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The Neva Whaley Harding Papers, curated by Jane Alexander, offer a comprehensive exploration of Neva's life, family heritage, and community engagement. The collection is composed of various mediums like manuscripts, correspondence, interviews, certificates, diplomas, and audio recordings, providing insights into Neva's life from her formative years to later life stages.

This collection documents the personal, academic, and domestic history of Neva M. Whaley Harding—a South Dakota homesteader, educator, and writer—and her husband, Albert Spencer Harding. Topics covered include personal experiences, family history, genealogy, education, community involvement, and social issues. Materials include autobiographical writings, manuscript drafts, photographs, certificates, and a substantial body of correspondence with family, friends, and historians.

Of particular value are interviews recorded on open reel audiotape, which delve into Neva’s personality, philosophy, and life experiences, including reflections on events such as the Great Depression and the World Wars. Her manuscript I Recall Pioneer Days in South Dakota and associated research and editorial materials provide first-person insight into settler life and rural womanhood. The collection also includes documents from Neva and Albert’s time at South Dakota Agricultural College, illuminating aspects of college life in the early 20th century.

Through Jane Alexander's efforts, the collection serves as a testament to Neva's legacy and her influence on both her family and her broader community. It offers valuable primary source material for researchers studying women's history, South Dakota heritage, and intergenerational memory.

The Non-Traditional Student Club Records consist of materials documenting the organization’s administration and activities. Included are budget records, the club constitution, executive council documents, membership lists, meeting minutes, and related correspondence.

This collection provides insight into efforts to support non-traditional and lifelong learners at South Dakota State University, reflecting the university’s commitment to educational accessibility and inclusion for diverse student populations.

The Non-Traditional Student Office Records (UA 26) document the development, administration, and support services of South Dakota State University's Non-Traditional Student Program from its inception in the mid-1970s. The records span a wide range of topics, including program administration, recruitment, orientation, counseling, publicity, financial aid, and continuing education efforts for adult and re-entering students. A significant portion of the collection focuses on child care—an ongoing concern for non-traditional students—with materials from the Day Care Task Force, legislative efforts, provider lists, and research on campus-based day care models. Additional contents include newsletters, handbooks, research studies, and promotional materials like "Let SDSU Open the Door for You." The collection reflects institutional efforts to attract, retain, and support adult learners through targeted services and advocacy.

These records highlight SDSU’s early recognition of and response to the unique challenges faced by non-traditional students, particularly in areas such as child care, flexible learning, and support services. The materials offer insight into the evolution of adult education policy and support infrastructure in higher education during the late 20th century.

The Norman Gambill Papers document the academic, administrative, and creative work of Dr. Norman P. Gambill, professor of art history and long-time head of the Visual Arts Department at South Dakota State University. The collection spans his professional career and includes materials that predate his tenure at SDSU. It comprises administrative files, curriculum materials, records of events and conferences, facilities planning documents, teaching files, grant and fundraising records, meeting files, personal and professional research, and extensive manuscript drafts.

Administrative files include correspondence, memos, calendars, departmental planning documents, and records related to staffing and enrollment. Curriculum materials reflect institutional program reviews, curricular development, and planning for general education and visual arts coursework. The collection also contains records from numerous departmental events, exhibitions, and fundraisers—including Evening for the Arts, DVAGI, and the TechSigns conference—as well as documentation related to the development and use of campus facilities.

Teaching materials include course outlines, study guides, and media, while the grants and fundraising series includes proposals, awarded grants, and event planning files. Meeting files span faculty, department head, and university-level committees, often overlapping in content and structure.

The research and activities series highlights Gambill’s scholarly interests and involvement in arts organizations, with materials such as correspondence, bibliographies, photographs, and conference participation. The manuscript series includes multiple annotated drafts of his unpublished works, most notably Ritz and American Mediocrity, Designing Hollywood: Productions of Harry Horner, and his Ph.D. dissertation, Citizen Kane: An Art Historical Analysis.

This collection provides a view of Norman Gambill’s intellectual legacy and contributions to art history, film studies, and arts administration. His leadership shaped the growth and visibility of SDSU’s Visual Arts Department, and his scholarship reflects deep engagement with American cultural history, design, and cinema. The materials offer valuable insights into curriculum development in the arts, interdisciplinary teaching, academic administration, and arts advocacy in the Midwest.

The Nutrition, Food Science, and Hospitality Records consist primarily of brochures and posters for nutrition seminars sponsored by the department, covering topics such as dietetics, food safety, nutrition ethics, and public health issues like obesity. The collection also includes newsletters aimed at health professionals, providing reliable information on nutrition and maternal and child health, as well as fact sheets describing academic programs in food science and hotel and foodservice management. Additional materials include program reviews, laboratory dedications, manuals, and event documentation.

This collection reflects the department’s efforts to advance public and professional knowledge in nutrition, dietetics, food science, and hospitality management. It documents the department’s educational outreach, program development, and contributions to health education, highlighting its role in shaping food and nutrition-related fields at South Dakota State University and beyond.

The Oak Lake Writers' Retreat Records document the activities and impact of the Oak Lake Writers Society, particularly their summer retreats aimed at supporting Native American writers, educators, and storytellers. Spanning seven boxes, the collection includes correspondence (notably between Charles Woodard of South Dakota State University and retreat applicants), writings produced during and about the retreats, application materials, grant and funding documents, educational resources, and administrative records.

The files encompass a wide range of themes such as environment, economic development, Indigenous education, mentorship, cultural heritage, and community empowerment. Notable contents include retreat histories, newsletters, reflection papers, photographs, and records on special events such as the Indian Education Summit and the Anniversary Conference. Recurring documentation of specific individuals (e.g., Lowell Amiotte, Joyzelle Godfrey) and locations (e.g., Enemy Swim Course, Devils Tower) also provide personal and geographic context.

This collection chronicles the development of a key cultural and literary initiative that nurtures Indigenous voices in the Northern Plains. It reflects the collaborative efforts between tribal communities and academic institutions to promote Native literature and cultural preservation. The records offer valuable insight into contemporary Indigenous literary movements, community-building through creative expression, and the intersections of education, environment, and Indigenous identity.

This collection documents the programming, outreach, and educational efforts of the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity (later known as the Office for Diversity Enhancement) at South Dakota State University. It includes brochures, flyers, calendars, schedules, newsletters, video recordings, and clippings related to diversity initiatives, events, and lectures. Materials promote campus-wide awareness and engagement around issues of diversity, inclusion, and social equity. Featured content includes the “Festival of Cultures,” “Ethnicity Matters” conference sessions and keynote, and lectures such as “Iraq War, American Foreign Policy and the Mass Media” and “Syria and the Changing Middle East” by Dr. Imad Moustapha. The collection also includes educational materials on prejudice, discrimination, sexual harassment, and disability awareness, as well as internal documents such as annual reports and job descriptions.

The collection reflects the university's evolving approach to diversity education and outreach, highlighting its role in facilitating inclusive dialogue and cultural understanding on campus. It provides evidence of institutional responses to global issues, community engagement, and diversity-related pedagogy.

The records primarily include annual reports, departmental assessment findings, and student performance data across academic levels. Key components include entering student profiles, mid-program and senior-level assessments (e.g., CAAP exams), credit by examination processes, faculty profiles, and comprehensive assessment plans from colleges and departments such as Agriculture, Engineering, Nursing, and Education. The collection also includes extensive documentation of curriculum development, survey instruments, graduate program reviews, and correspondence between assessment coordinators and department chairs. These materials reflect both internal and external evaluation processes, accreditation reviews, and efforts to improve institutional effectiveness.

This collection offers insight into institutional assessment practices from the 1990s through the early 2000s. It serves as a vital resource for researchers studying educational measurement, academic program evaluation, student learning outcomes, and institutional accountability in higher education. It is also useful for program administrators engaged in curriculum improvement and accreditation.

The Oscar and Alice Simonson Papers offer an unusually detailed and continuous financial and operational record of a South Dakota family farm from 1941 to 1979, a period that spans World War II, postwar agricultural expansion, and major changes in rural economies. The Farm Family Record Books serve as a rare primary source documenting everyday economic decisions, household consumption, and farming practices in the northern Plains.

Alice Simonson’s precise and sustained recordkeeping provides insight into the role of women in farm management and the intersection of domestic and agricultural labor. Additionally, the accompanying photographs, oral history interview, and personal correspondence contextualize the lived experience of mid-20th-century farm families, enriching research in rural history, agricultural economics, women's studies, and social history.

This collection is valuable for scholars studying rural life, the evolution of federal agricultural policy, and the social fabric of family farming communities in the Midwest.

The Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society Records document the activities, governance, and membership of the South Dakota State University chapter from its charter meeting in 1949 through the early 2000s. The collection includes meeting minutes, constitutions, membership lists, banquet and lecture programs, correspondence, publicity materials, and financial records.

These materials offer a detailed view of the chapter’s founding, development, and academic involvement on campus. Foundational items include the original charter meeting minutes and constitution, along with extensive nomination and selection materials for faculty, student, graduate, alumni, and honorary members. The collection also contains initiation records, banquet and faculty lectureship programs, officer communications, IRS filings, national and regional correspondence, newsletters, clippings, and directories.

This collection is significant for understanding the role of honor societies in fostering academic achievement and faculty recognition at SDSU. It reflects decades of academic excellence, institutional support, and intellectual engagement, and provides valuable insight into evolving academic culture and organizational practices over time.

The collection is composed of material collected by the Phi Upsilon Omicron Phi Chapters at South Dakota State University. Included are correspondence, minutes, newsletters, annual reports, scrapbooks, member lists, financial information, publications, clippings, meeting minutes and agendas, and photographs.

Also included is "The Candle," the Phi Upsilon Omicron National Honor Society journal, covering the years 1930-2004, annual reports submitted to the national headquarters, Initiate information sheets, detailed ledger sheets starting in 1934, hand-made chapter programs, very creative from 1937 to about 1980, senior biographies from 1952-1971 which are very detailed and include photographs, and detailed secretaries notebooks.

