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World War I and World War II necessitated the expansion not only of the combat forces of the U.S. military but also of its medical services. To help meet this need, medical schools and the American Red Cross sponsored the creation of hospital units. The Indianapolis medical community followed this trend during both wars. In 1917, the Indianapolis Chapter of the American Red Cross established the unit eventually designated Base Hospital 32. Almost all of the doctors, nurses, and enlisted men originally assigned to the unit came from Indianapolis or central Indiana. In 1942, the Indiana University Medical Center set up the 32nd General Hospital. Named in honor of its World War I predecessor, this unit drew most of its original medical and nursing staffs from the IU Medical Center. Both units served in Europe. The records consist of photocopies of unit files of the 32nd General Hospital; unit histories, scrapbooks, and personal reminiscences compiled after the wars; records relating to reunions held by members of the 32nd General Hospital, photographs, an 8mm film of the 32nd General Hospital and two videotape copies of the film.

These papers document activities of Jean Coffey Webster while she served as director of Indiana University Training School for Nurses (now IU School of Nursing) from 1948-1953, as well as her time as nurse and captain in the Army Nurse Corps during World War II, a portion of which she served in the 32nd General Hospital Unit. The papers also document Coffey's experience as a nursing and nursing education student, including a diary of her years as an undergraduate nursing education student at IU Bloomington. The materials include correspondence, clippings, personal and journal writings, and educational records including diplomas and certificates, as well as some photographs and bound texts.