Those fashionable nurses

A Mount student in the complete nursing ensemble leads
the Class of 1955 from their Capping Ceremony in Mary Chapel.

Bicycling midwives in their smart
East End nursing uniforms.

FANS OF THE BRITISH SERIES Call the Midwife love the nurses' immaculate light-blue uniforms with maroon caps, matching sweaters, and a jaunty a secret-agent-style gray trench coat.

That era, the late 1950s and early 1960s, must have been the Golden Age of nursing fashion, because Mount students in the same decade had their own unique outfits – a crisp grey shirtwaist dress with thin white stripes, covered by a starchy white pinafore and topped off by the official MSMC nurses' cap, presented during the annual capping ceremony in Mary Chapel.

Collar detail of the Mount nurse's cape.

But the most wonderful part, the pièce de résistance, had to be the dashing thigh-length navy cape with bright red lining.

These were made of a heavy wool (think Navy peacoat) and had a standup collar with M.S.M.C. embroidered in shiny gold.  A chain at the back allowed it to be hung on a hook without damaging the fabric.

Unlike the midwives of Nonnatus House, Mount nurses probably never made their speedy rounds on bicycles in their capes, and if they had they would have roasted in the heavy wool. But what an impressive sight they would have made!

Thanks to Alanna Madrid '15 in the Alumnae Relations Office, we recently acquired for the Archives a cape in perfect condition that was worn by a member of the Class of 1953 -- only the second baccalaureate nursing class in California history. Another alumna donated her dress, pinafore and cap several years ago, so we now have the complete ensemble from the first years of MSMU's nursing department. Stop by for a visit – there's more to archives than papers and photos!

The tradition of ivy

PRESIDENT McELANEY-JOHNSON has been holding town hall meetings the last couple of weeks to discussion ideas and visions for the next strategic plan. Among the topics is looking at past traditions  that would be viable today, and showcase the College's long, distinguished heritage.

Traditions? Heritage? How do you spell A-R-C-H-I-V-E-S?

This picture reminded us of one tradition we've noticed -- garlands of ivy. If you look at the feet of this group -- the Class of 1931 with commencement speaker Joseph "Mr. Los Angeles" Scott -- you'll see on the steps of the Lecture Hall festoons of fresh ivy. 

We've seen a number of old commencement photos showing the juniors lining stairs and walkways for the graduating seniors, who processed across Chalon to the ceremony. The juniors all held a length of vine, creating a special route of honor.

We'll be on the lookout for other beautiful, simple traditions and will post them here.