© Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba (Last
updated February 11, 2010)
Reimer, Helena F., 1905-1993
Retrieval numbers: Volume 5423, 5432; Photo collection 666.
Title: Helena F. Reimer fonds
Dates: 1944-1971
, predominant 1944-1957
Extent: 15cm of textual records.
Extent: 35 photographs.
Repository: Mennonite Heritage Centre ArchivesHistorical note
Helena
Friesen Reimer (1905-1993) was born in Steinbach, Manitoba, the first
child to Abraham and Margaretha (Friesen) Reimer. Helena received her
Manitoba Teacher's Certificate in 1928 after achieving the highest
marks in the province on her Education Entrance Examination. Helena
taught for several years but again took up studies, receiving her R.N.
(Registered Nurse) from Winnipeg General Hospital in 1937 where she
held various positions ranging from nurse to instructor and supervisor.
In 1944 Helena Reimer began her first in a series of overseas nursing
assignments at a refugee camp in the Middle East under the UNRRA
(United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration). She spent
two years at the camp, after which her assignment was transferred to
Formosa, China (Taiwan) from 1946-1948. Helena then returned to
Winnipeg for a few years where she was the Assistant Superintendent of
Nursing at Winnipeg General Hospital. During this time she worked to
complete her B.N. (Bachelor of Nursing) from McGill in 1951. Helena
resumed her work overseas with the WHO (World Health Organization) in
1951 as a Senior Nurse Educator in Cambodia. In 1953 Helena transferred
to Egypt and helped to found a Nursing Education Institute as part of
the University of Alexandria. She worked there as an educator and
administrator until 1956. After contracting a tropical disease, Helena
had to return to Canada where she recovered and was able to earn her
M.A. (Masters of Arts) from the University of Chicago in 1957 in the
field of nursing administration. In 1958 Helena accepted a position
with the Order of Nurses of the province of Quebec. Montreal soon
became her home and she remained there until her retirement in 1970.
Helena enjoyed her work as Secretary-Registrar (Executive Director) and
the challenge of bilingualism; she made many friendships during her
years with the Order of Nurses of Quebec. Upon retirement Helena moved
back to Manitoba where she lived in Winnipeg and kept active taking
courses, teaching English to refugees, and volunteering with the
elderly. In 1974 Helena received both an honorary doctorate from the
University of Winnipeg, and the high honour of the Order of Canada for
over 30 years of dedication to nursing in Canada and abroad. Helena
passed away in Steinbach on May 16, 1993 after months of severe illness.
Scope and content note
This
fonds contains reports and correspondence from Helena's various
assignments with the UNRRA and WHO, as well as University reports and
assignments, correspondence from her hears in Montreal, and other notes
and documents. Also included are several newspaper clippings or
articles, a small collection of photographs, and many interesting
documents such as diplomas, certificates and travel identification.
Index terms
Subject terms
Reimer, Helena F., 1905-1993
Creators
Reimer, Helena F., 1905-1993
Adjunct descriptive data
Finding aids
Consists of a file list.
Notes
Custodial history
This material has come from Helena's sister, E. Regina Reimer in 2009.
Physical description details
Described by Erika Enns Rodine.
Language
English and some French.
Restrictions on access
No restrictions on access.
Accruals
More accruals expected.
Immediate source of acquisition
E. Regina Reimer.
Other notes
Accession no. 2009-038, 2009-053.
Inventory File list
Volume 5423
- Correspondence and reports from UNRRA Middle East refugee camp. -- 1944-1946.
- Correspondence and reports from UNRRA/WHO Formosa, China (Taiwan). – 1946-1948.
- Correspondence and reports from WHO in Cambodia. – 1951-1953.
- Correspondence and reports from WHO in Egypt. – 1951-1953.
- Correspondence and reports from Montreal (Association of Nurses of the Province of Quebec). – 1958-1970.
Volume 5432
- Newspaper articles and clippings. – 1954-1993.
- University assignments, reports and papers. – 1951-1957.
- Travel documents, certificates, awards and other artefacts. – 1928-1993.
- Biographical information and documents. – 1949-2009.
