Finding Aid for the Eva M. Noles Papers, c.1932-2004

Biographical Note

Eva Malinda Noles (nee Bateman) was born in Cleveland, Ohio on April 5, 1919. Her family relocated to Youngstown and Chicago before settling in Buffalo, NY in 1928, where she would later become the city's first African-American nurse. When she graduated from Hutchinson Central High School, she courageously applied and was accepted to E. J. Meyer Memorial Hospital School of Nursing (now the Erie County Medical Center). In 1940, she finished at the top of her class and became the first black woman to be trained as a registered nurse in Buffalo. After establishing herself in the field, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (1962) and a Master of Arts degree in Education (1967) from the University at Buffalo.

Noles began her career working at Meyer, Sisters and Columbus Hospitals before she was hired as a staff nurse at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in 1945. She climbed the ranks, breaking race barriers at every step, until she became the director of nursing in 1971. She retired in 1974, and wrote her first book, Six Decades of Nursing at Roswell Park, 1914-1974. From 1977-1984, she worked as a Home Care Supervisor and staff developer at the Medical Personnel Pool.

Eva Noles dedicated her life to nursing, education, and outreach. She has served on many local and national committees, including New York State Board of Nursing and the American Nurses Association. She also served as a board member with the Buffalo General Hospital Board of Trustees, Community Mental Health Center of Buffalo, and Greater Buffalo Chapter of the American Red Cross. She has received many awards for her dedicated community service, including the Achievement Award of the Buffalo Branch, American Association of University Women and the Uncrowned Queens Institute's Culture Keepers award for outstanding contributions to African American culture in Western New York.

Noles is the author of several publications including Black History: A Different Approach - A Compilation (Buffalo, NY Noles Publishing, 1988); Buffalo's Blacks: Talking Proud (Buffalo, NY Noles Publishing, 1986); and Six Decades of Nursing at Roswell Park, 1914-1974 (Buffalo, Roswell Park, 1975).

Container List

Series I Professional work, c.1950-2004, n.d.

1.1-1.4			Nursing, c.1950-2004, n.d.; includes Noles' 1973 paper "Blacks in Nursing," History of Roswell Park Memorial Institute, articles, pamphlets, photocopies of photographs.
1.5-1.7			Publications, c.1974, 1986-1994; includes Six Decades of Nursing at Roswell Park: 1914-1974, The Church Builder: the History of Bishop Charles H. McCoy and the Church of God in Christ, Jurisdiction II, Western New York, book reviews, articles, correspondence.
1.8-2.1			African-American history in Buffalo: collected material, c.1976-2002, n.d.; includes Rev. Jesse Edward Nash photograph [photocopy; original located in 7.6], photocopy of 1857 slave auction, Contributions of Blacks in Western New York at the Turn of the Century, The Underground Railroad Movement: Routes and Roots to Freedom, clippings, pamphlets, small press publications. [5 folders]
2.2			Medical Personnel Pool notebook, 1985-1989; includes Eva M. Noles Outstanding Minority Nursing Student in Western New York award, program, correspondence. [disbound]
2.3			Other professional work, c.1986-2002; includes curriculum vita, student paper: "Eva Noles: Breaking the Boundary," anniversary booklet of Alpha Nu chapter of Pi Lambda Theta, article.
2.4			Exhibits: copy prints, n.d.; includes Buffalo's Blacks: Talking Proud.
Box 13			Audio and Visual resources on Eva Noles, c.1986-2003, n.d.; includes "Spotlight on Progress, Guest: Eva Noles," (audiocassette, c.1986); "Mrs. Eva M. Noles and Mother K. Hall 'The Word of God'" (audiocassette, 1987); "Viewpoints: Eva Noles," (audiocassette, 1992); "Uncrowned Queens," (audiocassette, 2001); "Buffalo Beat," (VHS, 1990); "Black History Special: WIVB interview," (VHS, 2003); "Black History: WGRZ interview," (VHS, n.d.); "Talking Proud News," (VHS, n.d.); "Talking Proud Insight: WIVB," (VHS, n.d.); History of Nursing at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, (VHS, n.d.).

Series II. Scrapbooks, c.1932-1987, n.d.

Quoted titles were taken directly from Noles' description of the material. Many scrapbooks were disbound.