The scrapbooks consist of photographs, cards, significant correspondence and programs for events held by the chapter. Some items of note include a Coat of Arms patch for Phi Upsilon Omicron, a Holy Bible presented to the chapter by Laura J. McArthur in December 1941, and a material related to a Fruitcake Fundraising project which includes photographs, but the fruitcake recipe could not be found.

The photographs are not well described; however, most are group shots of members.

The collection consists primarily of instructional and academic materials documenting Phillip E. Plumart’s education and teaching in poultry science from 1950 to 1989. Materials include binders of course handouts, lecture notes, quizzes, problem sets, and extensive typed responses prepared for poultry management courses at Kansas State College during the early 1950s. The collection also contains Plumart’s 1952 master’s thesis in poultry science, focused on the effects of sex linked feathering on chick growth and development. Additional materials document later instructional activity, including course materials from Poultry Management AS 366 at South Dakota State University in 1988, Extension related documentation such as a County 4 H Member Record System user guide, publications of the National 4 H Poultry Development Committee, and assorted poultry publications. The materials reflect both Plumart’s graduate level training and his later role as a faculty member and Extension specialist.

This collection documents mid twentieth century poultry science education and agricultural instruction through the academic work of Phillip E. Plumart. It provides detailed evidence of poultry management curricula, instructional methods, and applied research at Kansas State College during the early 1950s, as well as the continuation of poultry education and Extension work at South Dakota State University into the late twentieth century. The inclusion of Plumart’s master’s thesis and course development materials offers insight into the evolution of poultry science, agricultural pedagogy, and Extension programming, particularly in relation to poultry production, student training, and youth agricultural organizations such as 4 H.

This collection consists of material gathered by the Department of Philosophy and Religion at South Dakota State University. It includes pamphlets, booklets, lecture notes, correspondence, and course announcements related to religion, philosophy, education, agriculture, and cultural studies. Notable items include a philosophy lecture by Dr. Stanley L. Olsen, materials from the 1973 Symposium on Education for New World Realities, a course announcement for "Middle East Topics," and documentation of conferences and declarations on religion and public life. The materials reflect the department’s engagement with interdisciplinary and global themes during the 1970s.

The records offer insight into the academic and public programming activities of the Philosophy and Religion Department during a time of expanding curricular focus on global, ethical, and interdisciplinary issues. They document the department’s role in fostering intellectual dialogue on contemporary topics in religion, education, and public life, as well as its collaboration with broader university and national initiatives.

This collection consists of records from the Department of Physics at South Dakota State University through June 30, 2018, when the department was administratively reassigned to the College of Natural Sciences. Materials include a sabbatical report from Dr. Joel Rauber during the spring 2007 semester, along with supporting documentation such as the initial sabbatical leave request and a revised edition of the Physics 211 Laboratory Manual. Dr. Rauber’s sabbatical work involved updating laboratory experiments to reflect current equipment and teaching practices. Additional items include a department brochure and an alumni directory covering the years 1927 to 1995.

These records document administrative, curricular, and instructional developments within the Department of Physics over time. Dr. Rauber’s sabbatical work reflects a continued emphasis on instructional quality and modernization, while the alumni directory provides historical context regarding departmental growth and the career trajectories of its graduates.

The book contains 146 plats documenting property boundaries, land ownership, and leasing on the Pine Ridge Reservation from 1936 to 2005. Changes to the plats are recorded on transparency sheets placed over the original pages. Each plat in the digitized version includes three scanned images: the transparency over the original, the transparency alone, and the original alone.

At the beginning of the book is a faded page outlining the color-coded shading system used to indicate land status. This is followed by a typewritten copy of the "Order of Restoration, Pine Ridge Reservation," dated June 10, 1936, and issued by Harold L. Ickes, U.S. Secretary of the Interior (1933–1946). The order cites the Act of May 27, 1910, and the Presidential Proclamation of June 29, 1911, as its foundation and announces the restoration of undisposed surplus lands on the Pine Ridge Reservation to tribal ownership, under the authority of the Indian Reorganization Act of June 18, 1934.

The remainder of the book consists of plats of the Pine Ridge Reservation, home to the Oglala Lakota people. The reservation is located in southwestern South Dakota, encompassing Oglala and Bennett Counties and parts of Jackson County. Its boundaries were established by the Act of March 2, 1889 (25 Stat. 888).

This collection is composed of records and publications from the South Dakota State University Department of Plant Science. Materials include annual meeting abstracts from professional societies such as the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America, along with departmental reports, newsletters, course notes, announcements, lecture series programs, and posters. The collection documents departmental activities, research progress, academic programs, outreach efforts, and faculty contributions.

Notable items include the "New Ideas" reports on agroecology and tribal collaboration, faculty involvement in international education initiatives in Bolivia, and a 1930s soil science notebook from student Paul Brown. Also of interest are materials related to departmental field days, student expectations, scholarship programs, seminar syllabi, and soil and crop science research. The collection includes visual media (CD-ROMs, DVDs), correspondence, and documents highlighting the department’s extension, academic, and research missions over time.

The records provide insight into the evolution of agricultural education and research at SDSU, showcasing the department’s engagement with regional agriculture, interdisciplinary teaching, and global collaboration. The materials reflect both the historical development and continued innovation within plant science and related disciplines.

This collection contains records documenting the academic and outreach activities of the Political Science Department at South Dakota State University. Materials include departmental administrative files, informational pamphlets, and documentation related to specialized programs such as European Studies, Pre-Law advising, the Model United Nations, and the South Dakota Legislative Internship Program. The collection also includes records from the SDSU Native American History Conference.

A substantial portion of the collection is devoted to the Municipal Institute, an outreach and training program administered by the department. These records include curricula, correspondence, program reports, directories, educational materials, and publications from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) and the South Dakota Local Government Institute. Topics include municipal management, elections, records administration, public policy, and local government procedures. Also included are participant transcripts, photographs, certificates, and workshop documentation.

The collection reflects the department’s dual role in academic instruction and public service. It provides insight into the evolution of political science education at SDSU and documents efforts to support civic engagement and local government professionalism across South Dakota. The Municipal Institute records are particularly valuable for understanding the development of continuing education for municipal officials and the department's long-standing partnership with state and regional governance initiatives.

The Prairie Repertory Theatre Records document theatrical production and performance activity associated with South Dakota State University and related campus and regional organizations from 1931 through 2018. Materials consist primarily of programs, playbills, posters, season calendars, season ticket brochures, pamphlets, newsletters, correspondence, recruitment and promotional publications, and photographs. The bulk of the collection reflects the work of Prairie Repertory Theatre and State University Theatre, including annual seasons, summer outreach activities, and touring or festival participation. Also represented are earlier student and campus theatre activities such as the Footlight Club, Yellow and Blue Revue, Experimental Theatre, Theatre in the Round, and Film and Cafe Society, as well as related academic and promotional materials from the Department of Communication Studies and Theatre and campus media outlets. Together, the materials provide chronological and programmatic documentation of theatrical programming, performance offerings, and audience engagement at South Dakota State University.

This collection provides a record of theatrical life at South Dakota State University across much of the twentieth and early twenty first centuries. It documents the development of university theatre programs, the establishment and growth of Prairie Repertory Theatre, and the role of performance arts in student life, academic instruction, community outreach, and regional cultural activity. The materials support research on campus cultural history, theatre production practices, performance repertory, and public engagement with the performing arts in South Dakota.

The Prairie Striders Running Club Records document the activities, events, and history of the organization from its founding in 1969 in Brookings, South Dakota, to the present. The collection includes materials related to race planning, certification, and results for numerous local, regional, and national events, including the Jackrabbit 15, Longest Day Marathon, and various 5K, 10K, and half-marathon races. Also included are meeting minutes, membership lists, organizational constitutions, financial records, and club newsletters such as The Pacesetter and Plains Runner.

The collection contains extensive race certification files, promotional materials, schedules, and training guides, as well as photographs, newspaper clippings, awards, and personal records of notable members such as Keith Morrill, Bob Bartling, and Jay Dirksen. It documents the club’s involvement in collegiate, amateur, and community running activities, including marathons like Boston, Lincoln, and Grandma’s. Also featured are uniform samples, course maps, and coverage of broader running culture through magazines, articles, and memorabilia.

This collection provides insight into South Dakota’s running history and the broader amateur running movement in the Midwest.

The President’s Office Records document the administrative, academic, and strategic functions of South Dakota State University from the early 20th century through the early 21st century. The records include correspondence, reports, committee minutes, planning documents, speeches, memoranda, and audiovisual materials produced by or related to university presidents and their offices. Topics covered include accreditation, budget planning, academic programs, institutional governance, state and federal relations, student life, campus facilities, faculty affairs, strategic planning initiatives, and major university events. The collection also contains materials related to presidential inaugurations, annual reports, and university outreach, including relationships with the Board of Regents and external stakeholders.

This collection offers comprehensive insight into the leadership and institutional development of South Dakota State University across decades. It reflects evolving administrative structures, academic priorities, and university responses to local, state, and national challenges. The records are valuable for understanding higher education governance, policy formation, and SDSU’s role as a land-grant institution. The inclusion of strategic initiatives such as the “Lead Forward Land Grant” and “Impact 2018” planning frameworks highlights long-term visioning and institutional advancement.

The Psychology Department Records are composed of materials produced by the department, including banquet programs, departmental newsletters, and a research study poster related to gambling. These records provide a brief glimpse into the department’s public-facing events, internal communications, and research activities.

These materials document aspects of departmental culture, outreach, and research at South Dakota State University’s Department of Psychology. While limited in scope, they reflect the department’s engagement with students and the broader academic community through events, publications, and scholarly inquiry.

This collection documents the activities and administrative functions of the Publications Council and its oversight of student publications at South Dakota State College. The records consist primarily of meeting minutes dated 1933 to 1970, which reflect policy decisions, publication approvals, personnel recommendations, and management of The Collegian and the Jackrabbit yearbook. Additional materials include a 1965 advertising questionnaire, 1946 clippings, engraver contracts for the Jackrabbit from 1951 to 1956, financial records for The Collegian from 1957 to 1962 and for the Jackrabbit from 1951 to 1967, and an inventory of Jackrabbit materials dated 1942 to 1952.

