Leah L. Curtin received her diploma from the Good Samaritan School of Nursing in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1965. She then pursued her Bachelor of Science in Community Health and a master’s degree in community health planning and administration. Curtin wanted to study philosophy and became the first woman ever to enroll in a Catholic Seminary when she attended the Athenaeum of Ohio. She co-authored Nursing Ethics: Theories and Pragmatics, one of the few texts on this subject. As one of the few nurses who had a philosophy degree, she was endorsed by the National Endowment for the Humanities to speak on the topic of nursing ethics and offered a job as editor of Supervisor Nurse. Contingent on Curtin taking this position was being able to work in Cincinnati and changing the name of the publication to Nursing Management. She served in this role for over 20 years. Curtin was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing in 1982 for “her leadership and authorship in nursing ethics” and received two honorary doctorate degrees.
The Leah Curtin Oral History (0.25 linear feet) contains copies of an oral history interview conducted with Curtain on November 6, 2015, accompanied by a publication.
The collection is open to the public and is available for viewing in the Medical Heritage Center. Materials do not circulate and must be used in the supervised reading room. Restrictions, including copyright, may exist and some materials may be too fragile to photocopy or digitize. The MHC charges for duplication services, which must be performed by staff.
[Identification of item], Leah Curtin Oral History, SPEC.202555.CURTINORALHISTORY, Medical Heritage Center, Health Sciences Library, The Ohio State University.