The records document the administrations of Deans Frances H. Cunningham (director of the
Division of Nursing, 1965-1966 and dean of the College of Nursing, 1966-1967), Inez G.
Hinsvark (1967-1975), Mary E. Conway (1976-1980), Louise C. Smith (acting, 1975-1976), Norma
M. Lang (1980-1992), Mary Mundt (acting, 1993-1994), Sharon Hoffman (1994-1999), and Sally
Lundeen (1999-2016). The original arrangement of the collection was very disorganized, and
as a result, information on accreditation, administrative actions, classes, and programs is
fragmented throughout the files. There is some duplication because Cunningham, Hinsvark, and
Conway worked within the school at about the same time.
A small number of records predating 1967 are from the Milwaukee School of Nursing, which
was a division of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing. The records are
scattered throughout the collection. The only records documenting the separation of the two
programs are found in files located under Cunningham's name.
About half of the non-personnel records document the funding, accreditation, and
development of the College of Nursing. Information on the accreditation process, which was
very detailed and generated voluminous paperwork, is found in the correspondence files,
minutes of various committee meetings, and files on the National League for Nursing and
State of Wisconsin Board of Nursing.
The correspondence of Chancellor Werner A. Baum and Vice Chancellor William L. Walters with
Deans Hinsvark and Cunningham deal with retirement, meetings, staff recruitment, student
enrollment, and parking problems. The collection contains almost no information on the
construction or design of the Cunningham Building. The various committee files are all from
school committees.
There are numerous files, containing brochures, correspondence, and memos, on
Milwaukee-area clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and Planned Parenthood because the school
conducted classes and placed interns in the organizations. The records document the meetings
between officials of the organizations and the school, the information presented at the
classes, and the use of school interns. No information on who the interns were or their
grades can be found in the files.
The files on the school's Protection of Human Subjects Committee include agendas,
background materials, minutes, and proposals. The committee was formed in 1979 to review for
human subject protection any research or related activity conducted by a faculty, staff, or
student member of the school.
About half of the other non-personnel records document the development of courses taught
within the school. Much of the information on individual courses is scattered throughout the
collection. The "Curriculum and Instruction" records, filed in chronological order by date,
contain class notes, mimeographed handouts, brochures, journal articles, and other materials
used by the instructor. Files listed under the name of the course, program, or workshop
include information pertaining to planning, proposals, and scheduling. Some of the files
contain records of committees involved in planning the classes. Courses, programs, and
workshops that are especially well documented include the Foundations of Nursing,
Gerontological Nursing, Occupational Health Nurse Practitioner Program, Pediatric Clinical
Experiences, and Program in Community Health.
The collection contains numerous files documenting the Nurse Utilization Project. The
project developed a demonstration patient care unit which used the needs of the patient as
the basis for determining resource allocation to best fulfill care requirements. The files
include committee and workshop records, proposals, evaluations, text used by participants,
and the final report.
There are extensive files on the Instructional Media Program, which incorporated the latest
developments in instructional technology enabling the faculty and students to enhance and
enrich the teaching-learning process through use of the capabilities of the facility. The
files document the establishment of a multi-media program, instruction on the use of each
program, program schedules, and committee meeting minutes.
The collection contains some papers of Deans Cunningham, Hoffman, Hinsvark, Lang, and
Lundeen. Most of Frances Cunningham's folders contain class notes on the classes she taught,
but also include a vitae, obituary, and memorials. Inez G. Hinsvark's folders document her
professional activities. There is also biographical information on Hinsvark and personal
letters from colleagues at the South Dakota State College. Norma Lang's records contain
documentation on the University Extension's Department of Nursing, and her professional
activities, presentations, and publications. There are extensive Lang correspondence files,
and a curriculum vitae. Sharon Hoffman's records include texts of speeches she delivered in
her capacity as dean, as well as publications based on her research within the College of
Nursing. Sally Lundeen's records contain some of her correspondence but mainly materials
regarding her participation in various health-related organizations and task forces,
presentations and conference work, and projects related to her time as Director of the
Nursing Center .
There are numerous files from Helen Swain, chairperson of the department of Foundations of
Nursing from 1983-1993. The majority of these files consist of correspondence dealing with
business related to Foundations of Nursing. The collection contains some papers regarding
the coordination of UW-Parkside alongside the College of Nursing. Many of these files are
primarily concerned with the budget of UW-Parkside. In 1981 UW-Parkside and the UW-Milwaukee
School of Nursing formed a cooperative program that set the model for the UW system. This
program allowed students to earn a nursing degree from UW-Milwaukee by taking courses at
UW-Parkside.
There are also files dealing with the relationship between the UW System and UW
Administration to the College of Nursing. They are largely made up of correspondence, but
contain other documents such as reports as well. Some of the correspondence is from
different chancellors and vice chancellors. There is also extensive documentation on the
planning and implementation of the Ph.D. program. Annual reports, committee reports, and
meeting minutes are also included.
