By: Samantha Riley, Bicentennial Intern, Class of 2021, French and Anthropology, IUPUI
Edited by: Bre Anne Briskey, Bicentennial Graduate Assistant
“The important thing for a nurse is that she knows how to be caring, to be caring, and to give the kind of care that being caring demands,” Emily Holmquist. [1]
Emily Holmquist devoted her professional life to improving nursing education programs and encouraging nurses to conduct research at the IU School of Nursing. Under her instruction, the school increased the number of academic programs and student attendance numbers.[2] She also helped develop and implement the standards for nursing education across all of IU’s campuses. [3]
Early Life and Education
Emily Holmquist was born on October 16, 1909 in Sommerville, MA.[4] She attended the Mount Auburn Hospital School of Nursing and graduated with her nursing diploma in 1931. Right after graduation, she began her career by becoming the head surgical nurse in at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, TN.[5] Several years later she became the administrative supervisor for medical-surgical nursing at Norfolk General Hospital in Virginia.[6]
Holmquist decided to continue her education and enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh. She earned her bachelor degree in nursing education in 1941 and a master’s degree in the same field in 1944.[7]
After Holmquist graduated, she became the chair of medical-surgical nursing, from 1945 to 1950. Wanting to further her education, Holmquist left the University of Pittsburgh to attend the University of Chicago to do advanced study.[8]
Career
While attending the University of Chicago, she was recruited to be the first dean of the Indiana University School of Nursing.[9] When Holmquist was hired in 1957, the school had undergone numerous changes. Previously known as the IU Training School for Nurses, the training school was not its own autonomous entity, but rather was part of the School of Medicine.[10]
As the school’s first dean, Holmquist worked tirelessly to improve the new school of nursing. She succeeded in persuading the university to combine its regional nursing programs to create a unified program across all IU campuses with the headquarters located in Indianapolis.[11]
Under Holmquist’s direction, the school developed advanced degree programs which allowed nurses to pursue advanced education and research in nursing.[12] The master’s of science degree in nursing education contained three curriculum areas: preparing hospital nursing service personnel, preparing school of nursing personnel, and preparing clinical nursing personnel.
The latter curriculum area later evolved to include courses on maternity and pediatric nursing.[13] The curriculum for the master’s degree was later revised to two major areas: preparation of hospital nursing service personnel and preparation of school of nursing personnel.[14]
During her tenure as dean, Holmquist considered the construction of a new nursing building to be one of her greatest achievements.[15] The expansion of the school and the increasing enrollment numbers necessitated a new building as the growing school outgrew the Ball Residence Hall.
At the time, the IU School of Nursing had a total of six classrooms and three conference rooms of its own, all found in the basement the building. Many student spaces were converted to makeshift classrooms or faculty offices. This situation was unsatisfactory for both students and faculty; students resented faculty members being present in their living and social spaces, and faculty disliked the noise associated with the residence hall.
The application for a new building to house the school was submitted in 1966; the request was accepted and a new building for the school was constructed.[16]
Holmquist attributed this success and other success to those who helped her, “I couldn’t have accomplished anything if I hadn’t had help,” she said in her 1998 interview with Barbara Norton. Holmquist recounted that under her leadership as dean, the number of nursing faculty increased, from 12 members during her first year, to 26 the following year, and 36 faculty members the year after. Holmquist was proud to work with faculty who she described as “very strong and very good.”[17]
Although Holmquist retired from her role as the dean of nursing in 1973, she continued teaching nursing classes until 1977. She was beloved by her students and faculty members and she returned the sentiment.[18]“I liked the students,” said Holmquist, “Once in the term every year I’d meet with the students to have a kind of free-for-all rolling discussion. I enjoyed them.
Contributions
During her career, Holmquist did her best to promote the integration of nursing research and nursing education. She helped to co-found one of the first peer-reviewed research journal in nursing, Research Nursing.[19] After she retired from IU in 1977, Holmquist served as the founding executive director of the American Associate of Colleges of Nursing in Washington DC.
In this role she guided the Board of Directors in making connections with government agencies and interpreting the ACCN for higher education administrators across the United States. [20] Holmquist also served as the president of the Indiana State Nurses Association.[21]
Legacy
Due to her dedication to the profession of nursing, Holmquist received innumerable honors for her extraordinary work. In 1985 she received the Sigma Theta Tau International’s Dorothy Garrigus Adams Award for Excellence in Fostering Professional Standards. Holmquist was also awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest state given award in Indiana.
Holmquist received two honorary doctorates for her work: from Evansville College in 1966 and from IU in 1991. Holmquist became the first recipient of the Indiana University School of Nursing Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993; this award has since been renamed in her honor. [22]
Holmquist died on September 6, 2000, in Port St. Lucie, FL.[23] Her legacy continues through the Emily Holmquist/ Dorcas Rock Brewer Scholarship, which is awarded to undergraduate students each year, the unified nursing program at IU, and the creation of the IU School of Nursing building.
