If it’s the holiday season at Rush, it must be time to dig into the Rush Archives for photos from Decembers past.
This image from 1939 shows Santa visiting a 9-year-old boy who had to spend Christmas at Presbyterian Hospital (which would later become part of Rush).
“The suit worn by this jolly-looking St. Nick,” says the caption in the Presbyterian Hospital Bulletin, “has been worn here every Christmas for more than 50 years.”
This image, which appeared in the December 1939 issue of the Presbyterian Hospital Bulletin, shows student nurses singing carols in a hospital corridor on Christmas morning, 1938.
“Care is taken not to disturb any seriously ill patients,” the caption explains, “but all others seem to regard this as a happy way of ushering in the Christmas day that is to be spent in the hospital.”
Presbyterian Hospital later became part of Rush University Medical Center.
By Virginia Markvart, RN
For most people, the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons are wonderful and magical times of the year filled with joyful celebration and happiness. The bright-colored lights and splendid decorations of the season remind many of us that the holidays are a time for holding on to fantasies, with the wish of having our every dream fulfilled. Despite this image, for some people the holidays often can be a time of increased stress and loneliness.
Experts have categorized holiday stress in three general areas.
Socioeconomic stress may result from the added financial burdens of gift-giving and of purchasing additional food and drink for special holiday entertaining. Being physically or emotionally separated from one’s family adds to holiday tension. In some cases, the increased proximity to family may likewise cause additional stress as a result for unresolved family conflicts or differences.
Members of the St. Luke’s Hospital staff donned costumes to perform “Twas the Night Before Christmas” for other employees in December of 1946. St. Luke’s Hospital was a predecessor of Rush University Medical Center.
You can contact the Archives at rush_archives@rush.edu or at (312) 942-7214.