The Canadian Nurses Association Collection

The core of the Canadian Nursing History Collection contains almost 1,000 artifacts which were donated by the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) in 2000. The CNA collection at the Canadian Museum of Civilization consists of approximately 820 nursing artifacts and, at the Canadian War Museum, 115 military nursing artifacts. At the National Archives, the CNA collection consists of almost 35 metres of textual records, 1,700 audiovisual materials and 9,000 photographs.

The CNA evolved from the Canadian National Association of Trained Nurses, a group of regional, provincial and alumnae nursing associations that was formed in 1908. In 1924, this group became the Canadian Nurses Association, which has since developed into a leading and influential organization that now represents 115,000 Canadian nurses in 11 provinces and territories. The CNA develops national policies on nursing and health care, with a view to furthering education, practice and research in the field.

From its conception, the CNA produced and collected a substantial quantity of documents, photographs and artifacts [e.g. commemorative pin 2000.111.18], as evidence of its own activities, as well as nursing in Canada and around the world. To increase its collection, the CNA actively sought donations from retired nurses, collecting, for example, school pins [e.g. graduation pin 2000.111.187] from almost all nursing schools in Canada.

CMC 2000.111.18	CMC 2000.111.187

While its artifacts are now in the holdings of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Canadian War Museum and the National Archives of Canada, the CNA continues to support the collection through the Canadian Nurses Foundation "Lighting the Lamp" fundraising campaign.