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Kenny, Elizabeth (1880-1952)

Also known as
Kenny, Elizabeth (1886-1952)
Kenny (Sister) (1880-1952)
Kenny (Sister) (1886-1952)
Occupation
army nurse; nurse (general)
Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-493848

Biographies

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

KENNY, ELIZABETH (1880-1952), nurse, was born on 20 September 1880 at Warialda, New South Wales, daughter of Michael Kenny, farmer from Ireland, and his native-born wife Mary, née Moore. She received limited education at small primary schools in New South Wales and Queensland. There is no official record of formal training or registration as a nurse. She probably learned by voluntary assistance at a small maternity hospital at Guyra, New South Wales. About 1910 Kenny was a self-appointed nurse, working from the family home at Nobby on the Darling Downs, riding on horseback to give her services, without pay, to any who called her. In 1911 she used hot cloth fomentations on the advice of Aeneas McDonnell, a Toowoomba surgeon, to treat symptomatically puzzling new cases, diagnosed by him telegraphically as infantile paralysis (poliomyelitis). The patients recovered. Kenny then opened a cottage hospital at Clifton.

View the full record at Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Australian Women's Register

Elizabeth Kenny developed a new treatment for infantile paralysis (poliomyelitis). Guided by Dr Aeneas McDonnell of Toowoomba, she developed a thorough knowledge of human musculature. [1] Although Kenny never completed any nursing training or registered as a nurse, she opened a hospital at Clifton, near Toowoomba, in 1913. In 1915 she joined the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) and completed 12 round sea voyages between England and Australia with the returning wounded. During this time she earned her promotion to Sister, a title she used all her life. [2] During the 1930s she established clinics in Brisbane with the backing of the State government, but with opposition from the medical profession. In 1940 she moved to the United States of Americia where her methods were widely acclaimed and gradually accepted world wide. Kenny returned to Queensland in 1951 and died in Toowoomba on 30 November 1952. [1] 200 Australian Women p. 124 [2] ibid

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Australian Women's Register

Resources for Elizabeth Kenny

Selected resources (20)

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

  1. 'Kenny, Elizabeth (1880 - 1952)' - Australian Dictionary of Biography
    Ross Patrick
    [1983]
    Published: Melbourne University Press
    Series: Volume 9
    pp 570-571.

Australian Women's Register

  1. UQFL 16 - Elizabeth Kenny Collection
    Fryer Library and Department of Special Collections, University of Queensland
    Published: The University of Queensland
  2. UQFL 354 - Rae W. Dungan collection
    Fryer Library and Department of Special Collections
    Published: The University of Queensland
  3. The Complete Book of Great Australian Women: Thirty-six women who changed the course of Australia
    De Vries, Susanna
    [2003]
    Published: HarperCollins, Sydney
  4. Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
    Australian National University
    [2006]
  5. Where are the Women in Australian science?
    Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
  6. 100 great Australians
    Macklin, Robert
    [1983]
    Published: Currey O'Neil Ross, South Yarra, Vic.
  7. SISTER ELIZABETH KENNY
    [2002]
    Published: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  8. 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology
    Radi, Heather
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press, Sydney
  9. Kenny, Elizabeth (1881-1952)
    Patrick, Ross
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
  10. Papers of Elizabeth Kenny, 1938-2001 [manuscript]
    [1938 - 2001]
    1. Correspondence 15 May 1939-13 Feb. 1952 (1 folder). -- 2. Letters of appreciation 1942-1946 received from doctors and others in U.S. and Canada who attended or visited the Kenny Clinic in Minneapolis (1 folder). -- 3. Evidence concerning my seven years' activities in the United States of America : report dated 14 Oct. 1947 to Hon. E.M. Hanlon, M.L.A., Premier of Queensland (20 l.). -- 4. My report on conference with the medical profession in fourteen foreign countries [1947] (23 l.). -- 5. Patients' reports 1938-1941 giving condition and progress under treatment, prepared by Elizabeth Kenny or Medical Superintendants (1 folder) -- 6. Report dated 10 Nov. 1947 sent to her medical sponsors in Queensland, in anticipation of a meeting called by the Director of Health and Medical Services which they are invited to attend, summarizing public statements 1937-1947 on her methods by medical authorities; with conclusions drawn by herself (18 l.). -- 7. Reports on concepts and treatments of polyiomyelitis : Brisbane 6th Dec, 1946 / by Thomas Victor Stubbs Brown and Abraham Fryberg (27 l.). -- 8. Summary of lectures given at the Brisbane General Hospital at the invitation of the General Medical Superintendant of the Brisbane and South Coast Hospitals Board, 1939-1940 (1 folder).
    9 boxes/parcels
    Fryer Library and Department of Special Collections, University of Queensland
    UQFL16
  11. Elizabeth Kenny - papers, 1936-1937
    [1936 - 1937]
    The papers cover the period 1937-1937. They contain mainly correspondence relating to the establishment and operation of the Elizabeth Kenny Clinics in various states of Australia, and Elizabeth Kenny's efforts to gain recognition for her methods of treatment. The papers also include copies of specifications for equipment used during treatment, copies of lecture/address notes, invitations and newspaper clippings
    0.05 m, 1 box
    Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales
    MLMSS 5855
  12. [1947 File - Dark Blue Tab] Kenny, Elizabeth (Sister)
    [1947]
    National Archives of Australia, National Office
    A3300/7
  13. The Kenny Method of Treatment of Paralysis (Polio Myelitis or Infantile Paralysis, Spastic Paralysis and Birth Paralysis)
    [1935]
    AUTHOR Elizabeth Kenny : ADDRESS Nobby, Qld : TITLE OF WORK The Kenny Method of Treatment of Paralysis (Polio Myelitis or Infantile Paralysis, Spastic Paralysis and Birth Paralysis) : TYPE OF WORK Literary Work : APPLICANT Elizabeth Kenny : DATE OF APPLICATION 14 May 1935 : DATE COPYRIGHT REGISTERED 23 May 1935 : WORK ENCLOSED? Yes
    National Archives of Australia, National Office
    A1336/1
  14. Infantile Paralysis and Cerebral Diplegia
    [1937]
    AUTHOR Elizabeth Kenny : ADDRESS Sydney : TITLE OF WORK Infantile Paralysis and Cerebral Diplegia : TYPE OF WORK Literary Work : APPLICANT Elizabeth Kenny : DATE OF APPLICATION 12 Mar 1937 : DATE COPYRIGHT REGISTERED 19 Mar 1937 : WORK ENCLOSED? Order as A1336/2
    National Archives of Australia, National Office
    A1336/1
  15. Application for Letters Patent for an invention by Elizabeth Kenny, titled - A surgical appliance for supporting the injured members of patients bodies during their transport
    [1928]
    0.5 m
    National Archives of Australia, National Office
    A627/54
  16. Application for Letters Patent for an invention by Elizabeth Kenny, titled - An improved transport stretcher
    [1926]
    0.5 m
    National Archives of Australia, National Office
    A627/53
  17. Papers of Rae William Dungan [manuscript]
    [1928 - 1956]
    Correspondence, medical reports and articles, case notes, and newspaper cuttings pertaining to Dr. Rae W. Dungan's clinical work with polio sufferers in the 1930's and the 1940's and his collaboration with Sister Elizabeth Kenny.
    1 box
    Fryer Library and Department of Special Collections, University of Queensland
    UQFL354
  18. Kenny, Elizabeth : Service Number - Sister
    [c. 1914 - c. 1920]
    KENNY Elizabeth : Service Number - Sister : Place of Birth - Warrialda NSW : Place of Enlistment - N/A : Next of Kin - (Mother) KENNY M Mrs
    National Archives of Australia, National Office
    B2455/1
  19. Supply of Agricultural and Scientific Information. Elizabeth Kenny Institute for Infantile Paralysis
    [1945 - 1946]
    National Archives of Australia, National Office
    A1067/1
  20. Elizabeth Kenny Clinic
    [1937]
    National Archives of Australia, National Office
    A6006

