Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1916-2023 (Creation)
Extent
56.21 linear feet (51 record boxes, 3 oversize boxes)
Name of creator
Administrative history
Nursing education at South Dakota State College began in 1935, when the institution established a Department of Nursing under the Division of Pharmacy at the request of the South Dakota Nurses’ Association. Leila Given served as the first director, and the first nursing degree was awarded in 1936 to Rachel Hasle. Under the leadership of Martha Krause from 1939 to 1943 and R. Esther Erickson from 1943 to 1954, the program expanded but continued as a five year course that relied on a cooperative arrangement with Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls for clinical training.
A four year nursing program was introduced in 1952, while clinical education continued at Sioux Valley Hospital under joint oversight with Augustana College. Public Health and Rural Nursing components were added in 1954. In 1955, Helen Gilkey was appointed director, contractual relationships with Sioux Valley Hospital were ended, and new clinical sites were developed throughout South Dakota and Minnesota. The following year, the Department of Nursing was elevated to divisional status, becoming the Division of Nursing with Gilkey as its first dean. In 1957, the division relocated to Solberg Hall, the former Engineering Building.
The Division of Nursing received national accreditation from the National League for Nursing in May 1960 and has maintained continuous accreditation since that time. When South Dakota State College became South Dakota State University in 1964, the division was redesignated as the College of Nursing. The Board of Regents subsequently authorized the creation of three departments within the college: Nursing, Health Science, and Continuing Education. In 1969, the college moved into the newly constructed Home Economics Nursing Building, which provided expanded instructional and laboratory space. The Department of Health Science offered majors and minors in areas such as public health and environmental health, while Continuing Education supported professional development through workshops for healthcare practitioners.
In 1977, clinical education was consolidated entirely within South Dakota following a review of clinical placements. That same year, the Board of Regents approved the development of a Master of Science in Nursing and an extended baccalaureate program for registered nurses in western South Dakota. Between 1978 and 1980, the college secured legislative and federal funding to support the implementation of graduate education, including a grant from the Advanced Nurse Training Program. By the late 1990s, the College of Nursing was organized into four departments: Undergraduate Nursing, Graduate Nursing, Research and Special Services, and West River Nursing. Academic offerings included Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Nursing, with an optional Health Science minor, and programs were approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The Nursing Records at South Dakota State University document the development, administration, academic programs, outreach, accreditation, and activities of the College of Nursing from its early years through the present. The collection includes reports, annual and biennial reviews, catalogs, newsletters, bulletins, faculty and student handbooks, and policy guidelines. It covers curriculum materials, course outlines, syllabi, and student records across various programs, including Clinical Nursing, General Nursing, Public Health Nursing, Rural Nursing, and the RN Upward Mobility Program. Accreditation files include self-studies, evaluation reports, and materials related to site visits and National League for Nursing standards. The records also contain legal agreements and contracts with clinical sites, meeting minutes from committees and faculty, research studies, surveys, grant proposals, conference proceedings, photographs, and scrapbooks documenting ceremonies, faculty, students, and alumni activities.
This collection documents nursing education at SDSU, reflecting statewide and national developments in nursing training, health care delivery, and professional standards. It provides insight into the evolution of nursing curricula, outreach to underserved and rural populations (including Native American communities), accreditation history, and faculty and student life. The records are a valuable resource for researchers studying the history of nursing education, public health initiatives, women’s education, and the university’s impact on South Dakota’s health care workforce and infrastructure.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
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In Copyright This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use. .sdstate.edu/sdsu-archives-and-special-collections/researcher-registration-form)
The collection is open for research, but please note that the materials in the Archives do not circulate and can only be used In the SDSU Archives and Special Collections Reading Room.
Please contact us in advance so we can prepare for your visit.
If you cannot visit the Archives in person, please reach out to us. We will do our best to help you find the information you need.
In most cases, the materials in this collection have not been digitized and are not available online.
South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections supports access to the materials in its collections. However, access to some items may be restricted due to their fragile condition, donor agreements, or other considerations.
If you would like to know more about the contents of the collection, please contact the SDSU Archives at: Telephone: 605-688-5094 Email: arcrefs@sdstate.edu
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Reproduction of materials from the collection is subject to the following conditions:
- Permission: Written permission must be obtained from the SDSU Archives for any reproduction, publication, or quotation of materials.
- Copyright: Users are responsible for complying with copyright laws and securing any necessary permissions from copyright holders.
- Fragile Materials: Some items may not be reproduced due to their fragile condition.
- Charges: Reproduction charges may apply, and users will be informed of any costs in advance.
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Acknowledgment: Any reproduced material must include proper acknowledgment of the South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections as the source.
For more information or to request permission, please contact the SDSU Archives.
Languages of the material
English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Related descriptions
Notes element
General note
Copyright and Use Statement
In Copyright This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use.