Historical note:

            Louise M. Cywin (1927-2001) was a registered nurse. She was employed by the Rhode Island Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals from 1978 to 1993, working with substance abuse patients at the Institute of Mental Health in Cranston. She was an active union member, and from 1991 to 1993 she served as treasurer of the National Association of Nurses, Local 79 (a division of the National Association of Government Employees).

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Scope and content:

            This collection documents Cywin's working life at the Institute of Mental Health. Among the more significant documents are a July 29, 1991 memorandum outlining the Institute's AIDS policy, and seniority lists of staff nurses from circa 1980 to 1993. A folder of office humor includes a satirical letter soliciting funds for a statue of Gov. Bruce Sundlun.

            The collection also includes documentation of Cywin's union local, National Association of Nurses, Local 79, dating back to the early days of the local. Highlights include two complaint forms filed by Cywin in 1984 to bring attention to inadequate staffing and dangerous conditions on the night shift at the institute; and material on contract negotiations from 1984 to 1993.

            Cywin inherited the working papers of the previous Local 79 treasurers, so the collection includes selected Local 79 treasurer's records from 1982 to 1994. Also included were several personal letters of condolence relating to one of these predecessors, Paul K. Curtis.

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Provenance:

            These papers were donated in 2002 by Louise Cywin's daughter, Allison Cywin.

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Inventory:

Institute of Mental Health (Cranston, R.I.)

Folder 1. Blank forms, undated

Folder 2. Medication bulletins, undated

Folder 3. Memoranda to staff, 1987-1993

Folder 4. Patient Council minutes, 5/4/1992

Folder 5. Patient monthly progress notes, 1991 (one page, giving last names only)

Folder 6. Staff seniority lists, ca.1980-1993

Folder 7. Ward assignment sheets and staffing notes, ca.1991-1992

National Association of Nurses / National Association of Government Employees, Local 79

Folder 8. By-laws, 1990

Folder 9. Complaint forms, 1984 (filled out by Louise Cywin re work conditions)

Folder 10. Contract negotiations, ca.1984

Folder 11. Contract and negotiations, 1988-1989

Folder 12. Contract and negotiations, 1991-1993

Folder 13. Correspondence, 1988-1993

Folder 14. Elections material, 1990-1993

Folder 15. Executive board: minutes, 2/19/1985, and agenda, 10/21/1986

Folder 16. Paul K. Curtis papers, 1987-1991 (correspondence re prior treasurer)

Folder 17. Rhode Island Conference on Labor-Management Relations packet, 1993

Folder 18. Treasurer's banking and paid bills, 1982-1983

Folder 19. Treasurer's paid bills, etc., 1984

Folder 20. Treasurer's paid bills, etc., 1985-1986

Folder 21. Treasurer's papers, 1992-1994

Folder 22. Treasurer's reports, 1984-1992

Miscellaneous:

Folder 23. Nurse certification legislation, 1982

Folder 24. Office humor, undated

Folder 25. Registered Nurses at the Howard Complex - By-laws, 1976

Folder 26. R.I. Chapter of Ex-P.O.S.E. (Ex-Partners of Service Members for Equality) - member list, undated

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Subjects:

AIDS (Disease) - Rhode Island

Curtis, Paul K.

Ex-Partners of Service Members for Equality

Institute of Mental Health (Cranston, R.I.)

Mental health facilities - Employees - Rhode Island

National Association of Government Employees

National Association of Nurses, Local 79

Nurses - Rhode Island

Rhode Island State Institutions (Cranston, R.I.)

Substance abuse - Rhode Island

Sundlun, Bruce

Trade unions - Nurses - Rhode Island

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RIHS1822