The Mary Patricia Donahue papers date from 1872 to 2006 and measure 3 linear feet. The papers are arranged in nine series: Biographical, Courses, Publications and projects, Research files, Professional, Teresa Christy, Iowa Association of Colleges of Nursing, Photographs, and Audiovisuals.

The Biographical series (1975-2006) includes information about Donahue's education and career, such as CVs, awards, and newspaper articles that feature Donahue, the University of Iowa College of Nursing, or the nursing profession. The series also documents Donahue's service trip to a Romanian orphanage in 2005. The Courses series (1982-1997) contains course outlines and teaching materials for classes Donahue taught at the University of Iowa College of Nursing.

The Publications and projects series (1971-1999) is comprised of Donahue's published work, conference papers, and materials related to specific programs or projects with which she was involved. The series includes materials related to Donahue's best known publication, Nursing, The Finest Art: An Illustrated History, as well as her unpublished research, drafts, manuscripts, grant proposals, and correspondence with editors and colleagues. The series also includes several issues of the American Association for the History of Nursing Bulletins; each bulletin contains a president's message written by Donahue. The University of Iowa Main Library holds Donahue's dissertation, Isabel Maitland Stewart's philosophy of education, written in 1981. The Research files series (1872-1983) consists of documents, correspondence, and publications used by Donahue for her research and teaching. Of particular note are a copy of a letter from Florence Nightingale and documents and letters pertaining to M. Adelaide Nutting.

The Professional series (1960-1999) includes materials such as job evaluations, committee records, university transcripts, brochures relating to Donahue's presentations, and letters of reference and thanks. The series also incorporates nursing newsletters that contain interviews with Donahue.

The Teresa Christy series (1950-1981) contains documents related to Donahue's colleague, Teresa Christy. Christy, also a member of the University of Iowa's College of Nursing faculty and a nursing historian, advocated patient rights and published numerous articles on the history of nursing and nursing education. When Christy died in 1982, Donahue acquired her teaching and research files. The series includes Christy's 'Portrait of a Leader' articles that recount the lives of prominent nurses such as Lillian D. Wald, Isabel Maitland Stewart, Isabel Hampton Robb, and M. Adelaide Nutting. Photographs of Christy are included in the photographs series.

The Iowa Association of Colleges of Nursing series (1980-2003) includes the administrative files of this organization, which promotes continuing education for nurses. Donahue served as president from 2000 to 2006. Included in this series are agendas, minutes, budget plans, membership lists, and correspondence.

The Photographs series (1974-2003) includes snapshots and professional photographs of Donahue's professional activities. These include photographs of her presentations and trips, studio portraits, photographs with students, and photographs from the 2003 University of Iowa commencement. The series also contains a studio portrait of Teresa Christy and three slides of Christy with her students.

The Audiovisual series (1970-1987) includes two videocassettes, twenty-five audiocassettes, and five beta videotapes. The videocassettes include Donahue's lecture for the Distinguished Nursing Lecture Series and a brief slideshow on the history of male nurses created by two of Donahue's nursing students. Most of the audiocassettes are lectures by Teresa Christy on nursing. These tapes are approximately an hour in length and are of good quality. Also included is a brief recording--apparently taped from a record album--about Florence Nightingale and the development of the nursing profession; the speaker is unknown. The five beta videotapes include lectures by Teresa Christy. The IWA does not possess a device to play beta videotapes.

Donahue's papers include two books shelved in the IWA printed works collection:

Addams, Jane, Twenty Years at Hull-House, Chicago: The MacMillian Company, 1910. HV 4196.C4 H7 1910.

Wald, Lillian D., The House on Henry Street, New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1915. HV 4196 N6 W35 Cop. 4