District Two Illinois Nurses' Association Records, 1914-2004 | Northern Illinois University

Collection Overview

Title: District Two Illinois Nurses' Association Records, 1914-2004

ID: RHC/RC/144

Extent: 5.0 Linear Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The District II, Illinois Nurses' Association records (1914-1995) are organized in five series: 1) administrative records, 2) financial records, 3) membership records, 4) publications, and 5) other organization’s records.

Date Acquired: 08/28/1973. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Community Health Clinics, Copley Hospital, DeKalb County (Ill), Delnor Hospital, Geneva (Ill.), Grundy County (Ill.), Hospitals, Illinois Nurses' Association, Kane County (Ill), Kendall County (Ill), Medical care, Mercy Hospital, Morris (Ill.), Nurses, Sherman Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital, Sycamore Municipal Hospital, Will County (Ill), Women--Societies and clubs., Women in the professions., World War I, World War II

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The district includes nurses from DeKalb, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, and Will Counties. Administrative records comprise the largest series and contain constitutions and by-laws, regular and board meeting minutes, annual reports, correspondence, committee and section records, and histories of the association and hospitals and nursing education programs within the district. The section records document specific nursing divisions within the association such as general duty or mental health nurses. Although distinct from the financial records series, some budgets and treasurer's reports can be found in the regular meeting minute books or the finance committee file. Annual meeting minutes also are interfiled in the regular meeting minutes. Records for Nurses Week in 1978 and awards and commendations complete the series.

Materials from the District II Student Nurses' Association, the Illinois State Nurses Association (I.S.N.A.), the Illinois Nurses' Association (I.N.A.), and the American Nurses' Association (A.N.A.) comprises the other organizations' records series. There is a detailed history of the I.N.A. for the years 1901 to 1935 in Box 6, folder 3. Of particular interest is the file containing state nursing acts (1931-1965) indicating the associations' concern for registration and certification laws. The expansion of the I.N.A., as well as office changes and digital access, is noted via a series of newsletters (1995-2004) in box 7.

The collection provides substantial information on the development of the nursing profession and it is especially useful for women's history research. Indications of advancements in medicine may also be gleaned from the documents. In particular, the minutes detail the effect World Wars I and II had upon the nursing and medical professions as well as the struggle for standard nursing education requirements.

A 3.5" floppy containing historic documents created in 1995 and 1996 can be found in the Historical Committee folder (box 7). The documents included a list of officers (1982-1997), presidents (1914-1996), and contact information for the Regional History Center, where INA District Two Records were donated. These e-records may be accessed on the computer in the Center's reading room. Print copies of the documents are in the collection.

Collection Historical Note

A group of nurses met in 1901 to form the "Graduate Nurses Association of the State of Illinois.” The group worked for acceptable standards of instruction for nursing schools. In 1911 the association decided to form subdivisions, called districts, determined by railroad facilities. District Two held its first meeting in Retan Hall, Sherman Hospital, Elgin, on November 4, 1914. The by-laws stated the associations objectives--"... to advance high standards of ethical and professional and education advancements in every proper way." Originally, DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, McHenry and Will Counties comprised District Two; today, McHenry County has been replaced by Grundy County.

Throughout its history the association strived to better nurses working conditions and improve the medical profession. During World War I, despite a shortage of nurses, the association sponsored a bill stating that nursing education requirements should not be lowered. A Tuberculosis and Relief Committee formed in 1920 and by 1925 twenty-five nurses received free cards at the "Tuberculosis Shack" in Naperville. This later became Edwards Sanitarium for Tuberculosis and today, following reconstruction, the building is used as Naperville's legislation on both the State National levels.

Many of the medical laws familiar today were sponsored or supported by the association. In 1933 nurses lobbied for the bill stating that all babies have silver nitrate drops put in each eye immediately after birth to prevent blindness. A 1937 bill raised the requirements for nurses' registration. In 1955, after fourteen years of continual effort by the American Nurses' Association, Congress passed a bill to provide a Commission in the Reserve Nurses' Corps of the Army, Navy, and Air Force for mail nurses. Female nurses had been commissioned since World War II.

