Identifier

MA 30

Dates

1899-2000

Extent

35.27 linear feet (29 record boxes, 1 document case, 3 oversize boxes), audiocassette

Abstract

The South Dakota Nurses’ Association (SDNA), founded in 1916 as the South Dakota State Association of Graduate Nurses, has served as the leading professional organization for nurses in the state for more than eight decades. Established in Rapid City with seventeen members and Elizabeth Dryborough as its first president, the association became the 43rd constituent of the American Nurses Association and adopted its current name in 1929. From its earliest accomplishment, drafting and promoting the 1917 Nurse Practice Act that established licensing standards and led to the creation of the South Dakota Board of Nursing, SDNA has shaped nursing regulation, education, and professional standards across South Dakota. Through conventions, continuing education initiatives, legislative advocacy, and publication of The South Dakota Nurse, the association has advanced professional development and influenced health care policy statewide.

The South Dakota Nurses’ Association Records document the organization’s governance, advocacy, and professional activities from the early twentieth century through the late 1990s. The collection includes board and committee records, correspondence, district files, convention materials, legislative and lobbying documentation, membership records, financial reports, and project files reflecting initiatives such as the Continuing Education Approval and Recognition Program (SD-CEARP), Project Motion, and the Economic Security Program. Materials also include scrapbooks, photographs, audiovisual items, artifacts, and publications addressing nursing standards, labor concerns, continuing education, and public health outreach. Records from affiliated organizations further contextualize SDNA’s role within state and national nursing networks. Together, the collection documents the evolution of nursing practice, professional organization, and health care advocacy in South Dakota, highlighting the leadership of nurses in shaping policy, education, and workplace standards in a changing medical environment.

Historical Note

The South Dakota Nurses’ Association (SDNA) was established on July 11, 1916, in Rapid City as the South Dakota State Association of Graduate Nurses, with Elizabeth Dryborough elected as its first president. Initially comprising just seventeen nurses, it became the 43rd constituent of the American Nurses Association. The association adopted its current name in 1929 and introduced a district-based organizational structure, later expanding to thirteen districts in 1957. 

From its inception, SDNA has played a central role in advancing nursing standards and professional practice across South Dakota. Its earliest achievement was drafting and promoting the 1917 Nurse Practice Act, which established licensing standards and led to the formation of the South Dakota Board of Nursing. Since then, SDNA has consistently advocated for educational requirements, continuing education, and health care legislation. It has supported professional development through conventions, workshops, and its long-standing publication, The South Dakota Nurse. 

The South Dakota Nurses Association exemplifies the foundational influence on nursing regulation and its ongoing leadership in shaping health care policy, education, and professional advancement for nurses in South Dakota. 

Content Notes

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. 

SDSU Archives and Special Collections

This document is a descriptive inventory of the collection in the SDSU Archives and Special Collections. It contains:

  • An overview of the collection, including information about the person or organization and a brief description of the materials and subjects found within.
  • A detailed inventory listing, organized by boxes and folders.
  • Information on how to access the materials, including any restrictions or special conditions.

In most cases, the materials in the collections have not been digitized and are not available online. If you would like to know more about the contents of the collection, please contact the SDSU Archives at:

Language

English

Publisher

South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

Rights

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 Copy-right Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, publicity, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permis-sions 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.

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