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February 1936. Washington, D.C. "Woman in snow." One capital commuter who seems unfazed by the white stuff. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size.
I have an daily account book from my grandmother. I realized that many entries of "Dad's car fare" meant the streetcar.
She belongs to the Instructive Visiting Nurse Society, whose logo & name appear in this 1931 Harris & Ewing photo taken in front of the Treasury Building.
The photo of the nurse waiting for the streetcar, as well as a contemporaneous photo of a winsome colleague making her rounds, were almost certainly occasioned by Washington's February 1936 weather. The month began with a record cold spell, followed by several snowstorms, including one that dropped about 15" on the District on Feb. 7. Getting around town was difficult, and the dedication of the visiting nurse corps would have been a boon (and perhaps a lifesaver) for many.
I can't find the arm patch exactly, but a very similar one, reading "IVNA," is shown being worn by an "Instructive Visiting Nurse." I imagine the "A" would be 'agency' and the "S" would be 'service'.
But her general appearance and equippage fairly shouts 'visiting nurse'.
I would say possibly the International Institute for Strategic Studies, but this photo is some 20 years too early.
She's got a Mona Lisa smile thing going on.
I read the arm patch as IVSN, just can't figure out what it is about...
Just a guess, but this looks like the 400 or 500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue S.E. as it traverses Seward Square. Curious to know what the arm patch represents.
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