This collection is composed of records of the South Dakota Nurses' Association. Records consist mainly of committee files, minutes, correspondence, reports, membership files, convention material, project files, lobby material, scrapbooks, publications, and material dealing with associated groups.

The Committee's files are composed of material produced by the activities of the various SDNA committees. These items include minutes from the meetings of the committees, quarterly and annual reports sent back to the SDNA, and information about projects the committees worked on. There is also a great quantity of correspondence, including correspondence between committee members, between the committees and SDNA, and between the committees and the nurses associations of other states. Also included are forms and results sheets for many surveys that the committees conducted.

Task Forces files are composed of material produced by the various SDNA task forces. These items include minutes from the meetings of the task forces, quarterly and annual reports sent back to the SDNA, and information about the projects the task forces worked on. There is also a great quantity of correspondence including correspondence between task force members, between the task forces and SDNA, and between the task forces and nurses associations in other states. There are also forms and results sheets for the surveys that the task forces conducted.

The Correspondence includes the correspondence of the board of directors, president, and district presidents. It also includes correspondence with specific groups or individuals, such as the SD governor and the Nutrition Council of South Dakota. There is also correspondence dealing with specific projects and events, such as a poster contest and correspondence to nurses in Operation Desert Storm.

Most of the Forums items come from the forums held statewide in 1974-1975 to consider continuing education for nurses. This material mostly consists of evaluations of the questionnaire and comment sheets the participants filled out. Reports from small group discussions are also included. There is also one folder of material from the Human Services Forum meetings between 1974 and 1980. This material consists mostly of correspondence about the meetings, along with a few issues of their newsletter and reports sent back to the SDNA by people who attended.

The Board of Directors material is composed almost entirely of agendas and minutes of the SDNA Board of directors meetings from 1974 to 1994. It also includes the SDNA treasurer’s ledger from 1918 to 1950.

The Reports include the books of annual reports from 1948 to 1995. These books consist of the annual reports submitted by each committee, district, and several allied groups. These report books also include the standing rules for the annual convention, a report from the president and executive director, and the financial report from the annual audit. This series also includes reports from projects the SDNA was involved with, such as Project Motion and the Economic Security Program. It also includes the auditor’s annual financial reports from 1972 to 1989, along with other financial reports from that time.

The Membership material is composed of various letters and reports dealing with SDNA’s membership. These include monthly reports showing changes in each district’s membership and listing all new or deleted members. They also include lists of the membership of each district for some years and the results of the membership surveys that were sent out to all members of SDNA. The correspondence includes letters about new members and dues as well as the form letters that were sent to members when they joined or quit SDNA.

The Districts' material consists of correspondence between the districts and the SDNA and between the districts and their officers and members. It also includes annual and quarterly reports from each district to the SDNA main office and the by-laws of each district, as well as some lists of district officers. A few brochures and newspaper clippings about district-level activities are included as well.

The Nurses Day is divided into two sub-series: National Nurses Day and Nurses Day at the Legislature. The former includes correspondence about the theme and activities of National Nurses Day, information about promotional posters and ribbons that were distributed to the districts, and newspaper clippings. It also includes materials sent from the American Nurses Association to the state associations for this event, such as sample press releases, governor/mayoral proclamations, and pamphlets. The Nurses Day at the Legislature material includes correspondence to SDNA members and legislators, agendas, programs and invitations to the event, and information about finances and pre-registration. It also includes information about the legislators and the bills affecting health care, along with information from SDNA’s lobbyists about the legislative process and how to contact legislators.

The March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Award series is composed of information about the award. It includes correspondence about the program and correspondence nominating people for the award. It also includes resumes for the nominees, ballots, correspondence with the judges, and press releases.

The Convention is materials from the annual SDNA convention. This consists mainly of correspondence about the convention, registration, and booth rentals. It also includes programs and agendas for the meetings, banquets, and luncheons held at the convention. There is also financial information, including lists of exhibitors, sponsors, registrants, and financial summaries and budgets. The series also includes information about the House of Delegates that meets during the convention, including resolutions adopted by them and lists of each district’s representatives. There are also many press releases, photographs, and newspaper clippings from the convention. Finally, there are several folders of convention planning materials explaining how to prepare for the convention and a copy of most of the convention programs from 1918 to 1975.