Resources About Elizabeth Kenny (21)

  1. And they shall walk : the life story of Sister Elizabeth Kenny / written in collaboration with Martha Ostenso
    Kenny, Elizabeth, 1886-1952
    [Book : 1900-1951]
  2. Sister Kenny : the woman who challenged the doctors / by Victor Cohn
    Cohn, Victor, 1919-
    [Book : 1975]
  3. Through Kenny's eyes : an exploration of Sister Elizabeth Kenny's views about nursing / John Robert Wilson
    Wilson, John R. (John Robert), 1951-
    [Book : 1995]
  4. Sister Elizabeth Kenny : maverick heroine of the polio treatment controversy / Wade Alexander
    Alexander, Wade
    [Book : 2003]
  5. And they shall walk / Elizabeth Kenny, written in collaboration with Martha Ostenso
    Kenny, Elizabeth, 1880-1952
    [Book : 1980]
  6. Sister Kenny / by Henry Thomas ; illustrated by Polly Bolian
    Thomas, Henry, 1886-
    [Book : 1958]
  7. Evidence presented by sister Kenny concerning her concept and treatment of the disease infantile paralysis
    Kenny, Elizabeth, 1880-1952
    [Book : 1900]
  8. I knew Sister Kenny : a story of a great lady and little people / by Herbert J. Levine
    Levine, Herbert J
    [Book : 1954]
  9. Papers
    Dungan, Rae William, 1904-1975
    [Unpublished : 1928-1956]
  10. 50 famous Australians / with an introduction by G.V. Portus
    [Book : 1950-1959]

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Australian Newspapers (1803-1954)

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  1. Website: Bright sparcs
    www.asap.unimelb.edu.au
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    • Kenny, Elizabeth- Biographical entry - 25/1/2000
    • ... or additions to bsparcs@asap.unimelb.edu.au [[Be a Bright Sparcs Sponsor]] Kenny, Elizabeth (1880 - 1952) Archival Sources Published Sources...
    View 7 matching archived pages
  2. Website: Australian Women in War
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  3. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
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  1. Kellermann, Annette. 1886-1975
    actor (film); aquatic performer; children's author; swimmer
    ... Kenny, Elizabeth (1880 - 1952) ...
  2. Bostock, John. 1892-
    academic; mental health practitioner
    ... Kenny, Elizabeth (1880 - 1952) ...
  3. Lawrence, Marjorie. 1909-1979
    ... Kenny, Elizabeth (1880 - 1952) ...
  1. Papers
    Dungan, Rae William, 1904-1975
    [Unpublished : 1928-1956]
  2. Papers
    Kenny, Elizabeth, 1880-1952
    [Unpublished : 1938-1952]
  3. Papers
    Kenny, Elizabeth, 1880-1952
    [Unpublished : 1938-1952]