Similar to badges, patches are a form of official identification often affixed to a uniform. 
These range from simple name tags to much more elaborate designs. Historically patches feature symbols and colors of importance to the organization. While there are different varieties of patches, embroidered are the most common.
Over the years, Duke 
has produced patches for various staff and units affiliated with the Medical Center. The Archives has a representative selection of these within our collection. Pictured on the right is the patch from a Cadet Nurse uniform. In the center is a white Maltese Cross on a scarlet and gray background. The cross symbolized caring for the sick. The Cadet Nurse Corps began in 1941 to support the allied war effort during World War II. Duke aided in this effort, graduating over 300 nurses by the end of the program in 1946. To the left is a patch for the Eastern Theater of Operations (ETO), used between 1943 and 1944, from a uniform of the 65th General Hospital Unit. Like the Cadet Nurse Corps, Duke supported the war effort by creating a hospital unit to serve in the ETO during World War II.
Other patches include ones for the Division of Audiovisual Education and the Medical Center. The Division of Audiovisual Education was formed in the 1960s with the merging of Medical Television and the Division of Medical Illustration. The patch dates from the late 1960s and features a triangular design emphasizing the division’s three branches: Art, Photography, and Television. 
Below is a patch for Duke Medical Center. This patch features the Duke shield, calligraphy, and trademark Duke Blue coloring. It also features the Rod of Asclepius, a commonly used symbol of medicine.
Send us an email to learn more or see more artifacts in our digital collection, MEDSpace.