett building (300 South Minnesota Avenue). Dr. Strathern's office was located in the rear of the building, along Nassau street.
This photograph shows Dr. Fred Paul Strathern (1869-1962) in his first office in St. Peter in the Bennett building (300 South Minnesota Avenue). Dr. Strathern's office was in the rear of the building, along Nassau street.
This photograph shows two nurses tending patients on the second floor of the Center building at the St. Peter State Hospital. The room has been decorated for Christmas.
Inside Princeton Drug Store with J.M. Armitage and Joe Foss behind the counter. Note medicine in glass cases on wall, cigars, and paint sample display.
This photograph of buildings at the St. Peter State Hospital has the date March 7, 1900 written on the reverse side of the photo. Another note there refers to a fire at two o'clock in the morning. The rear of the Center building can be seen at the far right of the photo.
The medical and nursing staff of The Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis are posed in front of their horse drawn ambulance. The nurses on each end wearing striped blouses are nursing students. It was common during this era for nursing students to supply the bulk of nursing care in hospitals.
Formal front entrance to the nurses' dormitory at The Swedish Hospital, Minneapolis. In the early twentieth century, nursing students lived on the hospital grounds. The parlor seen in the photograph would have been reserved for leisure time and entertaining special guests.