Various branches of nursing became important in 1947 when the association formed sections. The first sections, public health, institutional staff, and private duty, had their own governing rules complying with district by-laws. Later sections formed included industrial nurses, (now known as occupational health), general duty nurses and education, administration, consultant, and teachers section, (both formed out of the institutional staff), institutional nursing service and administrators, office nurses, and psychiatric nurses. A Student Nurses' Association organized in 1950 with a professional nurse appointed as an advisor.

Over the year the association made several contributions to different groups in an effort to improve programs of benefit to nurses. They worked for job security and special insurance programs. Today, the District Two nurses continue to strive for improving nursing skills, their purposes, and their usefulness to society. Note: This historical information was taken from Heritage: District Two, A Past to Remember by Elizabeth A. Hallet, R.N. (1976).

Subject/Index Terms

Community Health Clinics
Copley Hospital
DeKalb County (Ill)
Delnor Hospital
Geneva (Ill.)
Grundy County (Ill.)
Hospitals
Illinois Nurses' Association
Kane County (Ill)
Kendall County (Ill)
Medical care
Mercy Hospital
Morris (Ill.)
Nurses
Sherman Hospital
St. Joseph Hospital
Sycamore Municipal Hospital
Will County (Ill)
Women--Societies and clubs.
Women in the professions.
World War I
World War II

Administrative Information

Repository: Northern Illinois University

Accruals: Addenda were added at later dates.

Alternate Extent Statement: 3 digital files (44.5 KB)

Access Restrictions: There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Use Restrictions: Property rights in the collection belong to District Two of the Illinois Nurses' Association; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Technical Access Note: Electronic records may be accessed on the computer in the Center’s reading room.

Acquisition Source: Maxine Zamecnik

Acquisition Method: Maxine Zamecnik, President, Second District, Illinois Nurses' Association, deposited the associations' records in the Northern Illinois University Archives on August 28, 1973. J. Joseph Bauxar, University Archivist, transferred the collection to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center in June 1978.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series I.: Administrative Records],
[Series II.: Financial Records],
[Series III.: Membership Records],
[Series IV.: Publications],
[Series V.: Other Organizations' Records],
[Addendum 1],
[Addendum 2],
[All]

Series I.: Administrative Records

Box 1

Folder 1a: Archives Deposit, 1973
Folder 1: History, 1951, 1976
Folder 2: Histories of Health Facilities and Nursing Education Programs: Copley Memorial Hospital, Aurora
Folder 3: Histories of Health Facilities and Nursing Education Programs: Delnor Hospital, St. Charles
Folder 4: Histories of Health Facilities and Nursing Education Programs: Elgin Mental Health Center - Local Unit of District II, Illinois Nurses Association (INA)
Folder 5: Histories of Health Facilities and Nursing Education Programs: Geneva Community Hospital and Nursing School
Folder 6: Histories of Health Facilities and Nursing Education Programs: Joliet Junior College Nursing Program
Folder 7: Histories of Health Facilities and Nursing Education Programs: Kishwaukee College School of Practical Nursing
Folder 8: Histories of Health Facilities and Nursing Education Programs: Mercy Center for Health Care Services, Aurora
Folder 9: Histories of Health Facilities and Nursing Education Programs: Morris Hospital and Alumni Association, Morris
Folder 10: Histories of Health Facilities and Nursing Education Programs: Northern Illinois University (N.I.U.) Student Health Center, DeKalb
Folder 11: Histories of Health Facilities and Nursing Education Programs: St. Joseph Hospital, Elgin
Folder 12: Histories of Health Facilities and Nursing Education Programs: St. Joseph Hospital, Joliet
Folder 13: Histories of Health Facilities and Nursing Education Programs: Sherman Hospital School of Nursing, Elgin
Folder 14: Histories of Health Facilities and Nursing Education Programs: Sycamore Municipal Hospital
Folder 15: Histories of Health Facilities and Nursing Education Programs: Waubonsee Community College Nursing Program
Folder 16: Nurses' Week - Mayors' and Governor's Proclamations, 1978, 1981
Folder 17: Awards and Commendations, 1962-1977
Folder 18-19: Constitutions and By-laws, 1922-1986
Folder 20-29: Regular Meeting Minutes, 1914-1994: Access Restriction: Folders 21-22 contain Board Meeting Minutes, 1928-1939
Folder 30-38: Board Meeting Minutes, 1940-April 1994

