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History of Nursing Archives at Boston University Special Collections

A guide to the papers and collections held at the History of Nursing Archives at the Boston University Libraries Special Collections.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association

From the Massachusetts Nurses Association Collection.

Massachusetts Nurses Association collection. A large collection documenting the history, governance, legislative advocacy, professional activities, and educational initiatives of the Massachusetts Nurses Association and its predecessor organizations from the late 19th century through the early 21st century.

Massachusetts Nurses Association, District 3 collection. Administrative and organizational materials documenting the activities of MNA District 3 chapter, dating primarily from the 1940s through the 1970s.

Massachusetts Nurses Association, District 4 collection. Institutional records from the MNA District 4 chapter, from its founding in 1935 to 1991. 

Massachusetts Nurses Association, District 5 collection. A range of materials from the MNA District 5 chapter, from its beginnings to 2000.

Other Professional Associations

American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Greater Boston Chapter collection. Records, publications, correspondence, and other materials from the nursing organization founded in 1969 to help educate nurses working in newly developed intensive care units.

American Nurses Association collection. A large collection of records documenting the organizational history, governance, professional activities, policy development, and advocacy efforts of the ANA, from its inception in the late 19th century through the early 21st century. 

American Nurses Foundation collection. Professional material, printed material, correspondence, and other material from the professional nursing organization founded in 1955 to be the research, education, and charitable affiliate of the American Nurses Association.

American Assembly for Men in Nursing. Manuscripts, correspondence, institutional records, and other material from the male nurses' organization.

Guild of St. Barnabas collection. Materials from the formerly Anglican, now non-denominational group of Christian nurses and other allied health-care professionals.

Massachusetts League for Nursing collectionMaterials from the nursing organization, now called the Massachusetts/Rhode Island League of Nursing (MARILN), from its beginning in 1921 to 1962.

National Federation of Nursing Specialty Organizations collection.  Materials on member organizations including the American Nurses Association; the American Association of Critical Care Nurses; the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses; the Nurses Association of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; the Orthopedic Nurses Association, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the Emergency Department Nurses Association, and the National Association of School Nurses, among others, from 1972 to 1979.

National Student Nurses Association collection. Records documenting the activities, governance, programs, and history of the organization from the 1950s to the 1990s.

Nurses for Political Action collection. Materials from the organization, founded in the Fall of 1971 for the purpose of making the Nursing Profession a viable political force in changing the Health Care System.

Sigma Theta Tau collection. Records documenting documents the activities, administration, history, and professional development initiatives of Sigma Theta Tau International, a nursing honor society. 

Society of Rogerian Scholars collection. Materials from the organization dedicated to advancing the nursing theories and practices developed by Martha E. Rogers.

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