2.5			"My First Graduation," 1932; includes high school graduation scrapbook. [FRAGILE, please use provided photocopies; original in 10.1]
2.6			"Book Ia, 1928-1965"; includes graduation from E. J. Meyer Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, promotion to assistant director of nursing at Roswell Park, photos, clippings, certificates, correspondence. [FRAGILE, please use provided photocopies; original in box 11]
2.7			"Book Ib, 1953-1967"; includes Roswell Park Scanner newsletter, promotion to Head Nurse, photos, clippings, certificates, correspondence. [FRAGILE, please use provided photocopies; original in 10.2]
2.8-2.11			"Book II, 1965-1971"; includes Master of Education graduation, promotion to Head Nurse, photos, certificates, correspondence, index. [disbound]
2.12-3.3			"Book III, 1971-1977"; includes Julie Nixon Eisenhower's visit to Roswell Park, photos, clippings, correspondence, index. [disbound] [5 folders]
12.1-12.5			"Book IV, 1973-1979"; includes Noles' retirement from Roswell Park, photos, clippings, certificates, correspondence, index. [disbound]
3.4-3.8			"Book V, 1965-1984"; includes Medical Personnel Pool, 1977-1984, American Red Cross, 1965-1984, Red Cross Crosslink newsletters. [disbound]
3.9-4.5			"Book VI, 1975-1984"; includes closing of E. J. Meyer Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, photos, clippings, certificates, correspondence, index. [disbound] [7 folders]
4.6-5.3			Book VII, "1984-1986"; includes American Red Cross, Medical Personnel Pool's Eva M. Noles Outstanding Minority Nursing Student in Western New York award, photos, certificates, correspondence. [disbound] [7 folders]
5.4-5.9			Book VIII, "1986-1987"; includes photos, certificates, clippings, programs, correspondence. [disbound]
6.1-6.5			Book IX, "1987"; includes Buffalo's Blacks: Talking Proud, photos, clippings, correspondence. [disbound]
6.6-6.8			Loose scrapbook pages, n.d.; includes photos, clippings, certificates, correspondence.
6.9			Copy prints, n.d.; includes images of scrapbook pages.

Series III. Awards, c.1941-2002, n.d.

6.11-7.3

Awards, c.1941-2002, n.d.; includes Bachelor of Science and Master of Education graduations, certificates, citations, programs, correspondence, memorabilia, medals. [5 folders]

Box 8

Plaques, c.1971-1999; includes awards from Buffalo General Hospital, Red Cross, and the Ruth T. McGrorey Award.

Box 9

Plaques, c.1972-1990; includes awards from Holy Name Society, Roswell Park Black History Committee, and African Methodist Pastors Alliance Rosa Parks Award.

Box 14

Commemorative plates, c.1972-1986; includes awards from American Cancer Society, Black History Foundation, American Association of University Women, University at Buffalo.

7.4

International Africanist and the Clifford Bell Award ceremony, 1999-2000; includes copy print of award, Africa Around the World journal, program, photographs, correspondence. [See archivist for location of award]

7.5

Copy prints, n.d.; includes certificates, citations, plaques, commemorative plates.

Series IV. Photographs, c.1953-1995, n.d.

7.6			Reverend Jesse E. Nash, 1953 [Original, please use photocopy provided in 1.10]
7.7			Professional events, c.1974-1995, n.d.; includes Noles' retirement reception, National Research Network meetings, award ceremonies.
7.8			Exhibits, 1991, 1993, n.d.; includes Black History exhibit, color slides.
7.9			Portraits, n.d.; includes Eva and Douglas Noles.
7.10			Roswell Park photo book, n.d.

Search terms

Contributors

Noles, Eva M. Church builder.

Noles, Eva M. Six decades of nursing at Roswell Park, 1914-1974.

State University of New York at Buffalo. University Archives.

Subject Terms

Noles, Eva M. -- Archives.

Noles, Eva M. -- Correspondence.

Noles, Eva M. -- Notebooks, sketchbooks, etc.

Noles, Eva M. -- Biography.

Noles, Eva M. -- Awards.

Noles, Eva M. -- Photographs.

Noles, Eva M. Buffalo's Blacks.

Edward J. Meyer Memorial Hospital (Buffalo, N.Y.)

Edward J. Meyer Memorial Hospital (Buffalo, N.Y.). School of Nursing.

Roswell Park Memorial Institute -- History.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute -- History.

American Red Cross. Greater Buffalo Chapter.

Nursing schools -- New York (State) -- Buffalo.

Nursing students -- New York (State) -- Buffalo.

Nursing -- Study and teaching -- New York (State) -- Buffalo.

Nurses -- Training of -- New York (State) -- Buffalo.

African American nurses -- New York (State) -- Buffalo.

Nurses administrators -- New York (State) -- Buffalo.

Nursing school administrators -- New York (State) -- Buffalo.

Nursing -- Practice -- United States.

African American women -- New York (State) -- Buffalo.

African American women -- New York (State) -- Buffalo -- Societies and clubs.

African Americans -- New York (State) -- Buffalo.

Medical personnel -- New York (State) -- Buffalo.

Hospitals -- New York (State) -- Buffalo.

Buffalo (N.Y.) -- Race relations.

Buffalo (N.Y.) -- Social conditions.

Church of God in Christ (Buffalo, N.Y.)

Eisenhower, Julie Nixon -- Photographs.

Genre Terms

audiocassettes

awards

color slides

photographs

plaques

scrapbooks

VHS

Collection Title:	Eva M. Noles Papers, c.1932-2004
Collection Number:	MS 125
Creator:	Noles, Eva M.
Extent:	9 manuscript boxes, 1 half box, 3 oversize boxes, 1 box audio/visual cassettes (7 linear feet)
Repository:	University Archives, State University of New York at Buffalo
Abstract:	Scrapbooks, photographs, correspondence, awards, and publications documenting the professional career of Eva M. Noles, nurse, author, and local activist.