The South Dakota Nurses’ Association Records document the activities, governance, and advocacy efforts of the state’s principal professional nursing organization from the early 20th century through the late 1990s. The collection includes extensive materials from SDNA committees, task forces, board meetings, conventions, and district branches. Committee and task force files contain meeting minutes, correspondence, surveys, reports, and materials related to ongoing projects, reflecting the association’s focus on education, practice standards, health care policy, and labor conditions. Of particular note are the Economic and General Welfare Committee and SDNA’s Continuing Education Approval and Recognition Program (SD-CEARP), which offer insight into labor advocacy and professional development in South Dakota nursing.

The collection features broad correspondence from SDNA leadership, including the board of directors and district presidents, as well as communication with state agencies, legislators, and national nursing organizations. Reports include annual summaries from committees and districts, financial audits, and documentation of major initiatives such as Project Motion and the Economic Security Program. Membership materials track recruitment, retention, and survey results across districts. Extensive district-level documentation includes bylaws, officer lists, newsletters, and reports.

Other highlights include material from SDNA’s annual conventions, National Nurses Day celebrations, and Nurses Day at the Legislature, along with lobbying files detailing the association’s legislative priorities and partnerships. Project files document SDNA’s participation in state and national efforts, including public health outreach and the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. Scrapbooks, photographs, clippings, and audiovisual materials preserve the visual history of nursing in South Dakota.

Collected publications cover a wide range of nursing-related topics, including continuing education, standards of practice, nursing history, and health care legislation. The collection also holds records from affiliated organizations such as the American Nurses Association, South Dakota Board of Nursing, South Dakota League for Nursing Education, and other health-related groups. Physical artifacts, including uniforms, caps, and commemorative items, offer tangible connections to the nursing profession’s heritage in the state.

This collection offers insight into the evolution of nursing in South Dakota. It serves as a vital resource for studying professional development, health care advocacy, women’s leadership, public health policy, and the organizational history of nursing. The records document how South Dakota’s nurses helped shape statewide standards, responded to national trends, and promoted both education and workplace rights in a changing medical landscape.