Monday, November 2, 2026 – Explore the Journey: Nursing at Metropolitan in 1941
NURSING SCHOOL HISTORY
COMES TO LIFE
COURTESY OF
MARGARET STEUERWALT, R.N.
METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL SCHOOL OF NURSING
CLASS OF 1941
JUDITH BERDY
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2026
ISSUES # 1773
MARGARET STEUERWALT
Years ago, the RIHS was contacted by the family of Margaret Steuerwalt. They donated Miss Steuerwalt’s cape, photos and yearbook from the Metropolitan Hospital School of Nursing, Class of 1941. We were thrilled to accept this donation and to preserve Island nursing history.
Nursing students by the lighhouse. Note they black hosiery, Black hosiery was worn during the first six months as a probationary nursing student. The night that they passed their probationary period, all tied their stockings together and floated them in the river.
Miss Steuerwalt as a probationary nurse in 1938, an envelope addressed to her on the island, bottom photo perhaps graduation, with a male friend and a career woman. The yearbook states that she became an airling stewardess, where you had to be a nurse to qualify for the job in 1941.
Yearbook page from 1941. Note distinctive cap, that signified which nursing school you attended.
Draper Hall was the nursing student’s home. It was just south of the Lighthouse Park and Staff House for interns and residents was nearby.
All nursing students had a strict and enforced uniform regulations. The capes were regulation.
A sample of the pass needed to ride the ferry from East 78 Street to the Island and the schedule.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
I decided to wear the 85 year old cape this evening for Halloween. The cape is pure wool outside and lined with more red wool on the inside. The capes were not designed for easy wearing. They are very heavy and there are no sleeves and only one tiny inside pocket.
The only way to keep it on is to use the attachments.
Judith Berdy
Visit us at the RIHS office in the Octagon and you are welcome to try on this 85 year old garment, an item of nursing and Island history.
CREDIT
RIHS ARCHIVE
All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.
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