Box 2

Folder 1-4: Annual Reports, 1952-1995
Folder 5-7: Correspondence, 1947-1985

Box 3

Folder 1-5: Presidents' File, 1953-1968
Folder 6: Board of Directors, 1950-1957

Box 4

Folder 1-2: Board of Directors, 1958-1968
Folder 3: Officers, Boards, and Committee Lists, Manuals, 1964-1990
Folder 4: Officers, Boards, and Committee Manuals, 1977, 1982, 1989-1990
Folder 5: District Two Officers and Board Members, 1982-1993
Folder 6: Committee Reports and Minutes: By-laws, 1990
Folder 7: Committee Reports and Minutes: Finance, 1958, 1964-1971, 1984-1991
Folder 8: Committee Reports and Minutes: Historical, 1977-1978
Folder 9: Committee Reports and Minutes: Legislative, 1958-1965, 1988-1990
Folder 10: Committee Reports and Minutes: Membership, 1958, 1984-1989
Folder 11: Committee Reports and Minutes: Nominating, 1958, 1966
Folder 12: Committee Reports and Minutes: Nurses Week, 1987-1990
Folder 13: Committee Reports and Minutes: Program, 1962-1963
Folder 14: Committee Reports and Minutes: Public Relations, 1957-1958, 1989-1990
Folder 15: Committee Reports and Minutes: Study Committee on Functions of the American Nurses Association (ANA), 1964
Folder 16: Section Reports and Minutes: Educational Administrators, Consultants, and Teachers Sections, 1954-1958
Folder 17: Section Reports and Minutes: General Duty, 1961-1962
Folder 18: Section Reports and Minutes: Industrial Nurses (Occupational Health), 1949-1963
Folder 19: Section Reports and Minutes: Institutional Nursing Service Administrators, 1954-1960

Box 5

Folder 1: Section Reports and Minutes: Institutional Staff, 1949-1950
Folder 2: Section Reports and Minutes: Mental Health Nurses (Psychiatric Nurses), 1953-1961
Folder 3: Section Reports and Minutes: Private Duty Nurses, 1948-1963
Folder 4: Section Reports and Minutes: Public Health Nurses, 1947-1972
Folder 5: Section Reports and Minutes: School Nurses, 1955-1964
Folder 6: Section Reports and Minutes: General Duty Section, 1957-1965

Series II.: Financial Records

Box 5: Financial Records

Folder 7-8: Treasurer's Book, 1941-1952
Folder 9-12: Financial Audits, 1957-1972
Folder 13: Financial Statements, May 31, 1986-May 31, 1989
Folder 14: Financial Reports, 1953-1961
Folder 15: Treasurer's Reports, 1987-1991
Folder 16: Audits, Tax Returns, 1965, 1967, 1970-1980
Folder 17: Semi-monthly Transaction Reports, 1969-1970
Folder 18: Treasurer's Membership Reports, 1958-1966

Volume 1: Financial Ledger (1 volume), 1954-1964

Series III.: Membership Records

Box 5

Folder 19: Membership, 1954-1957
Folder 20-26: Membership Lists by Section, 1957-1966
Folder 27: Membership Directory, November 1969
Folder 28-29: Membership Lists, 1974, 1978, 1990-1991

Series IV.: Publications

Box 5

Folder 30: Newspaper Clippings, 1952-1986
Folder 31: Media Coverage-Clippings, 1987-1988
Folder 22-37: Newsletters, 1953-1990

