Papers of Fran Ventre, 1970-2000

The collection consists of exams; training modules; reports; course guidelines and papers; labor reports; correspondence; meeting minutes; testimony; protocol manuals; articles; etc., documenting the education and professional life of Fran Ventre. They document the educational and professional experiences of a lay midwife and certified nurse-midwife during the early years of the home birth movement, as well as the establishment of out-of-hospital birthing centers. Most material arrived in folders with identifying labels. Other material was loose in boxes. The material was refoldered and original folder titles were retained. Most loose material was interfiled with similar material. One folder title was created by the processor and appears in square brackets. No personal papers are included in the collection.

Series I. EDUCATION AND TEACHING,1970-ca.1990 (#1.1-4.2), includes exams; training modules; reports; course guidelines and papers; labor reports; instructions; etc., related to Ventre's training as a midwife. Most material relates to her certification received from Georgetown University, but there is also material relating to her training in Lamaze techniques through the American Society for Psycho-Prophylaxis; her nursing education at Montgomery College, her education at Boston University, and several workshops and classes regarding midwifery. Labor reports were written by Ventre to document individual patients' labor and birth experiences following her attendance at the birth as part of her midwife training. These reports are closed to research until January 1, 2047. A small amount of material documents Ventre's teaching of Lamaze techniques to expectant parents and her supervision of students at the North Shore Birth Center (Beverly Hospital) as part of their practicum for their training as midwives. Original folder titles were retained. The series is arranged alphabetically.

Series II. PROFESSIONAL, 1970-2000 (#4.3-14.5), includes correspondence and memos; reports; minutes; protocol manuals; job descriptions; etc. The bulk of the series documents the founding of the North Shore Birth Center (Beverly Hospital) in 1979-1980 and Ventre's work there for the subsequent four years. Much of the correspondence in the series documents her activities as a midwife, with a number of professional organizations, and her work at Holy Family Hospital's Birthing Center, and includes thank you letters from parents for whom she assisted at the birth of their children. Other material documents her legal battle with the state of Maryland to obtain licensure to perform services as a lay midwife in which she was ultimately successful; her efforts to ensure changes in legislation in the state of Massachusetts to benefit midwives; her involvement in the formation of Home Oriented Maternity Experience and as editor of the organization's newsletter; and her activity on the Massachusetts Department of Health Commissioner's Task Force on Birthing Centers which developed standards and recommended licensure requirements for birthing centers in Massachusetts. Many subject files document policies and protocols of birthing centers around the country and were likely collected to inform her work on the Task Force on Birthing Centers. A small amount of material (e.g., patient logs, delivery logs, etc.) documents her work with patients and is closed to research until January 1, 2053 and January 1, 2067. Original folder titles were retained. Loose material was interfiled with similar material. The series is arranged alphabetically.

Series III. PHOTOGRAPHS AND OVERSIZED, 1977-1994 (#PD.1-PD.9, FD.1, F+D.1, OD.1), includes photographs found with other documents. Most photographs are of Ventre with patients and/or children she delivered; with other nurse-midwives; or for publication. A small number of photographs are of expectant mothers or couples, some of whom gave permission for publication. Most of the photographs in this collection are or will be digitized and available online. Oversized material in this series was originally located in and described in previous series.