Name: Original U.S. WWII Named Cadet Nurse Corps Uniform Set & Cap - Dorothy Fry Class of 1944
SKU: 46058

Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. We are delighted to offer the “Seersucker” Cadet Nurse Corps uniform of Dorothy Fry, Class of 1944. The severe wartime shortage of nurses resulted in a uniformed Cadet Nurse Corps as part of the Public Health Service under the Nurse Training Act of 1943. Participants received scholarships and monthly payments to attend nursing schools by agreeing to work in essential nurse positions after graduation for the duration of the war. The entire program graduated 124,000 nurses, of which over 3,000 were Black and other minorities who became valuable health professionals.

From the membership card which we found via ancestry, we know Dorothy Isabel Fry attended the school of nursing at Germantown Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her home address was R.F.D. 3, Newville, PA. She was born November 2nd, 1926, and after the CNC became an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. She passed away as Dorothy Isabel Fry Brady on October 26th, 2003.

The uniform is overall in good shape, with the two pillows under the shoulders still retained. There is a patch for the Cadet Nurse Corps on the left sleeve, featuring an 8-pointed white maltese cross, and both red epaulets are still retained on the uniform. There is a tag below the collar of the uniform that reads:

U.S. CADET NURSE CORPS
JACKET
SIZE 14
REMOVE RED EPAULETS
AND WASH SEPARATELY

The pants are also in good condition with few flaws. The cap has some minor nipping being of a wool construction, with the sweatband still retained. There is a tag on the sweatband readings 22, likely the hat size. The cap has a hat badge for the U.S. Public Health Service, with the buttons of the uniform bearing the same insignia. There is an old tag in the pocket which reads WWII Cadet Nurse Uniform Class of 1944 Picture Top Row, Extreme Left Dorothy Fry who enlisted as a cadet nurse. This photo has been lost and is no longer with the uniform, but the photo is likely able to be found somewhere. We have provided some research on Fry including her gravestone and CNC membership card.