The Projects materials are from the various projects SDNA has been involved with. This includes both local projects, such as the health fair and pilot membership project, and national projects, such as the Year of the Nurse and the building of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. The materials consist mainly of correspondence about the projects, along with evaluations, summaries, and reports of what the projects accomplished. There are also a few newspaper clippings about the projects.

The American Nurses Association files are composed of materials from the national organization of which the SDNA is a branch, the American Nurses Association. The materials consist of correspondence about appointments to various ANA offices and about changes in the SDNA’s officers at the state and district levels. It also includes correspondence about the ANA House of Delegates and a summary book about the topics they discussed. Other materials related to nursing and nursing education are also included.

The Lobbyist materials relate to the lobbyist the SDNA hires for the South Dakota legislative season. This material includes correspondence with the lobbyist, the SDNA, and the legislators. There are SDNA priorities, copies of bills, and legislative memos from the lobbyist to the SDNA that give information about any healthcare-related issues being debated by the legislature. There is also information about the lobbyist position itself, including information about paying the lobbyist, and copies of the agreement that he/she signed. Copies of the Legislative Hotline newsletter sent out to SDNA members by the lobbyist during the legislative session are also included.

The Allied Groups files are from the health-care-related organizations with which the SDNA is allied. Most of the material is from local groups, such as the SD Nursing Network and the SD Public Health Association, or from South Dakota chapters of national organizations such as ASHET and the Joint Practice Commission. The material consists mainly of correspondence with the organizations and reports from the delegates sent by the SDNA to attend joint meetings. There is also some other information about the various organizations, including a few pamphlets, copies of bylaws, and some position statements.

The General series is composed of the material in the collection that did not fit into any other series. It includes correspondence about and entries for the annual American Journal of Nursing writing contest. Most of the remainder is correspondence about topics ranging from a creativity seminar to the Equal Rights Amendment. There are several past calendars and information on several individuals and their influence on nursing in South Dakota. There is also the manuscript for History of Nursing in South Dakota. There are also many newspaper clippings and photographs about the SDNA and about the State Hospital in Yankton.

In the Collected publications there are books about nursing and nursing history throughout history. There are several pamphlets on Nurses in the Navy and the American Red Cross Nursing Services. There are several pamphlets on the standards of a variety of nursing practices. The American Journal of Nursing from 1943 is included as well. As well there are several books that have nothing to do with nursing.

The Association publications are composed of the material produced by the South Dakota Nurses’ Association. This includes a convention poster, the SDNA newsletter, and the South Dakota Nurse.

The Scrapbooks are composed of material about the SDNA/ANA and are arranged into parts cover the years from 1916 – 1987. There are photographs and newspaper clippings throughout the material.

The South Dakota Board of Nursing files is composed of material produced by the SD Board of Nursing from 1950 – 1979. There are meeting minutes and other materials used by the board.

The League for Nursing material is composed of the material for the League for Nursing. There are membership lists, annual reports, and bylaws. It also includes the cash book and money receipts.

The Nursing Education and Schools files are composed of material about Nursing Education and Schools from 1900 – 1974.

In the Nursing History, there is information on Florence Nightingale, General Early Nursing, and Great Moments in Medicine. Folders in this series are arranged in alphabetical order and there under chronologically.

The Audio-visual material is composed of material video and audio cassettes. There are three videos; one contains the Pierre Centennial Parade with the SDNA’s float. The SDCNO Conference of June 5 – 7, 1990, and R.E.A.C.H. slides are on the other two. There are twelve audio cassettes; several from SDNA conferences and other events.

The physical objects consist of material that has been either donated to or collected by the SDNA. Included is a nurse’s cap, uniform, watch, graduation speech, and injection kit donated by Mabel Belle Wilson. There is also a plaque from the American Journal of Nursing.

The SDLNE [South Dakota League for Nursing Education] is arranged into parts covering the years 1938 – 1971.

The National-State Leaders consists of material about the National/State Leaders of Nursing. Arrangement: Folders are arranged in alphabetical order.