Society of Civil War Historians Conference Presentation 2026

Title: “The Nurses, Consolers, and Saviors of Men”: The Creation, Memory, and Dissolution of the National Association of Army Nurses of the Civil War

Abstract: This project explores the formation, activities, and eventual dissolution of the National Association of Army Nurses of the Civil War, highlighting how its members commemorated their wartime service and sacrifices. Central to this study is the use of material culture—specifically, membership and meeting badges—as tools of memory and identity. Like their counterparts in the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Womans Relief Corps, these women crafted and wore badges to signify their shared experience and to align themselves with a heroic legacy. However, unlike those multigeneration organizations, the National Association of Army Nurses disbanded in 1931 as its membership dwindled, ultimately ceasing to exist when few members remained. This distinct end offers a new perspective within Civil War memory studies, emphasizing the intersection of gender, commemoration, and mortality. By examining how these women chose to preserve but not weaponize memory, this project contributes to a broader understanding of postwar memory formation and material representation.