It was great privilege for me as non-nurse to be invited to deliver Monica Baly Lecture for 2006. Though I did not have pleasure of meeting Monica, we shared love of Georgian Bath and in early 1990s corresponded over short article of mine on corruption at famous Mineral Water Hospital in city, which was duly published in History of Nursing Society Journal. 1 Even in that brief exchange of letters, Monica's commitment to and for historical research were immediately striking. I cannot do full justice to her memory. I want to attempt, however, to spell out relevance for nursing practice of approach to nursing history that she pioneered. To do this, I shall be exploring three principal themes: development of nursing history since 1900; origins of medical model that continues to inform British health care system; and ways historical scholarship can offset worst effects of this model by facilitating critical reflection on professional identity, patient perspectives, and evidence-based decision making. The Development of Nursing History Like women's history, nursing history had its origins in Victorian biography, which celebrated worthies whose good example was seen as an exemplar for female readers. 2 With this agenda, it is not surprising that iconic figure of Florence reigned supreme. 3 Sarah Tooley's Life, for instance, was romantic tale, written in 1904 to coincide with 50th anniversary of Florence's departure to Crimea. A simple chronology, short on insight into her personality and motivation, it emphasized self-sacrifice to which all women were expected to aspire, along with their duty to supply physical and spiritual sustenance. 4 During course of 20th century, genre of critical biography emerged from this hagiographic approach. 5 Even Sir Edward Cook's official biography of 1913, though eulogistic, flagged less favorable qualities: Florence's domineering personality; long and bitter struggle with her family; her cavalier treatment of friends; her calculated decision not to marry. Cook even discreetly suggested that relentless pursuit of public activity was product of frustrated sexuality! 6 Almost 40 years were to elapse before Cecil Woodham-Smith produced her much-acclaimed biography. Woodham-Smith insisted in her Note of Acknowledgement that she was offering a complete picture of Miss Nightingale-a recreation of her personality that not only brought out Florence's inner conflict with herself and outer conflict with her family, but also showed how she was able to operate effectively in world controlled by men.7 Biography has many virtues as historical tool. First, individuals come alive. Second, criticisms are voiced, despite fears that negative comment may be suppressed. Thus in Eminent Victorians, published in 1918, Lytton Strachey penned scathing essay on Florence, indulging in wit and mocking sarcasm: At times Mrs Nightingale almost wept. 'We are ducks,' she said with tears in her eyes, 'who have hatched wild swan.' But poor lady was wrong; it was not swan that they had hatched, it was an eagle. 8 Third, biography is able to challenge biography. Witness how Jane Robinson's recent study has rehabilitated Mary Seacole 9 -quickly forgotten after her death though greeted with rapturous enthusiasm at public banquet held in London to honor Crimean soldiers. Now she has been featured on postage stamp, issued in July 2006 to commemorate 150th anniversary of National Portrait Gallery. 10 Nevertheless, biography does have limitations. In particular, it overlooks the more ordinary lives of nurses and patients, and prevents comprehensive analysis of economic, social, political, and cultural environments in which they lived. 11 Therefore, contextual approach is essential to counterbalance these shortcomings. The first attempt at contextualization came in 1960 with Brian Abel-Smith's History of Nursing Profession, which looked at politics of general nursing and assessed role of structure, recruitment, terms and conditions, professional associations, and trade unions. …