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
In 1935, at the request of the South Dakota Nurses’ Association, South Dakota State College established a Department of Nursing under the Division of Pharmacy, with Leila Given as its first director. The first degree was awarded in 1936 to Rachel Hasle. Under subsequent leaders Martha Krause (1939–1943) and R. Esther Erickson (1943–1954), the program expanded but remained a five-year course in partnership with Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls for clinical experience.
In 1952, a four-year program was introduced. Clinical experiences continued at Sioux Valley Hospital, now jointly overseen with Augustana College. Public Health and Rural Nursing were added in 1954. In 1955, Helen Gilkey became director, contracts with Sioux Valley Hospital were ended, and new clinical sites were established in South Dakota and Minnesota. In 1956, the Department of Nursing became the Division of Nursing, with Gilkey as the first dean. The division moved into Solberg Hall (Old Engineering Building) in 1957.
The Division of Nursing earned national accreditation in May 1960 from the National League for Nursing and has maintained this status continuously.
In 1964, South Dakota State College became South Dakota State University, and the Division of Nursing became the College of Nursing. The Board of Regents then created three departments within the college: Nursing, Health Science, and Continuing Education. In 1969, the college moved to the new Home Economics-Nursing Building, providing expanded classroom and lab space, including advanced audiovisual facilities. The Department of Health Science offered majors and minors for students interested in public health, administration, sanitation, and environmental health, while Continuing Education offered workshops for nursing and healthcare professionals.
In 1977, following a review of clinical placements, all clinical activities were consolidated within South Dakota. That fall, the Board of Regents approved the development of a Master of Science in Nursing and the establishment of an extended BS program for registered nurses in the West River area.
From 1978 to 1980, the college secured legislative and federal funding, including a grant from the Advanced Nurse Training Program, to develop and implement the master’s program.
By the late 1990s, the College of Nursing consisted of four departments: Undergraduate Nursing, Graduate Nursing, Research and Special Services, and West River Nursing. Students could earn BS or MS degrees in Nursing, with an optional Health Science minor covering topics such as health programs, education, epidemiology, and occupational health. Programs were approved by the South Dakota Board of Nursing and accredited by the National League for Nursing, with memberships in key professional organizations.
The South Dakota State University College of Nursing is committed to advancing health care and improving quality of life across the state, region, and nation through education, research, and the provision of expert services to individuals, families, and communities.
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
Information request form: Ask Us!
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.