Dakota Heartland Health System Auxiliary Records

Collection

Identifier: Mss 287

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers and scrapbooks of the Dakota Heartland Health System Auxiliary have been organized into five series: bylaws and dissolution, candy stripers, meeting minutes, president’s manual, and scrapbooks. There was a President’s Manual binder containing minutes of meetings of the board of directors in 2001 and 2002, job descriptions, bylaws and dissolution papers. A binder of minutes contained meeting minutes of the board of directors dating from 1995 to 2002. Five scrapbooks of pictures and memorabilia from the Dakota Hospital Auxiliary and Dakota Heartland Auxiliary date from 1964 to 2001. There is a gap from 1989 until 1992. Three of these scrapbooks are preserved as archival photocopies, as per agreement with the auxiliary. Two are preserved as received: Dakota Hospital Auxiliary, 1964 to 1977 and Dakota Heartland Auxiliary, 1992 through 2001. St. John and St. Ansgar’s Candy Striper programs were under the supervision of the boards of the auxiliaries of the hospitals. Three scrapbooks dating from 1961 to 1976 include newsletters and pictures of St. John and St. Ansgar’s Candy Striper programs. The St. John’s scrapbook dating 1961 to 1976 is preserved as received. The other two were transferred from binders to file folders. The Bylaws and Dissolution Series is the bylaws of the corporation and the dissolution papers, as removed from the president’s notebook. The 1999 bylaws are the last bylaws approved by the board of the corporation. The certificate of dissolution, 2002, from the Secretary of State of the State of North Dakota is the first document in the file. Gunhus Law Firm worked with the auxiliary to complete the legal dissolution of the corporation. The press release of the allocation of funds to community organizations is included in the file. The Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Series contains minutes of meetings from January 1995 to December 2000. The merger of Heartland and Dakota Hospital Auxiliaries which occurred in January 1996 is referenced in these minutes. The President’s Manual Series contains board of directors meeting minutes with treasurers’ reports from 2001 to 2002, requested donations 2001 to 2002, job descriptions for board positions, membership information, and gift shop manager contract. The Scrapbook Series is five scrapbooks covering the years 1976 to 2002. It is predominantly archival photocopies of three Dakota Hospital Auxiliary scrapbooks. The original materials from the three “magnetic” scrapbooks posed preservation concerns and were not retained, as per agreement with the auxiliary. Two scrapbooks are preserved as received: Dakota Hospital Auxiliary, 1964 – 1977 and Dakota Heartland Auxiliary, 1992 – 2001. The gifts donated by the auxiliary to various community organizations and the hospital beginning in 1978 and membership awards for service are two notable inclusions in the scrapbook materials. The membership booklets from 1988 – 1989, 1989 – 1990, and 2001 are preserved. There is a file of assorted awards, event flyers, and auxiliary newsletters from 1999 – 2002. The Candy Striper Series consists of the Candy Striper Record and Scrapbook notebooks kept by the St. Ansgar Candy Striper coordinator. The Candy Striper programs had coordinators in four Fargo/Moorhead hospitals in 1968. A number of the photographs included in the scrapbooks were used in local newspapers for articles on the activities of the Candy Stripers. There are articles from the Forum, The Red River Scene, and Moorhead Valley Times included in the scrapbook materials.

Dates

1961-2002

Creator

Dakota Heartland Health System Auxiliary. (Organization)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

The Institute holds the copyrights.

History

St. John, St. Ansgar, and Dakota Hospitals of Fargo had active auxiliaries in the twentieth century. When hospital mergers occurred in the 1990s, the auxiliaries also merged. St. John’s Auxiliary, St. Ansgar Auxiliary, and Dakota Hospital Auxiliary became Dakota Heartland Health System Auxiliary in 1996, there are records from all three organizations. The auxiliary of the Dakota Heartland Health System dissolved in 2002 when Heartland Hospital was sold to MeritCare. The membership was transferred to MeritCare Auxiliary. Several years of the Dakota Hospital Auxiliary and Dakota Heartland Auxiliary records are included in this eclectic collection of notebooks and scrapbooks. The auxiliary fulfilled its mission: “To raise and disburse funds to benefit the health and wellness of Heartland Health System patients and the Fargo-Moorhead Community.” The organization donated up to $50,000 annually to various organizations and groups throughout the Red River Valley. The last dispersion of money in 2002 totaled $65,200, which was given to the following organizations: Salvation Army, YWCA, Rape and Abuse Crisis Center, Hospice of RRV, Dorothy Day House, Churches United, and Birthright. In the 1960s and into the 1970s four Fargo-Moorhead hospitals had Candy Striper programs, St. Ansgar, St. John, St. Luke and Dakota. The three scrapbooks included with the auxiliary information give us insight into the programs at St. John and St. Ansgar from 1961 until 1976. Thousands of hours were given to patients in the hospitals by local teenagers.

Extent

1.4 Linear Feet (1.4 linear feet)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The auxiliary's origins began at former St. John, St. Ansgar and Dakota hospitals in Fargo-Moorhead area. It's mission was to raise funds for the benefit of the hospitals and F-M area.