Florence Nightingale Museum Greater London hotels:

The Museum's Collections: Artefacts : The Museum has three classes of artifacts in a collection numbering less than 1000 items: Artefacts owned or used by Florence Nightingale. Material connected with the Crimean War (1854-56): military, hospital and nursing. Objects conected with the Nightingale School and St. Thomas' Hospital (1860-1910). Archives: A collection of 63 letters from Florence Nightingale and, on deposit at the London Metropolitan Archives, a further collection of 700 letters from Florence Nightingale and related papers. Library Collections: Primary Sources: Books written by Florence Nightingale. 53 of the 200 printed works in their original form · Books owned by Florence Nightingale. Books given and inscribed by Florence Nightingale, mainly to nurses. Pictures: Portraits of Florence Nightingale. Images of Crimean hospitals, army camps and battles. Images of nurses and hospitals connected with Florence Nightingale. Principally the Nightingale Training School for Nurses and St. Thomas' Hospital. Florence Nightingale was a legend in her lifetime but the Crimean War years which made her famous were just two out of a life of ninety years. Early Years: Florence Nightingale was born in Italy on 12 May 1820 and was named Florence after the city where she was born. Her parents, William Edward and Frances Nightingale were a wealthy couple, who had toured Europe for two years on their honeymoon. During their travels their first daughter, Parthenope, was born in Naples (Parthenope being the Greek name for the ancient city), followed one year later by Florence. On returning to England the Nightingales divided their time between two homes. In the summer months they lived at Lea Hurst in Derbyshire, moving to Embley in Hampshire for the winter. Lea Hurst is now a retirement home and Embley is now a school. Call From God: Florence and Parthenope were taught at home by their Cambridge University educated father. Florence was an academic child, while her sister excelled at painting and needlework. Florence grew up to be a lively and attractive young woman, admired in the family's social circle and she was expected to make a good marriage, but Florence had other concerns. In 1837, whilst in the gardens at Embley, Florence had what she described as her 'calling'. Florence heard the voice of God calling her to do his work, but at this time she had no idea what that work would be....