This month the archives acquired a substantial number of records from the nursing department. I am very pleased to say that this is a valuable and surprisingly complete acquisition.
Up to this point in my tenure at DSU I have acquired the bulk of the archives' records from basements and abandoned closets. Consequently, I am accustomed to working with collections that are frequently disjointed, have large gaps in data, lack provenance, or are disheveled to the point that they cannot be pieced together. I am pleased to say that in the case of the Department of Nursing records it was the quite the opposite! The records were shockingly well-ordered and made my job nearly effortless.
The nursing collection is complete in the sense that it contains a nursing degree program proposal from 1972 when the idea for a nursing course was first conceived. The development of the department through the 1970s may be clearly seen through written proposals, funding requests, and supporting documentation. Additionally, patrons will be able to clearly trace the history of department through a large number of reports drafted for accrediting institutions and the Delaware Board of Nursing. All in all, while gaps do exist (primarily for the 1980s) they are not extensive.
I'd like to give a huge shout out to the Nursing Department for making this big step forward! The faculty and senior secretary deserve recognition for their clear appreciation for history. Not only were the records well organized, but the department sought me out. I did not have to cajole them into transferring records. Rather, they were eager to contribute and recognized the benefits for all parties involved. Thank you Nursing Department!
Patrons may view the finding aid on the archive's LibGuide at https://desu.libguides.com/c.php?g=548691&p=3764808.
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