Bibliography
- “Emily Holmquist.” Indiana University Honors & Awards. https://honorsandawards.iu.edu/search-awards/honoree.shtml?honoreeID=133
- “Emily Holmquist, Ed.D., RN.” IUPUI Office for Women. https://ofw.iupui.edu/page(4347da05-9612-4aa9-981a-0df968b1449a)
- “Emily Holmquist was former dean, instructor at IU School of Nursing.” The Indianapolis Star, 8 Sept. 2000.
- Holmquist, Emily interviewed by Barbara Norton. “Interview of Emily Holmquist.” Indiana University School of Nursing. Ruth Lilly Special Collections and Archives, University Library, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. Retrieved from eArchives, http://hdl.handle.net/2450/6889.
- Nursing at Indiana University: 75 Years at the Heart of Health Care. Bloomington: Indiana University Printing Services, 1989.
- “Obituary: Emily Holmquist (October 16, 1909-September 6, 2000),” Nursing Outlook 48, no. 6,2000, pg. 313-314.
Notes
[1] Holmquist, Emily interviewed by Barbara Norton. “Interview of Emily Holmquist.” Indiana University School of Nursing. Ruth Lilly Special Collections and Archives, University Library, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. Retrieved from eArchives, http://hdl.handle.net/2450/6889.
[2] Holmquist, Emily interviewed by Barbara Norton. “Interview of Emily Holmquist.” Indiana University School of Nursing. Ruth Lilly Special Collections and Archives, University Library, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. Retrieved from eArchives, http://hdl.handle.net/2450/6889.
[3] “Obituary: Emily Holmquist (October 16, 1909-September 6, 2000),” Nursing Outlook 48, no. 6, 2000, pg. 313-314.
[4] “Obituary: Emily Holmquist (October 16, 1909-September 6, 2000),” Nursing Outlook 48, no. 6, 2000, pg. 313-314.
[5] “Emily Holmquist.” Indiana University Honors & Awards. https://honorsandawards.iu.edu/search-awards/honoree.shtml?honoreeID=133
[6] “Obituary: Emily Holmquist (October 16, 1909-September 6, 2000),” Nursing Outlook 48, no. 6, 2000, pg. 313-314.
[7] “Emily Holmquist.” Indiana University Honors & Awards. https://honorsandawards.iu.edu/search-awards/honoree.shtml?honoreeID=133
[8] “Obituary: Emily Holmquist (October 16, 1909-September 6, 2000),” Nursing Outlook 48, no. 6, 2000, pg. 313-314.
[9] “Obituary: Emily Holmquist (October 16, 1909-September 6, 2000),” Nursing Outlook 48, no. 6, 2000, pg. 313-314.
[10] “Emily Holmquist, Ed.D., RN.” IUPUI Office for Women. https://ofw.iupui.edu/page(4347da05-9612-4aa9-981a-0df968b1449a)
[11] “Emily Holmquist, Ed.D., RN.” IUPUI Office for Women. https://ofw.iupui.edu/page(4347da05-9612-4aa9-981a-0df968b1449a)
[12] “Emily Holmquist.” Indiana University Honors & Awards. https://honorsandawards.iu.edu/search-awards/honoree.shtml?honoreeID=133
[13] Nursing at Indiana University: 75 Years at the Heart of Health Care. Bloomington: Indiana University Printing Services, 1989.
[14] Nursing at Indiana University: 75 Years at the Heart of Health Care. Bloomington: Indiana University Printing Services, 1989.
[15] Holmquist, Emily interviewed by Barbara Norton. “Interview of Emily Holmquist.” Indiana University School of Nursing. Ruth Lilly Special Collections and Archives, University Library, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. Retrieved from eArchives, http://hdl.handle.net/2450/6889.
[16] Nursing at Indiana University: 75 Years at the Heart of Health Care. Bloomington: Indiana University Printing Services, 1989.
[17] Holmquist, Emily interviewed by Barbara Norton. “Interview of Emily Holmquist.” Indiana University School of Nursing. Ruth Lilly Special Collections and Archives, University Library, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. Retrieved from eArchives, http://hdl.handle.net/2450/6889.
[18] “Emily Holmquist.” Indiana University Honors & Awards. https://honorsandawards.iu.edu/search-awards/honoree.shtml?honoreeID=133
[19] “Emily Holmquist was former dean, instructor at IU School of Nursing.” The Indianapolis Star, 8 Sept. 2000.
[20] “Emily Holmquist.” Indiana University Honors & Awards. https://honorsandawards.iu.edu/search-awards/honoree.shtml?honoreeID=133
[21] “Obituary: Emily Holmquist (October 16, 1909-September 6, 2000),” Nursing Outlook 48, no. 6, 2000, pg. 313-314.
[22] “Obituary: Emily Holmquist (October 16, 1909-September 6, 2000),” Nursing Outlook 48, no. 6, 2000, pg. 313-314.
[23] “Emily Holmquist, Ed.D., RN.” IUPUI Office for Women. https://ofw.iupui.edu/page(4347da05-9612-4aa9-981a-0df968b1449a)