INKA Archives

Preserving the History of Nursing Knowledge Development

The INKA Archives (formerly the NANDA® International Archives) preserve the historical foundations and global evolution of nursing diagnosis classification and nursing knowledge development.

These records are maintained through the Marjory Gordon Program for Nursing Knowledge Development and Clinical Reasoning, established in 2017 through a partnership between INKA and the Boston College Connell School of Nursing. One of the Program’s key contributions to the field is its stewardship of the official INKA Archives, housed at the John J. Burns Library at Boston College.

The Archives offer students, scholars, nurses, and the broader public opportunities to engage with rare historical materials documenting the development of nursing diagnosis, clinical reasoning, and standardized nursing classification across decades of international work.

Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/1088849686/1c300b2780

Video Credit

Borg, N. A., Jones, D. A., Dagnello, P., Constantine, S. (Directors). (2025). NANDA Archives.

mixture of archival items such as images and text

What the Archives Include

The collection highlights critical moments in the history of nursing knowledge development, including early initiatives that supported the discussion, refinement, and global adoption of nursing diagnosis classification and beyond.

Materials document milestones such as Dr. Marjory Gordon’s 1975 formation of the Massachusetts Conference Group for the Classification of Nursing Diagnosis, one of many efforts that contributed to the later establishment of NANDA and the international expansion of nursing diagnosis scholarship.

The Archives include:

Original communications between INKA leadership and nursing organizations worldwide
The Nursing Diagnosis newsletter
Records of Fellows, award recipients, and Board members
Materials from the Marjory Gordon Program at Boston College
Digitized interviews, presentations, and historical documents
Conference and executive records documenting classification development over time

This growing collection comprises more than 10 linear meters and 200 gigabytes of archival material, organized into three primary categories:

Conferences
Executive records
Publications

In addition to the official INKA Archives, Boston College maintains related collections that provide deeper insight into the individuals and groups who shaped the field.

INKA Archival Collection

NANDA International Records (Historical)

These records document the work of the Task Force of the National Conference Group on the Classification of Nursing Diagnoses, subsequently the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA), and later NANDA International (NANDA-I), now INKA.

Materials include conference proceedings, newsletters, and files of Association leaders, including founding chair and first president Dr. Marjory Gordon.

Resources include:

Related Archival Collections

Marjory Gordon Papers

These papers document the career and scholarship of Dr. Marjory Gordon, whose work influenced the adoption of nursing diagnoses and functional health patterns and supported the representation of nursing clinical judgment within electronic record systems.

Resources include:

Massachusetts Conference Group Records

These records document the creation and management of the Massachusetts Conference Group for the Classification of Nursing Diagnosis, including committee minutes, correspondence, membership materials, and papers presented at meetings.

Resources include:

Accessing the Archives

Scholars and researchers interested in accessing archival materials, either remotely or in person, may direct questions to the Burns Library website or contact the Assistant Director of the Marjory Gordon Program:

Dr. Natalie Borg: gordonprogram@nanda.org

Those interested in learning more about the Archives’ holdings can also review the Collection Overview through Boston College.

Donating Materials

INKA welcomes contributions that support the preservation of nursing knowledge history. Materials may be donated to the Archives by contacting:

csongordon@bc.edu

INKA team walking up stairs to Boston College library

Suggested Next Step

To explore INKA’s legacy and ongoing nursing knowledge development, visit:

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