The records provide documentation of student publication governance over nearly four decades. They offer evidence of editorial and managerial selection processes, financial and contractual arrangements, and operational oversight of major student publications. The materials support research on the history of student media, administrative structures, and publication practices at South Dakota State College.

This collection contains records created and maintained by the Office of Records and Registration, documenting its core functions in academic scheduling, student enrollment tracking, commencement planning, and coordination with academic departments. The bulk of the collection consists of comprehensive course schedules spanning decades, catalogs, commencement programs, and enrollment statistics. Also present are short course circulars, committee meeting minutes (including the Committee of Deans and the Committee on Entrance Requirements), administrative correspondence, procedural manuals, and national reporting data such as IPEDS. The collection also includes records related to software implementation (DataTel STUDENT) and various guides related to registration and student services.

These records offer insight into the administrative and academic operations of South Dakota State University, particularly in how course offerings, student registration, and academic policies evolved over time. They are essential for understanding the university’s response to changing educational needs, technological advancements in registration systems, and national trends in enrollment and reporting. This collection supports research in institutional history, higher education administration, curriculum development, and student services.

This collection consists of five scrapbooks compiled by Reed G. Hart, Jr., documenting his leadership of jogging clubs in Kwajalein (Marshall Islands) and Saudi Arabia from 1968 to 1983. The scrapbooks contain black-and-white and color photographs, news clippings, race scorecards, and other memorabilia chronicling the activities of the Kwajalein Jogging League and the Saudi Arabian Jogging Association. The Kwajalein volumes feature events such as the 6-mile, 10-mile, and 1,000-mile competitions, as well as a biathlon; they also highlight team and individual participation across a wide demographic. Notably, the 1973–1974 scrapbook includes coverage of Lili Ledbetter, a record-setting young runner. The Saudi Arabian scrapbook, which includes less youth participation, documents marathons and features images of both running events and local scenery. Together, these materials provide insight into expatriate athletic culture and recreational programming during the late 20th century.

This collection is composed of pamphlets and flyers produced by the Reel Images Film Society.

This collection is composed of materials created by the Remnant Trust, the South Dakota State University Remnant Trust Committee, and the SDSU Archives & Special Collections. The materials include promotional publications produced by the Remnant Trust and documents related to a gala celebration marking the opening of the collection at SDSU. These records reflect the university’s collaboration with the Remnant Trust and its commitment to fostering educational engagement through access to rare and significant works.

The materials document the institutional and public engagement surrounding the introduction of the Remnant Trust collection to South Dakota State University. They highlight both the ceremonial and scholarly aspects of the project, offering insight into the university's efforts to elevate public access to primary texts focused on liberty, human rights, and historical inquiry.

Residential Life Records contains materials related to residential life and food services at South Dakota State University. It includes manuals for resident assistants and student housing staff, food service menus and programs, residence hall handbooks, contracts, and information brochures.

This collection consists of documentation pertaining to Residential Life at South Dakota State University, including residence hall operations, staff training, and food service programs. Materials include resident assistant and housing staff manuals detailing organizational structure, policies, and emergency procedures. Food service content ranges from meal plan brochures and catering menus to special event menus and advisory council notices. Also included are residence hall handbooks, application materials, staff directories, and promotional posters, providing insight into student housing operations and services offered on campus.

This collection provides documentation of the policies, services, and organizational structure of on-campus living and dining at SDSU. It reflects the university’s efforts to support students' residential experience through structured staff roles, varied food service options, and student engagement in residence life governance.

The Richard C. Wahlstrom Papers contain published articles, research reports, lectures, talks, and related materials documenting Wahlstrom’s extensive work in animal science, particularly in swine nutrition, from the 1950s through the 1990s. The collection includes South Dakota State University publications, journal articles, technical bulletins, conference papers, and photographs that illustrate his research on dietary supplementation, feed efficiency, and animal husbandry practices.

Subjects represented include selenium toxicity and supplementation, the role of vitamins, amino acids, and protein in swine diets, the use of alternative feedstuffs such as oats, alfalfa meal, sunflower meal, and brewers’ grains, and studies on carcass composition and growth performance. The papers also feature experimental studies on antimicrobial use, housing systems, mineral absorption, and the effects of specific feed additives on reproduction and health. In addition to research publications, the collection contains speeches delivered at professional meetings, award citations, departmental newsletters, and correspondence reflecting Wahlstrom’s contributions to the American Society of Animal Science and his recognition as Distinguished Professor of Animal Science.

This collection is a resource of mid- to late-twentieth century animal science research at South Dakota State University. It highlights Wahlstrom’s national reputation as a leader in swine nutrition and his role in shaping scientific understanding of feed efficiency, dietary supplementation, and livestock management practices. The materials provide valuable documentation of SDSU’s contributions to agricultural research and demonstrate the integration of academic inquiry with practical applications in the livestock industry.

The Robert F. Karolevitz Papers document the life and work of a prolific South Dakota journalist, author, public speaker, and historian. Spanning the years 1833 to 2005, with the bulk of the material dating from 1910 to 1999, the collection offers comprehensive insight into Karolevitz’s personal life, professional writing career, civic activities, and historical research.

The collection includes personal files such as education records, family correspondence, financial and legal documents, memorabilia, and ephemera. These materials trace Karolevitz’s academic path through Yankton High School, South Dakota State College, and the University of Oregon, as well as his later roles as a public speaker and educator. Family records highlight several generations of the Karolevitz family, with photographs, commemorative materials, and genealogical documentation reflecting his strong ties to Yankton and Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Professional files encompass manuscripts, published and unpublished writings, newspaper columns, speeches, advertising and political ghostwriting, and correspondence with publishers. Among the most notable works documented are Flight of Eagles, This Was Trucking, With a Shirt Tail Full of Type, and The Prairie is My Garden. Supplementary materials include book layouts, catalogs, and awards from institutions such as South Dakota State University, the South Dakota Newspaper Association, and Toastmasters International.

Karolevitz’s extensive research files span a wide range of historical subjects, including South Dakota and regional history, Catholic institutions, journalism, automotive culture, and American military history. These files contain clippings, correspondence, notes, pamphlets, and illustrations gathered in support of his writing and historical interests.

A major strength of the collection is its substantial photographic holdings, comprising thousands of prints, negatives, slides, and postcards. Subjects include early automobiles, farm equipment, American Indian communities, historic newspaper offices, Catholic parishes, World War I, and South Dakota towns and landscapes. These visual materials significantly enrich the documentation of regional culture and 20th-century American life.

Collectively, the Robert F. Karolevitz Papers form a rich resource for scholars of American regional history, journalism, Catholic heritage, and South Dakota’s cultural identity. The collection offers a deeply personal and professionally expansive view of one of the state’s most dedicated chroniclers.

The Robert F. Kerr Papers represent a compilation of Kerr’s personal and professional materials, primarily dating from the 1880s to the 1930s. The collection is composed predominantly of correspondence, both personal and related to Kerr’s role at South Dakota State University (then Dakota Agricultural College). Notable within this correspondence are letters documenting Kerr’s dismissal from the university, offering insight into early administrative and academic tensions at the institution.

In addition to correspondence, the collection includes class records (1885–1892), diaries (1886–1888), and writings by Kerr on a variety of topics including Brookings County history, college history, and Jewish advocacy. A unique item is Kerr’s contribution to the History of SDSC: 1881–1931, which includes marginalia in Chapter 1 authored by Kerr. Additional materials include a certificate of public instruction, scrapbook, notes, ledger, traveling papers, and maps/manuals of South Dakota. A Christmas greeting composed by Kerr and multiple drafts of personal reflections, including an autobiographical sketch, further illustrate his personal beliefs and public engagement.

The collection documents Kerr’s broad intellectual interests, educational work, and his role in shaping the early academic life at South Dakota State University. The presence of early class materials and student-related documents adds to the understanding of instructional methods during the foundational years of the institution.

Robert F. Kerr was a foundational figure in the academic development of Dakota Agricultural College. His personal files provide critical documentation of institutional history, early university governance, and student instruction practices. The correspondence surrounding his departure adds to the narrative of university leadership and faculty relations in the institution’s formative years. His historical writings on South Dakota and Brookings County contribute to regional history.

The Robert T. Wagner Papers span the years 1971 to 1998 and document Wagner’s academic and administrative career in South Dakota higher education. The collection includes biographical information, professional correspondence, calendars, speeches, photographs, newspaper clippings, reports, certificates, newsletters, evaluations, and materials related to public events and institutional activities.

Early materials document Wagner’s service as a professor of rural sociology at South Dakota State University and include correspondence, calendars, programs related to speaking engagements, and greeting cards. A small amount of instructional material related to courses he taught is also present. Records from his service as Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs include correspondence, calendars, clippings, photographs, certificates, and related administrative materials.

The largest portion of the collection documents Wagner’s presidency at South Dakota State University from 1985 to 1997. These records include extensive correspondence, calendars and activity files, speeches, newspaper clippings, photographs, reports, and materials related to campus events, travel, and public appearances. Notable files document international travel, including a trip to Russia in 1990 and participation in the Oxford Round Table at Cambridge University in 1994. The collection concludes with materials related to Wagner’s retirement, including guest books, letters, and records from his designation as President Emeritus.

The Robert T. Wagner Papaers document the administration of South Dakota State University during a period of institutional transition and growth from the mid 1980s through the late 1990s. The records provide insight into university governance, presidential leadership, campus development, and public representation of the institution. The collection also contributes to the documentation of higher education administration in South Dakota and preserves evidence of Wagner’s earlier academic career in rural sociology.

The Robert V. Burns Papers document his professional service, teaching, and involvement in state and national commissions between the late 1960s and early 2000s. The collection includes material from the 2000 NAFTA Conference on Canadian–United States agricultural trade issues organized by Burns, with correspondence, government official communications, publicity, talking points, publications, proceedings, and Governor William Janklow’s keynote speech.

Extensive records relate to the South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization (1968–1973), including correspondence, staff documents, legislation, reports, research files, and recommendations from the Citizen’s Commission on Executive Reorganization. Burns’s work with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) is represented through agenda books, publications, and policy studies.

