In Part II, I described Theresa Pake’s high school and college education, but although she was 25 years old and had had a great deal of education for a young woman of her time, she wasn’t satisfied.
Her next step was to attend nursing school at the Kalamazoo State Hospital. I’ve written here about how my great-great-grandfather Richard DeKorn built the historic landmark water tower at the state hospital.
Here is an engraving of the hospital circa 1863:
Kalamazoo State Hospital
The Michigan Asylum for the Insane was built in 1859, the water tower in 1895, and, in 1911, was renamed the Kalamazoo State Hospital. According to internet sources, nurse’s training was a pioneering program (perhaps started in 1906? I’m not certain), and Theresa would have been there during a vibrant period for the program. After Theresa left Asbury College, she began training as a nurse and graduated in 1925. On May 15, 1925, Theresa was registered by the state.
Notice the pin she wears in this graduation portrait. She actually received two pins. One says “Kalamazoo State Hospital” and the other has the initials KSTS for Kalamazoo State Nursing School.
Theresa Pake
Graduate nursing school
Here is Theresa with a classmate or coworker sitting outside the hospital. The caps they wear do not yet have the black stripe that is on Theresa’s graduation cap. Also, I wonder if the pinafore style uniform is an example of a student nurse costume.
And here Theresa sits alone:
Theresa’s career as a nurse meant that she worked hard her whole life. She was employed as a private duty nurse for many years. She also worked at Beloit Memorial Hospital in Wisconsin:
After graduating with a nursing degree, Theresa was free to begin her life with a career, quite a feat for a young woman in 1925.
The Children After the Fire, 1902
George Paake’s Legacy, Part II: Theresa’s Pre-Professional Education
The Family Kalamazoo 
Theresa seems to have had a love of learning, willingness to work hard, and ambition. What an interesting person.
She fascinates me. I love all her good character qualities. I had to remove the group photo as it was an error. It is going into in the previous Theresa post.
What a pioneer she was. Today she might have pursued an MD. I love the photos—you are so fortunate to have them. Were these from the Professor, or did you have them? And too bad medical care isn’t that cheap today!!
Amy, I agree with you that today she might have gotten an MD. She certainly spent many years in school, graduating from nursing school when she was 32. That’s probably part of the affinity I feel for her as I was a longtime student.
Good for you as well! I loved school and, now that I am retired, would love to go back and take courses.
And it would be fun to do so in person, but there are also lots of online courses available today in so many interesting subjects!
True, but as someone who taught for over 30 years, I still think that there is nothing like a real classroom experience.
I imagine back then, it took a lot of perseverance and endurance to do what she did. In more modern times, she might have chosen to become a doctor! 🙂
Linda, I think so, too–the perseverance, the endurance, and that today she would have had the option to go to medical school! Considering the hardships of her family, she seems lucky (no one can know this for certain, but it appears this way) in many ways to be selected by the foster family who sponsored her education.
What a great tribute to Theresa, and her nursing career! I still have my mother-in-laws first nursing cap from the 1940s. Theresa was a real trail-blazer!
Maryann, I just love that you still have your MIL’s nursing cap! How special! Yes, Theresa was very special and inspirational!
MARGE SOOTSMAN OWENS was my former mother in law. She had one son
David Jan Owens Fascinating!!!
Great to hear from you, Rochelle! Did you read my post about the Sootsmans then? https://thefamilykalamazoo.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/a-new-family-by-second-marriage/ I am so glad to know about her son so I can update my family tree. Also, I have incomplete info on Marge. This is what I have: Marjorie Sootsman
Birth april 30 1896 in Michigan
Death in ann arbor michigan
Do you have more or better information? I wouldn’t mind David’s birth info either!, but you can email it to me if you like at writersite.wordpress[at]gmail.com.
Thanks so much!
Luanne
Theresa sounds like a wonderful, caring women who had a fulfilling career.
I agree, Sheryl. What a beautiful way to describe Theresa!
“quite a feat for a young woman in 1925” Quite a feat indeed!
Laura, yes! What a lot of determination and hard work and persistence.
Dear Luanne, I have sent additional info to your email. mosaics wordpress
Have you read it?
Rochelle
Yes, I have now responded! Thank you so much, Rochelle.
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