Collection Number: |
| 666 |
Helena F. Reimer photograph collection |
666:1 |
Portrait of Helena Reimer. - [196-]. - 9.5 x 14.5 cm [b&w]. |
| This photograph is a portrait of Helena Reimer. She is wearing a blouse and pearl necklace. |
666:2 |
Helena Reimer at Government House receiving Order of Canada. - Dec 6, 1974. - 12 x 9 cm |
| This photo is of Helena Reimer standing among the gathered audience to receive the Order of Canada. |
| She is wearing a long, pale blue dress with sleeves. -- Note: Photo is mounted on a paper backing with |
| cover, measuring 19 x 18.5 cm. |
666:3 |
Helena Reimer at Government House receiving Order of Canada. - Dec 6, 1974. - 12 x 9 cm |
| This photo is of Canada's Governor General, Jules Leger, presenting the Order of Canada to Helena |
| Reimer. Other Government House officials are looking on. -- Notes: Photo is mounted on a paper backing |
| with folding cover measuring 19 x 18.5 cm. |
666:4 |
Helena Reimer at Government House receiving Order of Canada. - Dec 6, 1974. - 12 x 9 cm |
| This photo is of Helena Reimer shaking the hands of Canada's Governor General, Jules Leger, and his |
| wife Gabrielle after receiving the Order of Canada. -- Notes: photo is mounted on a paper backing with |
| folding cover measuring 19 x 18.5 cm. |
666:5 |
Helena Reimer at Government House receiving Order of Canada. - Dec 6, 1974. - 19.5 x |
| This photo is of Helena Reimer with her sister Neta Toews, after receiving the Order of Canada, which |
| she is wearing. Both Helena and Neta are wearing long, pale blue dresses with white gloves. Helena is also |
| wearing around her neck the watch that her mother gave to her father when they were married. |
666:6 |
Helena Reimer's Retirement, Montreal 1969. - [1969]. - 20 x 25.5 [col.]. |
| This photo is of Helena Reimer greeting another woman at her farewell occasion in Montreal. |
666:7 |
Helena Reimer's Retirement, Montreal 1969. - [1969]. - 20 x 25.5 [col.]. |
| This photo is of Helena Reimer on the occasion for her farewell from the Order of Nurses of Quebec. She |
| is being applauded by a room full of people. |
666:8 |
Helena Reimer's Retirement, Montreal 1969. - [1969]. - 20 x 25.5 [col.]. |
| This photo is of Helena Reimer at her farewell from the Order of Nurses of Quebec after she had spent |
| 12 years as Secretary-Registrar. The farewell was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. In the |
| photo Helena is standing behind a podium to make a speech. |
666:9 |
Helena Reimer's Retirement, Montreal 1969. - [1969]. - 20 x 25.5 [col.]. |
| This photo is of Helena Reimer making her farewell speech upon her retirement from the Order of Nurses |
| of Quebec in Montreal at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. |
666:10 |
Helena Reimer's Retirement, Montreal 1969. - [1969]. - 20 x 25.5 [col.]. |
| This photo is of Helena Reimer and three other women at her farewell reception in Montreal. The ladies are |
666:11 |
Helena Reimer's Retirement, Montreal 1969. - . - 20 x 25.5 [col.]. |
| This photo is of Helena Reimer and friends in the nursing profession at her farewell reception in Montreal. |
666:12 |
Portrait of Helena F. Reimer upon her visit to Montreal in 1974. - [1974]. - 19.5 x 25.5 [col.]. |
| This photo is of Helena Reimer sitting at the desk in her old office at the Order of Nurses of Quebec |
| building. Helena is holding a pen and the desk has a pile of file folders stacked on it. |
666:13 |
Portrait of Helena F. Reimer upon her visit to Montreal in 1974. - [1974]. - 19.5 x 25.5 [col.]. |
| This photo is of Helena Reimer when she visisted Montreal in 1974 to receive the Order of Canada. The |
| Order of Nurses of Quebec held a reception for Helena to celebrate the occasion. Helena is in the centre, |
| and on the back of the photo she describes the event and the people beside her. Among them are Eileen |
| Flanagan and James [Hugenou?]. |
666:14 |
Helena F. Reimer receives Univ. of Winnipeg Honorary Doctorate. - Oct. 26, 1974. - 24.5 x |
| This photo shows Helena F. Reimer at the University of Winnipeg convocation ceremony in 1974 where |
| she was awarded with an Honorary Doctorate. Greeting Helena is Agatha Dyck Warkentin, a former |
666:15 |
Female Student Making Dorm Bed. - 1955. - 5.5 x 4.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo depicts a female student making her bed at the Higher Institute of Nursing at the University of |
| Alexandria in Egypt, which Helena Reimer helped to found. |
| Photos 666-15 through 666-35 are in a green album with Egyptian art on the cover. The album was |
| presented to Helena in 1955 as token of appreciation from her students at the Higher Institute of Nursing |
| at the University of Alexandria. |
666:16 |
Female Student Making Dorm Bed. - 1955. - 5.5 x 4.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo depicts a female student making her bed at the Higher Institute of Nursing at the University of |
666:17 |