Additional materials reflect his participation in the National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education, the Constitutional Revision Commission, and the Governor’s Task Forces on education and wages. Files also include material on judicial elections, Brookings railroad safety, higher education assessment, civic service, and Burns’s 1980 State Representative campaign. The papers preserve a record of Burns’s role in shaping higher education policy, state governance, and civic engagement in South Dakota and beyond.

This collection is a resource for understanding South Dakota’s political, educational, and policy development during the late 20th century. It provides insight into Burns’s leadership in higher education reform, state reorganization efforts, agricultural trade policy, and public service. His involvement with regional and national commissions underscores South Dakota’s participation in broader discussions on governance, education, and economic policy.

The collection is composed of materials related to Roberta K. Olson’s tenure as dean of the College of Nursing at South Dakota State University and her broader involvement in nursing education and professional practice. Included are reports, correspondence, curriculum materials, program proposals, strategic plans, grant documentation, presentations, writings, newspaper clippings, photographs, audiovisual media, and instructional materials. The records document the development and administration of undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, including nurse practitioner and neonatal nurse practitioner programs, as well as the establishment of doctoral level nursing education. Also represented are statewide and regional initiatives addressing nursing workforce planning, articulation and transfer pathways, academic partnerships, and collaborations between South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, healthcare systems, and professional organizations. The collection further documents legislative activity, accreditation issues, professional association involvement, ceremonies, awards, and public events related to nursing education in South Dakota.

This collection documents of the evolution of nursing education and professional practice in South Dakota during the late twentieth and early twenty first centuries. It offers evidence of institutional leadership, program development, and policy discussions that shaped nursing education, advanced practice roles, and interinstitutional collaboration within the South Dakota public university system. The records support research into higher education administration, health sciences education, workforce planning, and the history of nursing education at South Dakota State University and statewide.

The Ruth Ann Alexander Papers document the professional career, research, and public service of Dr. Ruth Ann Alexander, professor of English at South Dakota State University and the first woman to chair its English Department. The collection contains correspondence, course materials, speeches, manuscripts, grant files, and research notes reflecting her work as a teacher, scholar, and advocate for women’s rights. Included are files related to her service on the Brookings School Board, her leadership in developing women’s studies at SDSU, and her involvement in Chautauqua programs where she portrayed Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

The papers also include Alexander’s writings and public lectures on South Dakota women writers, pioneer women, feminism, sexism, and the history of women in the Episcopal Church. Draft manuscripts and published articles illustrate her research on figures such as Elaine Goodale Eastman and Kate Boyles Bingham. Records of her participation in the South Dakota Humanities Council, the South Dakota History Conference, and the Speakers Bureau highlight her contributions to public humanities programming.

Her service on the South Dakota Commission on the Status of Women is well documented through correspondence, reports, task force materials, policy statements, and legislative files, including those related to the Equal Rights Amendment and displaced homemakers legislation. Additional materials reflect her Episcopal Church history work, her writings on parenting and education, and her role as a public intellectual in South Dakota.

This collection is a ressource for understanding the development of women’s studies and feminist scholarship at South Dakota State University, the history of women’s rights and activism in South Dakota, and the broader cultural role of women in education, literature, and the Episcopal Church. It provides researchers with insight into Alexander’s pioneering work in introducing courses on women writers and multicultural literature, her leadership in the women’s movement at both local and statewide levels, and her engagement with public scholarship through Chautauqua, the South Dakota Humanities Council, and community service organizations.

This collection consists of initiation materials, a procedural manual, and meeting minutes for the Scabbard and Blade Company I, 6th Regiment. The manual outlines the society’s annual calendar, initiation procedures, officer duties, correspondence with national headquarters, and other administrative processes. The initiation documents cover nomination procedures, pledge week conduct, and organizational objectives. The minutes detail officer elections, membership rosters, financial reports, and involvement in campus events such as Hobo Day and Spring Sing. Topics also include constitutional amendments, military balls, and scholarship discussions.

These materials provide insight into the leadership training, military traditions, and campus involvement of ROTC cadets at South Dakota State across several decades. They reflect the organization's commitment to service, honor, and fellowship, and its role in shaping the student military experience.

This collection is composed exclusively of meeting minutes generated by the Scholastic Standards Committee of South Dakota State University between 1956 and 1967. The minutes document the committee’s deliberations on academic standards, policies governing student performance, and related procedural issues concerning the university’s scholastic regulations during the postwar expansion period. These records provide insights into institutional governance and academic policy development over more than a decade of university growth.

The Scholastic Standards Committee helped to shape the academic integrity of SDSU programs. The documentation found in this collection reflects mid-twentieth century shifts in university administration, faculty oversight, and curricular development. The minutes may be of particular interest to researchers examining higher education policy, faculty governance, or student academic regulations during this period.

This collection is composed of printed material created by the School of Agriculture at South Dakota State University and includes newspapers, programs, bulletins, and recruitment circulars. Items range in date from 1911 to 1933 and document student activities, curriculum, publicity, and institutional functions.

The Aggie News, issued in 1929 and 1930, was a quarterly newspaper produced by the State Alumni Association of the School of Agriculture. It featured news relevant to students and faculty, including organizational updates and event announcements. The collection includes partial runs only.

Recruitment circulars, dating from circa 1925 to 1930, were distributed by the principal to promote the School of Agriculture. These documents contained promotional text, program highlights, and occasionally included photographs of the campus and students.

The 1911 bulletin contains in-depth information about academic departments, courses of instruction, entrance requirements, administration, instructors, facilities, student expenses, and available scholarships. It serves as a comprehensive guide to the school’s educational offerings at that time.

Other items include commencement programs from 1926 to 1931 and 1933, Junior-Senior Banquet programs from 1914 and 1928, a senior class play program from 1929, and a circa 1912 promotional brochure titled Keepin' Mind School of Agriculture.

This collection illustrates the educational environment, student life, and outreach strategies of the School of Agriculture during the early 20th century. It reflects institutional efforts to recruit students, inform the public, and document academic milestones through print media. The items provide insight into the agricultural education practices and campus culture of South Dakota State University during this formative period.

The School of Communication and Journalism Records collection at South Dakota State University offers a view of the department’s academic, professional, and cultural history. The materials include a wide array of newsletters, pamphlets, programs, posters, reports, and instructional aids that document the department’s evolution, its educational initiatives, and its engagement with both students and the broader journalism community.

The collection features numerous departmental publications such as newsletters and bulletins that provided updates on internships, academic programs, and faculty activities. It includes promotional and commemorative materials from events like Journalism Week, Newspaper Day, the Lusk Lecture, and various banquets and conferences. These materials reflect the department’s commitment to fostering professional development and celebrating milestones in journalism education.

A significant portion of the collection is devoted to student involvement and experiential learning. The South Dakota Observer, a newspaper entirely produced by students—from writing and editing to typesetting and printing—serves as a central artifact of the department’s hands-on approach to journalism training. Other student-centered materials include style guides, course announcements, and workshop pamphlets, which illustrate the department’s emphasis on practical skills and industry standards.

The collection also highlights the department’s efforts to engage with underrepresented communities, particularly through materials related to American Indian journalism and media. Pamphlets and programs from career conferences and symposia underscore the department’s role in promoting diversity and inclusion within the field.

Instructional resources such as transparencies, slides, and visual aids used in teaching courses on media history and design are also present, offering insight into the pedagogical strategies employed by faculty. Administrative documents, including annual reports and institutional reviews, provide context for the department’s internal development and external recognition, including national awards and accreditations.

This collection is a resource for understanding the history of journalism education in South Dakota and the broader Midwest. It captures the department’s leadership in printing and rural journalism, its dedication to student learning, and its contributions to the professional journalism landscape.

This collection documents the activities of the English Department and its engagement with literature, writing, and regional studies at South Dakota State University. It includes departmental publications such as newsletters, pamphlets, posters, and promotional material for events including the Great Plains Writers’ Conference and the Jerome Norgren Poetry Contest. Also present are proceedings and departmental policies, providing insight into the department’s academic and outreach initiatives.

A significant component of the collection is the Pioneer Women Papers, a series of student research projects produced for the course Women Writers of the Great Plains taught in 1978–1979 by Dr. Ruth Alexander. Supported by a grant from the Modern Language Association’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, the course emphasized the study of regional women writers. These papers offer original biographical and literary research, complemented by photographs, press material, and instructor notes. The collection reflects both the department’s commitment to regional literary scholarship and its efforts to promote student engagement with women's literature from a local perspective.

The SDSU Advisory Council Records consist primarily of meeting packets distributed to council members. These packets include membership lists, statistical data, departmental reports and publications, resolutions from previous meetings, presentations, and leaflets summarizing the outcomes of annual meetings. Also included is a 1969 newsletter reporting the results of that year's annual meeting. These materials provide insight into the administrative and advisory functions of the Council and document its role in institutional planning and review at South Dakota State University.

This collection reflects the structure and function of advisory governance at SDSU. It documents faculty and administrative engagement in decision-making processes and offers evidence of historical departmental activities and strategic planning initiatives. The materials serve as a valuable resource for understanding institutional priorities, academic developments, and council deliberations over time.

South Dakota State University was established in 1881 as Dakota Agricultural College, with its first permanent building, later known as Old Central, completed in 1883. As the institution expanded in the early twentieth century, additional academic and administrative structures were constructed, including Lincoln Hall in 1927 and the Coughlin Campanile in 1929, which became a defining architectural landmark of the campus. Over subsequent decades, the university added facilities to support engineering, agriculture, research, student life, and athletics, reflecting steady institutional growth from a land grant college to a comprehensive university. Historic buildings such as Old Central, Lincoln Hall, and the Coughlin Campanile stand alongside later additions including research laboratories, residence halls, and athletic venues, illustrating successive phases of campus development.

This artificial collection consists of assembled materials related to the buildings and landmarks of South Dakota State University. Developed over time from departmental files, staff contributions, and individual donations rather than through a formal records transfer process, the collection varies in scope and completeness. Materials span from the late nineteenth century to the present and document construction, renovation, maintenance, and commemorative activities associated with campus structures. Records include architectural plans, capital outlay reports, budget data, blueprints, specifications, maintenance files, dedication programs, and anniversary materials. Buildings represented include academic halls, agricultural and research facilities, libraries, residence halls, student unions, athletic venues, and landmark structures. The collection documents the physical growth of the campus and the evolution of its infrastructure across multiple generations.

