Nursing & Midwifery
Rachel Williams, 1840-1908
Display No. 172
Rachel Williams was a Nightingale Training School graduate who became Superintendent of St Mary’s Hospital. They became close friends and Nightingale nicknamed her “goddess” because of her outstanding work as a nurse.
Nightingale also said she excelled at “both of the technical and theoretical parts of the nursing art, for which she has an innate genius and love… she has distinguished herself as a trainer, teacher and manager of nurses.”
Exhibits from ‘Nursing & Midwifery’.
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!