Helena F. Reimer touring building in Egypt. - 1955. - 6 x 6 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo shows Helen F. Reimer in a small group on a tour of a building somewhere in Egypt. Helena is |
| second from the left, and is wearing a light grey skirt and jacket. |
666:18 |
Female student sitting at desk. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo shows a female student of the Higher Institute of Nursing sitting at a desk writing in a little |
666:19 |
Female student posing in classroom with skeleton model. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo shows a female student of the Higher Institute of Nursing standing beside a skeleton model in |
666:20 |
Helena F. Reimer at the Higher Institute of Nursing. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo is of Helena sitting in a chair next to a bookcase and holding papers at the Higher Institute of |
| Nursing at the University of Alexandria, Egypt. She is wearing a dark blouse and long skirt, and glasses. |
666:21 |
Female Students in an Anatomy class. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo shows four students with an anatomical model at the Higher Institute of Nursing in Alexandria, |
666:22 |
Students in Nursing Class. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo is of a classroom of nursing students at the Higher Institute of Nursing at the University of |
| Alexandria, Egypt. They are sitting at desks and the teacher is at the blackboard. They are learning about |
666:23 |
Huddle of Nursing Students. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This is a photo of a group of a dozen female nursing students all huddled together discussing something |
| at the Higher Institute of Nursing in Alexandria, Egypt. |
666:24 |
Three Girls Riding Two Bikes. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo shows three young women riding on two bikes in Alexandria, Egypt. They are some of Helena's |
| students at the Higher Institute of Nursing there. |
666:25 |
Nursing Students playing Volleyball in Egypt. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This is a photo of a group of female nursing students playing a game of Volleyball outside in Alexandria, |
| Egypt. They are all dressed in long skirts and blouses. |
666:26 |
Nursing students in classroom lab. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo shows a classroom of young nursing students in white lab coats using microscopes at the |
| Higher Institute of Nursing in Alexandria, Egypt. |
666:27 |
Nursing students and staff standing on a lawn in Egypt. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo shows a group of about twenty people, mostly students, standing and talking to one another on |
| a lawn in Alexandria, Egypt. Helena F. Reimer is among the group, towards the right side in a medium |
| coloured jacket and pleated skirt. She is holding up her right hand. |
666:28 |
Classroom of Nursing Students at University of Alexandria. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo is of a classroom of nursing students, all appear to be young women, at the Higher Institute of |
| Nursing at the University of Alexandria, Egypt. |
666:29 |
Nursing Students looking at textbook. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo shows two female nursing students looking at a textbook on a cart of books at the Higher |
666:30 |
Nursing Students with Anatomical Model. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo shows two young women posing with an anatomy model. A skeleton model is in the background |
| to the right of the anatomy model. |
666:31 |
Student with book at Higher Institute of Nursing. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo is of a female nursing student sitting at a desk with a book open in front of her. Behind her |
| another student is standing reading a book. |
666:32 |
Nursing Students at University of Alexandria. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo is of a group of nursing students in a large room. Some of them are sitting at a table working |
| on something, while the others are looking on. |
666:33 |
Model Hospital Room at Higher Institute of Nursing. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo shows a model hospital room, complete with model patients; one is lying in a bed and the other |
| is being pushed in a wheelchair by a student. |
666:34 |
Nursing Students in Library. - 1955. - 4.5 x 5.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This photo shows a small group of nursing students working in a library at the Higher Institute of Nursing |
| at the University of Alexandria, Egypt. |
666:35 |
Helena F. Reimer and Staff. - [195-]. - 13 x 8.5 cm. [b&w]. |
| This is a photo of Helena Reimer and her fellow staff members from the Higher Institute of Nursing at the |
| University of Alexandria in Egypt. There are six women all together, Helena being the only one sitting |
| down. On the back of the photo is written "Helena Reimer, Muriel Graham and staff". |