This is an artificial collection composed of 40 scrapbook boxes created from newspaper clippings spanning from 1894 to 1967, with some undated material. The collection is divided into athletic and general scrapbooks, each offering a unique perspective on South Dakota State University’s evolving identity and public presence.

The athletic scrapbooks, dated 1947 to 1967, primarily focus on SDSU sports and include clippings from football, basketball, track, and other athletic programs. These scrapbooks document the development of athletic teams, significant games, student-athlete achievements, and coach appointments. They reflect both the competitive spirit and institutional pride that defined mid-20th century collegiate athletics at SDSU.

The general scrapbooks encompass a broader range of topics, including university events, student activities, agricultural research, scientific advancements, campus infrastructure, and presidential and faculty accomplishments. The scrapbooks also feature clippings from across South Dakota that illustrate the university's influence beyond campus, highlighting its role in local and statewide initiatives. Materials are arranged chronologically rather than by subject. Notable volumes include those covering the early decades of the college (1894–1896, 1906–1912) and several that feature advertising and memorabilia. One volume even includes mixed-year content as late as 1951 interfiled with earlier clippings.

This collection documents SDSU’s public image and historical evolution as represented in South Dakota newspapers. It offers researchers insight into how the university's community and achievements were portrayed over time.

These scrapbooks serve as a rich source for examining the public narrative of South Dakota State University. They are valuable for understanding trends in athletics, education, research, and administration, as well as the university's relationship with the broader South Dakota community. Because the scrapbooks capture articles that are often not available in digital newspaper databases, they are especially useful for institutional history, journalism, and regional studies.

The South Dakota State University Ephemera Collection is an artificial collection composed of assorted ephemeral items related to the university’s history, student life, and promotional materials. These items do not fall under the defined scope of any other established collection and are instead gathered selectively based on their uniqueness, illustrative value, or historical interest. Material is added on an ad hoc basis as it is discovered.

The collection includes newspapers and clippings referencing the early State Agricultural College, athletic passes, decals, diplomas and diploma folders, invitations to student events, dance cards, letters, menus, name tags, examination materials, and souvenir paper items such as notebooks, postcards, and placemats. It also contains view books, student notes, receipts, greeting cards, banquet programs, university binders, metal seals, and tickets to various events. Several items reflect student and faculty experiences, while others highlight campus buildings, traditions, and academic milestones.

Together, these materials offer meaningful glimpses into campus customs, student experiences, university branding, and social life at SDSU. They document a variety of institutional and student activities including formal gatherings, alumni relations, promotional outreach, and campus health protocols.

The collection is valuable for illustrating lesser-documented aspects of SDSU’s institutional culture and student life through material culture and print ephemera. While not systematically gathered, these items provide researchers with visual and tactile evidence of SDSU traditions, commemorative events, and daily campus life. Materials such as early diplomas, souvenir decals, handwritten correspondence, and party memorabilia capture elements of the university’s past that are not always reflected in official records.

The South Dakota State University Foundation Records document the fundraising, donor engagement, and promotional activities of the SDSU Foundation from the mid-20th century through the early 21st century. The collection includes financial statements, annual reports, campaign case statements, feasibility studies, newsletters, event invitations, donor recognition materials, and internal publications.

Fundraising campaigns such as It Starts with State, Visions for the Future, Impact Greatness, and Return to Glory are well represented, along with fundraising efforts for specific university programs and facilities, including the Performing Arts Center, Solberg Hall, and the Pride of the Dakotas marching band. Researchers will also find a variety of materials related to alumni and donor engagement, including Foundation Focus, Honor Roll of Contributors, Fellows Update, and Stately Review. Administrative materials include Council of Trustees directories, strategic planning reports, workshop documentation, and investment performance summaries. Promotional content such as flyers, brochures, direct mail pieces, and event programs are included, as well as personal touches like holiday greetings and celebratory publications. A notable item is a historical reflection authored by Keith Jensen on the Foundation’s development at its 50-year mark.

This collection illustrates how the SDSU Foundation has helped shape the university’s academic, physical, and cultural environment through sustained fundraising and relationship-building efforts. Scholars examining the history of institutional advancement, alumni relations, and campaign strategy will find rich documentation of changing practices and priorities over time. The materials also reflect broader regional and national trends in nonprofit management, educational funding, and the role of community support in public university development.

This collection documents the 1977 South Dakota Delegation trip to Cuba, which included members of the South Dakota State University basketball team. The material primarily captures the media coverage and public reception surrounding the trip. It includes national, state, and unidentified newspaper clippings; press releases; and excerpts from radio broadcasts, many of which report on the delegation’s activities and the political context of the visit. Also included are photographs, rosters of participants, and an audio tape outline titled Cuban Stories, which appears to provide a narrative or interview content related to the trip.

The collection contains correspondence that sheds light on the earliest stages of planning, including references to Fidel Castro and U.S. Senator George McGovern, whose 1975 trip to Cuba helped catalyze this exchange. Though much of the formal planning documentation is missing, the surviving memoranda and letters illustrate efforts to coordinate the trip under challenging diplomatic conditions. Additional items include material from the Cuban newspaper Granma and various internal and external communications concerning the delegation.

The collection is a resource documenting a rare Cold War-era cultural exchange between a U.S. university delegation and Cuba. It offers insight into the role of sports diplomacy, the influence of political figures such as George McGovern, and the broader media and public perception of such initiatives during the late 1970s.

This collection documents the professional career and public service of Sherwood O. Berg, with a substantial focus on his role as chairperson of the National Advisory Commission on Food and Fiber, established by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. The collection includes comprehensive documentation of the Commission’s activities, such as collected research materials, correspondence, policy drafts, technical papers, transcripts from public hearings, meeting notes, and the final published reports. Topics span international agriculture, rural development, population pressures, agricultural economics, cotton and fiber policy, nutrition, and global hunger.

The papers also include records from Berg’s international consulting and leadership roles with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Midwest Universities Consortium for International Activities (MUCIA), particularly in Indonesia, Morocco, Cameroon, and the Philippines, covering projects in agricultural education, institutional development, and economic policy.

Further materials document Berg’s service as President of South Dakota State University, including administrative notes, speeches, committee records, and press coverage. His involvement with numerous civic, professional, and international organizations—such as the Reserve Officers Association, Phi Kappa Phi, Nature Conservancy, Farm Foundation, and Rotary International—is also well represented. The collection includes biographical files, awards, military service records, photographs, and correspondence spanning from the 1940s through the early 2000s.

This collection is a record of Sherwood O. Berg’s influence on U.S. agricultural policy, international development, and higher education leadership. It provides insight into federal food and fiber policy during the 1960s, particularly through the Commission’s efforts to guide agricultural decision-making at the national level. The records also reflect the growing emphasis on global collaboration in agricultural education and the modernization of institutions in developing countries. Berg’s presidency at SDSU is further documented through his administrative leadership and campus initiatives, especially those related to internationalization and faculty governance.

The Sigma Xi, SDSU Chapter 139 Records document the activities and history of the South Dakota State University chapter of Sigma Xi, a scientific research honor society. The collection includes a commemorative booklet marking the first 25 years of the chapter, materials related to distinguished lectures and graduate student research awards, newsletters, documentation of the chapter’s involvement in science and engineering fairs, and a historical paper titled Nicolaus Copernicus: His Life and Work by Marian Wnuk, presented under the auspices of Sigma Xi. These records reflect the chapter’s role in promoting scientific research, recognizing scholarly achievement, and engaging the university and local community in scientific discourse.

This collection is significant for understanding the development and contributions of a major scientific honor society at SDSU. It illustrates the chapter's efforts to foster research excellence, support graduate student work, and organize public-facing events such as lectures and science fairs. The materials serve as a record of faculty and student involvement in the broader scientific community and offer insight into the academic culture of SDSU over several decades.

This collection contains addresses delivered by Sigurd Anderson during his service as Federal Trade Commissioner from 1957 to 1964, as well as speeches and related materials from his tenure as Governor of South Dakota between 1951 and 1955. The addresses, presented before national organizations, reflect Anderson’s involvement in federal regulatory and economic matters. Included is his inaugural address to the 33rd session of the South Dakota Legislature, which outlines his gubernatorial policies and priorities.

The collection also includes mid-20th-century speeches and reports on state and regional development issues, such as the Corps of Engineers’ contributions to South Dakota (1954), proceedings from the Missouri Basin Survey Commission (1952), and records from various conventions and public policy discussions. Appropriations records from 1951 to 1955 document South Dakota’s budgetary decisions during Anderson’s administration. A biographical piece titled Sigurd Anderson – From Immigrant Boy to Governor of South Dakota provides background on his personal and professional life.

The collection documents Sigurd Anderson’s contributions to state and federal governance, particularly in areas of economic policy, public administration, and regional development during the mid-twentieth century. It provides primary source material illustrating the relationship between South Dakota’s state leadership and national regulatory initiatives.

This collection consists of materials created by the Sioux Falls Summer Track Program. It includes schedules, entry forms, meeting minutes, race results, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and other records related to the program’s activities and organization.

The records of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi Chapter at South Dakota State University, consist primarily of scrapbooks documenting the chapter’s activities from the mid-20th century. These scrapbooks include clippings, photographs, and memorabilia related to society events, projects, and regional journalism. Due to deterioration, the scrapbooks were dismantled for preservation purposes; most materials were photocopied, and items in good condition were retained.

A notable feature of the collection is documentation of the society’s newspaper awards program, which recognized excellence in South Dakota journalism. Honors were given for achievements in local public affairs reporting, community service, editorial writing, and front-page design. Award recipients included the Canova Herald, Hot Springs Weekly Star, Madison Daily Leader, Sioux Valley News, Mobridge Tribune, Vermillion Plain Talk, and Wessington Springs Independent.

This collection offers insight into student-led professional development, regional journalism standards, and the role of collegiate chapters in advancing the mission of the Society of Professional Journalists.