Box 6

Folder 1: Newsletters, 1990-1994

Series V.: Other Organizations' Records

Box 6

Folder 2: Student Nurses Association, District II, 1958-1964
Folder 3: Illinois State Nurses Associations (ISNA): History of the ISNA, 1901-1935
Folder 4: Illinois State Nurses Associations (ISNA): Constitution and By-laws, 1939-1977
Folder 5: Illinois State Nurses Associations (ISNA): Annual Reports, 1950, 1954
Folder 6: Illinois State Nurses Associations (ISNA): Convention Excerpts, 1948-1949
Folder 7: Illinois State Nurses Associations (ISNA): Convention Programs, 1954, 1977, 1981
Folder 8: Illinois State Nurses Associations (ISNA): Membership Directory, 1941
Folder 9: Illinois State Nurses Associations (ISNA): Illinois State Nursing Acts, 1931-1965
Folder 10: Illinois Nurses Association (INA): Articles of Incorporation and By-laws, 1901-1968, 1987, 1989
Folder 11: Illinois Nurses Association (INA): District President's Meetings, 1988-1994
Folder 12: Illinois Nurses Association (INA): President's Report to INA Board, 1993
Folder 13: Illinois Nurses Association (INA): Correspondence, 1987
Folder 14: Illinois Nurses Association (INA): Strategic Planning, 1984-1991
Folder 15: Illinois Nurses Association (INA): Brochures, 1976, 1984, no date
Folder 16: Illinois Nurses Association (INA): Insurance Programs, 1955
Folder 17-18: Illinois Nurses Association (INA): Membership Campaign, 1960's
Folder 19: Illinois Nurses Association (INA): Membership Statistics and Information, 1991
Folder 20: Illinois Nurses Association (INA): American Red Cross, 1955-1956
Folder 21: Illinois Nurses Association (INA): Schools of Nursing in District, no date
Folder 22: Illinois Nurses Association (INA): Convention Programs, 1960, 1989, 1991, 1993
Folder 23: Illinois Nurses Association (INA): Economic Security, 1957-1958
Folder 24: American Nurses Association (ANA): Certificates of Incorporation and By-laws, 1934-1958, 1987, 1989
Folder 25: American Nurses Association (ANA): ANA, 1989-1991
Folder 26: American Nurses Association (ANA): Correspondence, 1987
Folder 27: American Nurses Association (ANA): ANA Foundation, 1989-1992
Folder 28: American Nurses Association (ANA): Brochures, 1982-1990, no date
Folder 29: American Nurses Association (ANA): Convention Programs, 1958, 1960
Folder 30: American Nurses Association (ANA): A Discussion Guide on Public Funds for Nursing Education, 1957
Folder 31: American Nurses Association (ANA): Peplau, Hildegard E., Interpersonal Relations in Nursing, 1952
Folder 32: American Nurses Association (ANA): "What to do about the nursing shortage", 1989
Folder 33: American Nurses Association (ANA): Photographs, 1980
Folder 34: American Nurses Association (ANA): Photographs, 1980-1981
Folder 35: American Nurses Association (ANA): Scrapbook, 1977-1981

Addendum 1

Box 6

Folder 36: Correspondence, 1991-1995
Folder 37: Newsletter Receipts, 1980-1987
Folder 38: Grant Proposal and Reports: Outreach Urban Clinics Help Immunize Everyone (OUCHIE), 1994-1995
Folder 39: Illinois Nurses Association, Convention Programs, 1993, 1995
Folder 40: American Nurses Association, "How to Recruit New State Nurses Association Members", 1990

Addendum 2

Box 7

Folder 1: District Two INA: History
Folder 2: District Two INA: Correspondence, (1986-2002)
Folder 3: District Two INA: Board Meeting Minutes, August 1994-2001
Folder 4: District Two INA: Officers and Board Members, 1982-2003
Folder 5: District Two INA: Historic Committee, 1977
Folder 6: District Two INA: Financial Statements, 1978, 1980, 1984-1996
Folder 7: District Two INA: Financial Records, (1998-2000)
Folder 8: District Two INA: Membership, (1994, 1999)
Folder 9: District Two INA: Newsletters, 1995-2002, 2004
Folder 10: District Two INA: American Journal of Nursing (AJN) Subscription, (1982-1988)