Florence the Woman

Florence in her own words: The Richness of Life

Display No. 83

Florence Nightingale, Letter to William Nightingale, 1845

“Oh how rich life is, if one did but know how to get at it. What a fullness of life there is – there is the intellectual life, the life of sentiment and the life of art…when one begins the life of enthusiasm and feeling to think how one could have done so long without it.”

Exhibits from ‘Florence the Woman’

Discover the 200 Exhibits

Nightingale is respected worldwide for her pioneering role in developing the nursing profession, her statistical work, and her evidence-based approach to healthcare. In honour of her bicentenary the World Health Organisation have named 2020 the Year of the Nurse and Midwife.

In our special exhibition, you will find out about objects, people and places which tell interesting stories about Florence’s life and legacy. You’ll discover artefacts from her life, people she both inspired and challenged, and places she helped to shape. There’s many more insights too!

Please click on the different sections of her famous coxcomb diagram to explore various aspects of her life and legacy. We hope you enjoy exploring!