This collection is a resource for researchers interested in journalism history, press ethics, student organizations, and the regional newspaper landscape in South Dakota during the mid-20th century. It also reflects the broader mission of the Society of Professional Journalists to encourage ethical journalism and professional development.

This collection is composed of records generated by the Department of Sociology and Rural Studies at South Dakota State University. It documents a wide range of departmental activities, research initiatives, and academic programs from the mid-20th century into the early 21st century. Materials include course enrollment data, curriculum development files, correspondence, publications, program evaluations, exit exams, faculty resources, and student support materials. The records also contain numerous state-level statistical reports on public health, demographics, education, poverty, and Native American communities in South Dakota, as well as audiovisual materials, program proposals, and inter-institutional agreements.

Of particular note are publications and reports addressing rural poverty, community development, education of culturally diverse populations, Native American history and governance, and public attitudes toward genetically modified organisms. The collection also includes materials related to federal and state census activities, university outreach initiatives, graduate program administration, and professional development.

These records document the department’s role in shaping public policy and rural development through applied research and outreach. They offer valuable insight into demographic trends, health behavior data, Native American education, and institutional responses to social issues in South Dakota. The collection serves as a resource for researchers in rural sociology, public health, Native studies, educational policy, and regional planning.

The Sokota Hybrid Producers Records document the activities of the Sokota Hybrid Producers, Inc. from its incorporation in 1944 to its dissolution in 1986. The bulk of the collection consists of Board of Directors minutes, which typically include meeting agendas, minutes, and occasionally newsletters, correspondence, and reports. These records offer insight into the cooperative's governance and strategic decisions over four decades of operation.

In addition to board minutes, the collection contains foundational documents such as articles of incorporation, by-laws, certificates of amendment and dissolution, and a purchase agreement related to Nickerson American Plant Breeders. Financial records are extensive and include corn payments, revolving fund certificates, grower and producer ledger sheets, membership and equity certificates, and a photocopy of the first check issued by the cooperative. Materials related to seed production and marketing include performance test results, annual booklets, grower notes, pricing lists, policy documents, and promotional publications.

Supporting materials include newspaper clippings on Sokota’s history, documents related to South Dakota cooperative law (Chapter 47-15), and memorabilia such as anniversary items, photographs, employee information, branded clothing patches, and seed catalogs. The collection provides a comprehensive view of the operations, legal structure, and community impact of a mid-century South Dakota agricultural cooperative.

The South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station Records document the research, administration, and outreach activities of the Experiment Station and affiliated departments at South Dakota State University from its founding under the Hatch Act of 1887 through the early 21st century. The collection includes administrative files, financial records, correspondence, agreements, committee materials, research reports, institutional reviews, terminated project files, and publications. Research documentation reflects work conducted at field stations across the state and includes studies in crop and livestock improvement, soil fertility, pest management, biotechnology, climate adaptation, environmental quality, and rural development.

Institutional reviews and terminated project files—compiled as part of the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) review process—evaluate departmental performance and summarize completed or discontinued research efforts. Publications such as bulletins, circulars, and pamphlets synthesize findings for dissemination to farmers, scientists, and the public.

These records provide a view of the development of agricultural research in South Dakota, illustrating how land-grant research evolved in response to scientific, economic, and environmental challenges. They document the Experiment Station’s role in advancing agricultural productivity, sustainability, and public policy at the state, regional, and national levels. The collection is valuable for studying institutional accountability, research planning, and the broad impact of public science in the Northern Great Plains.

This collection documents the programming, outreach, publications, and interpretive efforts of the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum. Materials date primarily from the late 20th and early 21st centuries and include annual reports, marketing materials, newsletters, exhibit documentation, event programs, workshop materials, and promotional items. The records reflect the museum’s mission to preserve and interpret the history of agriculture and rural life in South Dakota from 1860 to the present.

Included are brochures, flyers, calendars, postcards, and posters related to museum events and exhibits. Exhibits represented in the records include: Dreams Fulfilled and Dreams Forgotten, Groundbreakers, Between Fences, South Dakota Made, FarmHER South Dakota, and several others focusing on agricultural science, machinery, and rural culture. Programs and lectures include the Brown Bag Series, the N.E. Hansen Lecture Series, author events, historical presentations, musical performances, and hands-on workshops such as homebrewing, Dutch oven cooking, scrapbooking, and embroidery preservation.

A variety of outreach efforts are also documented, including direct mail campaigns, community events, holiday promotions, and museum store marketing. Newsletters from both the museum and the Friends of the Museum group offer insight into ongoing operations, donor engagement, and institutional developments. Unique artifacts such as souvenir books, trade cards, historical postcards, and commemorative publications further support the museum’s mission to preserve agricultural heritage.

These records are a resource for their detailed documentation of public history efforts relating to South Dakota agriculture, material culture, and rural life. They provide insight into how a university-affiliated museum engages with diverse audiences through exhibitions, educational programming, publications, and outreach. The collection also reflects broader themes in public history, museology, and rural studies.

This collection consists of administrative, exhibition, and support organization records for the South Dakota Art Museum from its founding through the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The materials document the museum’s internal operations, public programming, physical development, and community engagement, particularly under the leadership of founding director Joseph M. Stuart and subsequent administrators.

Director’s records include materials related to the planning, construction, and expansion of the museum building, including architectural plans, specifications, fundraising materials, and correspondence surrounding the original facility (dedicated in 1970) and later additions in the 1990s. Fundraising records primarily document the Visions for the Future campaign and include profiles, strategies, correspondence, and Board of Trustees involvement. Financial documents include operating budgets, accounting reports, museum shop inventories, and grant records.

Exhibition records constitute a major portion of the collection and comprehensively document the planning and execution of exhibitions from 1970 through the early 2000s. Included are exhibition catalogues, promotional materials, artist correspondence, insurance and shipping documents, photographs, slides, press clippings, and exhibition planning documents such as object labels and installation instructions. The exhibitions span a wide range of themes, styles, and artists, including both national and international figures, as well as a strong focus on South Dakota artists and Native American art. Highlights include recurring biennials, traveling exhibitions, and retrospectives of significant regional artists such as Harvey Dunn and Oscar Howe.

Board of Trustees records include meeting agendas and minutes, member biographies, correspondence, reports, committee files, by-laws, ethics policies, and orientation materials. These materials document the museum’s governance and strategic planning over several decades.

The Guild records reflect the activities of the South Dakota Art Museum Guild and include by-laws, handbooks, training materials for docents, correspondence, promotional documents, and event planning records. These materials emphasize the Guild's volunteer and educational role in museum outreach and support.

Other materials include accreditation documentation submitted to the American Association of Museums, annual reports, publications, event planning files, and materials related to special initiatives and commemorative events. The collection also includes significant documentation on the museum’s permanent collections, particularly works by Harvey Dunn, Oscar Howe, and the Marghab Linen Collection.

This collection offers documentation of the development, programming, and administration of the South Dakota Art Museum, the first museum in South Dakota to receive accreditation from the American Association of Museums. It illustrates the museum’s growth from a state-supported regional institution to a key center for visual arts in the Northern Plains. The records reveal the museum's emphasis on South Dakota’s artistic heritage, particularly through its stewardship of landmark collections and support of Native American and regional artists. The materials also highlight the museum’s role in public education and cultural outreach through exhibitions, publications, events, and docent programs.

This comprehensive collection documents the history, leadership, and activities of the South Dakota Association for Family and Community Education (SDAFCE) and its predecessor organizations, including the South Dakota Extension Homemakers Council and affiliated Home Demonstration Clubs. The records span from the early 20th century through the late 1990s and reflect decades of grassroots civic engagement, adult education, and rural community development led by women across South Dakota.

The collection includes administrative records such as constitutions, bylaws, financial statements, chairmen handbooks, guidelines, honorary certificates, and minutes from state and local meetings. It also features extensive newsletters, membership applications, correspondence, cross-stitch patterns, postcards, and program materials. A substantial portion of the collection is composed of club-level documentation—including enrollment records, secretary’s books, and scrapbooks—from Brookings, Moody, Minnehaha, Pennington, Perkins, Spink, and Clark counties. These materials illustrate the scope of educational projects, cultural programming, safety campaigns, and international outreach efforts conducted by local clubs.

Of particular note are items from the Susan Wilder Scholarship Committee, slide presentations on homemaker history, and artifacts such as wall hangings, podium cloths, gavels, and banners. The records also include documentation of SDAFCE’s collaboration with the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service and participation in national and international homemaker associations.

This collection offers valuable insight into the role of rural women in shaping South Dakota’s educational and civic landscape. It is a vital resource for researchers studying women’s voluntary associations, cooperative extension history, home economics, and local grassroots leadership.

These records document the governance and organization of women’s intercollegiate athletics in South Dakota. Administrative materials include affidavits of eligibility, handbooks, certificates, correspondence, financial statements, and meeting minutes that record decision-making processes and coordination with the national Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. Event and competition materials include programs and results for basketball, volleyball, and track and field meets, along with documentation for Region 6 tournaments and Division I championships. Photographs, primarily of women’s basketball teams and activities, provide visual documentation of athletic participation during this period. Additional files from the South Dakota Athletic and Recreation Federation of College Women contribute context for statewide athletic governance and institutional engagement.

The records document the development and administration of women’s collegiate athletics during the period surrounding the implementation of Title IX and the transition from AIAW to NCAA oversight. They provide evidence of eligibility practices, governance structures, and competitive opportunities for female student athletes in South Dakota, as well as the relationship between state, regional, and national athletic organizations.

The South Dakota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (SDAFCS) Records document the evolution of home economics and family and consumer sciences organizations at both the state and national levels. The collection spans from 1913 to 2008 and includes records from predecessor organizations such as the National Association of Extension Home Economists, the South Dakota Home Demonstration Agents Association, the South Dakota Home Economics Association, and the South Dakota Association of Extension Home Economists. Materials include meeting minutes, officer handbooks, annual conference programs, newsletters, reports, correspondence, scrapbooks, constitutions and bylaws, financial records, award documentation, and photographs.

