This book is the first to focus on the work of nearly 600 sisters from 12 different Catholic orders who nursed wounded and sick Union and Confederate soldiers between 1860 and 1865. Drawing on archival sources and the personal papers of the women who participated, Maher gives a detailed account of their experiences: how they were called into service, where they served, what duties they performed, how they looked on their mission, and how they were viewed by those who worked with them. Through service on the battlefield, in hospitals, and on transport boats, the sisters became known for their dedication and practical skills. Maher begins with a dicussion of Catholic sisters in mid-nineteenth century America and the development of Catholic nursing during that period. While other women were prohibited by custom from nursing outside the home, Catholic sisters had established the practice of caring for the sick in the community and providing nursing care during epidemics and other public crises. During the Civil War, their assistance was sought by Union and Confederate governmental, military, and medical authorities. Through service on the battlefield, in hospitals, and on transport boats, the sisters became known for their dedication and practical skills. Maher examines the impact of their work in both modifying negative pre-Civil War attitudes towards Catholics and sisters and in paving the way for the development of a nursing profession outside the Catholic orders. Basing her study on letters, journals, and memoirs containing the sisters' personal accounts of their experiences, Civil War histories, and official medical and surgical records, Maher offers a richly detailed picture of a little-known aspect of U.S. history. Of particular interest for schools of nursing, Catholic educational institutions, and history courses concerning women's studies, the Civil War period, religion, and Catholicism.

Description

'Relating To Michael' is a work of fiction. Michael is Robin and Tamsin Cooper's beautiful autistic son. Robin has left Brock Cottage, their home, and moved to a room over 'Coopers and Son', the family antique business in nearby Linbury. He and Tamsin strongly disagree about how they should treat Michael. The continuity of the family as embodied in the image 'Coopers and Son' is very important to Robin but Michael offers his father no real acknowledgement. This distresses Robin. Nursery rhymes are Michael's main vocalisations. Playing one note, D flat on the piano, and running water are other obsessions.

Tamsin, who has problems with dependence, is pulled in all directions by her love for their son and her wish for acceptance and normality. She works from home as a potter. Harvest jugs are her speciality.

'Relating To Michael' is about a family's struggles and frustrations as it journeys towards a different understanding.

About the Author

Mary Maher has had four collections of poetry published, and many short stories one of which won a SW Arts Award. Her poems have appeared in the first Forward Anthology, on TV and have been used by The Hospice Care Trust, the UCLA Writing Programme and Exeter Health Care Arts. When the scheme was running she was a W H Smith Poet in Schools. She enjoys editing as well and recently edited two art books.

Yorkshire born in 1937 to a family of miners, Mary has had manic depression several times and believes this is why she felt 'at home' working in Special Education where there was a lot of honesty, a lack of social inhibition and where life was vivid, never humdrum, on a daily basis.