The records trace the activities and organizational changes of home economics professionals, including local and national conference proceedings, program development, and educational initiatives. The earliest materials document the formation of the South Dakota Home Demonstration Agents Association and its leadership, while later records highlight the organization’s transition through multiple name changes, reflecting shifts in the professional scope of family and consumer sciences. Of particular note are correspondence files related to early officers such as Eva Dawes, as well as detailed meeting and committee records from the South Dakota Association of Extension Home Economists, which illustrate the structure and governance of the association from the 1940s through the 1990s.

The collection also contains materials related to professional development and recognition, such as award programs, scholarship information, and membership records. Scrapbooks and photographs document conferences, special events, and member activities. Conference materials and strategic plans from the 1990s and 2000s illustrate the association’s continued focus on leadership, education, and public engagement in family and consumer sciences.

These records document the professionalization and history of home economics in South Dakota, the expansion of educational outreach through the Cooperative Extension Service, and the development of the family and consumer sciences discipline nationally. They provide valuable insight into the leadership, governance, and community service of South Dakota educators, particularly women, who advanced the field through teaching, extension work, and organizational involvement.

This collection is composed of the official minutes, agendas, and publications generated by the South Dakota Board of Regents, spanning from 1923 to 2006. Materials were collected by the Office of the President and various departments at South Dakota State University for institutional reference. The minutes document the proceedings and decisions of the Board across multiple decades and include indexes with subject notations in later volumes, enhancing accessibility to specific topics discussed. Supporting documents include fiscal reports, policy updates, meeting agendas, and committee materials from the Board’s work on academic affairs, student affairs, finance, and governance. A significant portion of the publications consists of formal policy guides, faculty leave and tenure documents, athletic rules, and union agreements, such as the University Faculty Collective Bargaining Agreement (2005–2008). Of particular note are unique items such as correspondence from SDSU President Carol Peterson and honorary degree documentation for Robert T. Wagner.

The collection demonstrates the administrative structure, decision-making processes, and evolving governance of South Dakota’s public higher education system. It is an essential resource for understanding the history and policy shifts within the South Dakota Regental System, particularly as they affected South Dakota State University. Its breadth of coverage offers insight into system-wide coordination, budget planning, faculty relations, and academic policy formation throughout the 20th century and into the early 2000s.

This collection comprises historical sketches and narratives of individual counties in South Dakota, drawn from a variety of published and unpublished sources. Represented counties include Aurora, Bennett, Bon Homme, Brown, Brule, Buffalo, Butte, Campbell, Clark, Douglas, Faulk, Grant, Haakon, Hand, Hanson, Harding, Hughes, Lawrence, Lyman, McPherson, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Perkins, Roberts, Spink, Stanley, Sully, Walworth, Yankton, and others. The material includes excerpts from local newspapers, jubilee and anniversary editions, community cookbooks, historical essays, local author contributions, and academic theses. Some counties are represented by detailed historical accounts or commemorative publications, while others are represented by brief overviews or excerpts.

Sources range from local historians, regional publications, official county histories, and collaborative historical efforts such as the American Guide Series. Several items were contributed by local civic organizations or drawn from university theses. The materials date primarily from the early to mid-20th century and reflect the cultural, social, and civic histories of the respective counties.

This collection documents the organizational history and activities of the South Dakota Crop Improvement Association (SDCIA), which was established in 1906 to improve crop cultivation and seed quality in South Dakota. The records span administrative, promotional, and programmatic functions, including extensive documentation of annual meetings, crop shows, and Board of Directors meetings. Committee files—such as those from the Certification, Legislative, and Price Committees—demonstrate the association’s role in shaping seed certification standards and agricultural policy.

Materials include minutes, correspondence, financial reports, membership records, newsletters, reports on certified seed acreage, and documents related to seed testing and varietal development. Photographs depict field days, crop shows, awards, equipment, and promotional displays. Also present are examples of certified seed sacks bearing the slogan “The Emblem of Good Seeds.” The collection is significant for its detailed documentation of agricultural improvement efforts, certified seed promotion, and rural organizational development in South Dakota.

The South Dakota Dairy Association records document its role in shaping the state's dairy industry from the early 1900s to the early 2000s. This collection includes ledgers, administrative materials, financial records, and publications that provide insight into the association's governance, advocacy, and industry impact. Annual reports, meeting minutes, and convention programs spanning a century highlight efforts to promote dairy farming practices, support producers, and establish industry standards.

Significant materials include governance documents such as the association's constitution, amendments, and certificate of incorporation, as well as financial records detailing operations and contests. Convention programs from 1911 to 1999, along with reports on industry regulations, illustrate the association's efforts to foster professional development and policy discussions. The collection also includes medals, photographs, and newspaper clippings, offering a connection to the association's legacy.

These materials provide context for understanding the evolution of South Dakota's dairy industry, reflecting broader agricultural trends, economic contributions, and the collaborative efforts that shaped the state's dairy sector.

The South Dakota Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family, and Community Records document the history and recognition of individuals honored as Eminent Farmers and Homemakers in South Dakota from 1927 through the early 2000s. The collection comprises photographs, citations, scrapbooks, banquet and planning materials, and other administrative documents, reflecting the significance of these awards and their institutional history, particularly at South Dakota State University.

The honoree photographs span 1927–1991 and were formerly displayed on the Wall of Fame in Agricultural Hall at SDSU. These portraits, largely measuring 14.5 x 18 inches, include names, years honored, locations, and occasionally occupation or area of interest for farmers. Homemaker identifications typically follow the convention “Mrs. [Husband's Name],” with given names rarely appearing until the late 1980s. Due to light exposure, many photographs were damaged and later removed for preservation. Accompanying negatives (mostly 4x5") created between 1960–1991 document the original captions.

Citations provide biographical information, household or farm management practices, and details on public service and community leadership. Early entries frequently include homesteading stories and narratives of frontier life. Some citations contain transcripts of banquet acceptance speeches. These are arranged alphabetically by honoree.

Three scrapbooks document different time ranges. Scrapbook I (1928–1969) contains business meeting reports, newsletters, correspondence, and obituary clippings. Scrapbook II, titled Sands of Time, spans 1952–1982 and features photographs, minutes (1965–1982), and necrology reports. Scrapbook III, titled History, 1972–1988, includes honoree biographies, event programs, a mailing list of Master Farm Homemakers, and death listings.

Additional materials include banquet and award planning files, correspondence, application forms, minutes, obituaries, draft programs, event themes, and donation and endowment records. Recognition programs, trees planted in honor of recipients, and a map of honorees' geographic distribution further contextualize the impact of the awards. Printers' blocks of honoree portraits and documentation on portrait frames are also present.

This collection offers a unique lens into South Dakota’s agricultural heritage, community values, and gender norms over much of the 20th century. It preserves the legacy of individuals recognized for their contributions to rural leadership, family life, and agricultural advancement, and reflects the ceremonial and institutional practices surrounding their recognition. As a record of statewide honorific traditions and their evolution, the collection is significant to researchers of agricultural history, gender roles in rural communities, South Dakota social history, and commemorative culture.

The records document the development, administration, and evaluation of the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research in South Dakota, with an emphasis on proposals submitted to the National Science Foundation and related federal agencies from the late 1970s through the early twenty first century. The materials include advanced development proposals, implementation proposals, component research proposals, preproposals, budgets, cooperative agreements, and addenda. Also present are annual, semi annual, and year end reports, evaluation summaries, site visit documentation, progress and financial reports, publications, newsletters, meeting minutes, conference materials, and correspondence. The collection reflects a wide range of scientific and engineering research areas, including chemistry, biology, geosciences, physics, environmental science, nanotechnology, and interdisciplinary research initiatives. Administrative files document collaboration with state agencies, the South Dakota Board of Regents, participating universities, and national organizations, as well as graduate fellowship programs, assistantships, and outreach and educational activities.

These records document South Dakota’s participation in federally funded research capacity building initiatives and illustrate efforts to strengthen scientific research infrastructure, support faculty and student research, and promote collaboration among higher education institutions. The materials offer valuable evidence of the state’s evolving research priorities, the role of EPSCoR in expanding competitiveness for federal funding, and the integration of research, education, and economic development strategies within South Dakota’s higher education system.

This collection documents the activities and organizational structure of the South Dakota Farm Bureau, with records spanning local county extension reports, internal committee operations, marketing initiatives, and administrative governance. The materials reflect the Bureau's efforts to support and advocate for South Dakota’s agricultural communities through coordinated programming, policy development, and member engagement.

Included are annual and narrative reports from county extension agents in Brookings, Codington, and Hamlin Counties, which illustrate localized outreach and education efforts in collaboration with the Farm Bureau. Federation Records comprise a significant portion of the collection and include documentation from various standing and ad hoc committees—such as the Executive Committee, Women’s Committee, Marketing Committee, and Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee—highlighting the Bureau’s focus on leadership development, legislative advocacy, and agricultural promotion. Bylaws, financial reports, meeting minutes, clippings, and historical narratives provide additional context for the organization’s governance and evolution. Records from affiliated entities such as the Mutual Insurance Company and a Service Company further illustrate the Bureau’s broader cooperative and service functions.

This collection offers valuable insight into the history, priorities, and grassroots organization of the South Dakota Farm Bureau and its role in shaping agricultural policy and community development in the state.

The South Dakota Farmers Alliance Records document the early efforts of farmers in Dakota Territory to organize against economic and political challenges, particularly those posed by railroad monopolies. The collection includes an 1887 address by President H. L. Loucks and proceedings from the Alliance's annual convention, reflecting the organization's advocacy for agricultural and economic reforms. Additionally, an undated advertisement for A Book for Farmers Dunning's Farm Ledger and Historical Account highlights the practical and educational resources valued by the farming community.

These records provide insight into the broader Farmers' Alliance movement, which emerged in Dakota Territory in the early 1880s in response to declining wheat prices and perceived railroad injustices. The movement gained traction with the formation of the Dakota Farmers' Alliance in 1885, expanding rapidly across the region. The documents in this collection offer valuable historical context on the Alliance's objectives, leadership, and strategies during a critical period of agrarian activism in South Dakota.

The South Dakota Farmers Union Records provide a comprehensive account of the organization's history, advocacy, and role in shaping agricultural policy from the early 20th century to the early 2000s. The collection documents the Union's efforts to support family farmers, promote cooperative enterprises, and influence state and national agricultural legislation. Materials include organizational records, correspondence, meeting minutes, financial statements, educational materials, photographs, audiovisual recordings, and publications.

A significant portion of the collection pertains to the Union's legislative and political engagement, featuring records from state and national conventions, speeches, campaign materials, and lobbying efforts. These materials illustrate the Union's role in advocating agricultural policy reforms, rural economic development, and cooperative business models. Key figures such as Ben Radcliffe, George McGovern, Hubert Humphrey, and Eleanor Roosevelt are represented in convention proceedings, recorded speeches, and radio broadcasts. The 1972 Supreme Court case on public school funding through property tax is also documented through clippings, correspondence, and legal evidence.

The audiovisual materials consist of 13 audiocassettes, 156 open reel tapes, 6 wire recordings, and 34 16mm motion picture films, spanning from 1948 to 1992. These recordings capture state and national conventions, radio programs, speeches, and advertisements, along with footage of state camp activities, tours, picnics, and parades. Many of the materials promote legislative initiatives and endorse political candidates. In 2018, the South Dakota Farmers Union audiovisual collection was digitized with the support of a Recordings at Risk grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources. Due to the fragile state of many recordings, the Archives partnered with George Blood L.P. to ensure high-quality digital preservation in sustainable formats.

The Cooperative Legacy Project, spearheaded by Chuck Groth, communications director for the South Dakota Farmers Union from 1972 to 2008, provides an in-depth oral history of the cooperative movement in South Dakota. This project includes over 110 hours of digital audio interviews with Farmers Union members, cooperative managers, and farm organization leaders. The interviews, recorded in MP3 and WAV formats, are supplemented by documents, scanned photographs, and rough transcriptions, offering insight into the history and impact of the cooperative movement.

The collection also includes publications from the National Farmers Union and various state organizations, as well as South Dakota Farmers Union-produced materials such as convention programs (1938-1983), policy statements (1954-1988), handbooks, and brochures. The photographic collection, comprising over 33,000 photographs and negatives, documents youth programs, conventions, picnics, tours, and key moments in the organization's history, as well as images published in the South Dakota Union Farmer.

Records from local unions throughout South Dakota provide insight into grassroots organizing efforts, consisting of charter records, attendance logs, minutes, and correspondence, with some materials accompanied by photographs. This material includes essential governance documents such as constitutions, by-laws, speeches, scrapbooks, and advertising materials, with Farmers Union annual convention minutes spanning from 1926 to 1946.

This collection serves as an resource for researchers studying agricultural policy, rural advocacy, cooperative movements, and the political and economic history of farming in South Dakota and the United States. Through its extensive documentation of legislative efforts, community programs, and cooperative business models, the South Dakota Farmers Union Records provide a unique perspective on the evolving landscape of American agriculture.

The South Dakota Humanities Council Records document the administrative, financial, and programmatic history of the organization from its founding as the South Dakota Committee on the Humanities through the early twenty-first century. The records illustrate the Council’s mission to promote public engagement with the humanities, support community-based programs, and manage federally funded initiatives in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

Materials include administrative correspondence, meeting files, financial records, grant proposals, publications, program documentation, and audiovisual materials. Correspondence features communications with Council members, partner institutions, public officials—including Governors George S. Mickelson and William J. Janklow—and representatives of the NEH. Meeting records document the activities of the Council, Executive Committee, Membership Committee, and Program Committee, with sessions held across the state in cities such as Pierre, Sioux Falls, Chamberlain, Mitchell, Rapid City, and Aberdeen.

Financial records form a substantial portion of the collection and include audits, ledgers, balance sheets, vouchers, receipts, and statements of receipts and disbursements. These materials document the Council’s fiscal management, including re-grant activity, Reading Series and Resource Center expenditures, and accounting for the affiliated South Dakota Humanities Foundation. Audit reports and NEH compliance plans demonstrate adherence to federal and state grant requirements.

Grant and project files comprise a major component of the collection, containing proposals, applications, reports, correspondence, fiscal records, and publicity materials. Topics represented include Native American language and cultural preservation, South Dakota history, literature, women’s studies, rural depopulation, arts, and media. Projects include “Lakota Language Project,” “Lost Bird of Wounded Knee,” “Living Roots of Music,” “Oscar Micheaux Film Festival,” “Barn Again!,” “Choices for the 21st Century,” “Vietnam War: A Season of Remembrance,” “Yesterday’s Tomorrows,” “Staking a Claim: The People, Places, and Stories of Mining in the Black Hills,” and “Text, Discourse, Grammar: A Summer Institute for Lakota Language Teachers.”

Program files document the Speakers Bureau, Reading Series, Chautauqua, and other statewide initiatives. These include funded and rejected proposals, correspondence, scholar and coordinator packets, study guides, evaluation forms, and promotional materials illustrating the Council’s efforts to expand public access to the humanities. Later program records include files for Prime Time Family Reading, Key Ingredients, Farm and Ranch Stories, Between Fences, We the People, One Book South Dakota, The Big Read, and the South Dakota Festival of Books. Publications such as The Human Adventure, What’s Up, Perspectives on South Dakota, Report to the People, and the South Dakota Humanities Council Newsletter document Council outreach, publicity, and communication with the public.

The collection also includes audiovisual and photographic materials depicting Council programs, community events, and participants from approximately 1980 through 2005. These visual records provide evidence of public engagement through lectures, exhibits, and cultural festivals sponsored by the Council.

This collection offers a comprehensive record of the South Dakota Humanities Council’s growth from a state committee to a central public humanities organization. It reflects the Council’s collaboration with the National Endowment for the Humanities, its role in administering grant funds, and its leadership in advancing humanities programming throughout South Dakota. The materials document the Council’s influence in promoting cultural preservation, education, and civic dialogue, particularly within rural and Native American communities, and serve as an essential resource for studying the development and impact

The South Dakota Nurses’ Association Records document the activities, governance, and advocacy efforts of the state’s principal professional nursing organization from the early 20th century through the late 1990s. The collection includes extensive materials from SDNA committees, task forces, board meetings, conventions, and district branches. Committee and task force files contain meeting minutes, correspondence, surveys, reports, and materials related to ongoing projects, reflecting the association’s focus on education, practice standards, health care policy, and labor conditions. Of particular note are the Economic and General Welfare Committee and SDNA’s Continuing Education Approval and Recognition Program (SD-CEARP), which offer insight into labor advocacy and professional development in South Dakota nursing.

The collection features broad correspondence from SDNA leadership, including the board of directors and district presidents, as well as communication with state agencies, legislators, and national nursing organizations. Reports include annual summaries from committees and districts, financial audits, and documentation of major initiatives such as Project Motion and the Economic Security Program. Membership materials track recruitment, retention, and survey results across districts. Extensive district-level documentation includes bylaws, officer lists, newsletters, and reports.

Other highlights include material from SDNA’s annual conventions, National Nurses Day celebrations, and Nurses Day at the Legislature, along with lobbying files detailing the association’s legislative priorities and partnerships. Project files document SDNA’s participation in state and national efforts, including public health outreach and the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. Scrapbooks, photographs, clippings, and audiovisual materials preserve the visual history of nursing in South Dakota.

Collected publications cover a wide range of nursing-related topics, including continuing education, standards of practice, nursing history, and health care legislation. The collection also holds records from affiliated organizations such as the American Nurses Association, South Dakota Board of Nursing, South Dakota League for Nursing Education, and other health-related groups. Physical artifacts, including uniforms, caps, and commemorative items, offer tangible connections to the nursing profession’s heritage in the state.

This collection offers insight into the evolution of nursing in South Dakota. It serves as a vital resource for studying professional development, health care advocacy, women’s leadership, public health policy, and the organizational history of nursing. The records document how South Dakota’s nurses helped shape statewide standards, responded to national trends, and promoted both education and workplace rights in a changing medical landscape.

This collection contains a brief history of the South Dakota Nurses Foundation and meeting minutes from the Board of Directors spanning 1999 to 2019. The Foundation did not meet in 2001, and no minutes exist for that year. Topics addressed in the minutes include membership, financial matters, funding, community engagement, research grants, scholarships, and other organizational concerns.

The collection documents the development and governance of a key support organization for nursing professionals in South Dakota. It provides insight into the Foundation’s role in advancing nursing education, research, and public health initiatives across the state.

This collection is composed of local and national records of the South Dakota Paint Horse Club, a non-profit organization affiliated with the American Paint Horse Association. The records document the club’s mission to promote the paint horse breed through administrative oversight, public outreach, and event coordination.

Materials include foundational documents such as by-laws, certification of incorporation, directories, contracts, and meeting minutes, as well as extensive correspondence, financial statements, and memoranda. The collection also features Hoofprints, the club’s official newsletter, which contains updates on officers, show schedules, membership, and organizational developments.

Additional records pertain to programs, futurity events, horse shows, stallion auctions, and national and regional events, including participation in the South Dakota State Fair and the Rapid City Convention. Newspaper articles, awards, rule books, and documentation related to club governance and judging are also present. Audiovisual content includes taped meetings.

These materials illustrate the club’s significant role in promoting the paint horse breed both within South Dakota and nationally from its founding in 1970 through its closure in 2021.

The South Dakota Resources Coalition consists of administrative material and subject files. The administrative material consists of meeting minutes, committee files, correspondence, financial and membership records and publications. The subject files consist of research SDRC has performed throughout the years, mainly to assist them in their lobbying efforts. The subjects deal mainly with environmental issues as they relate to South Dakota.

The South Dakota Social Science Association Records document the organization’s annual meetings from the late 1930s through the 1970s. The collection includes correspondence, clippings, programs, meeting minutes, treasurer’s reports, abstracts, publications, and planning materials related to the coordination of these events. Notably, materials detail speaker arrangements, conference themes, and academic presentations.

Each annual meeting was hosted at a different college or university in South Dakota and focused on timely regional and national topics in the social sciences, such as population change, state governance, education, Native American issues, natural resource development, and mental health. Folder contents typically note the meeting’s date, location, and discussion themes.

This collection documents statewide academic collaboration and for highlighting the evolving role of social sciences in addressing public policy and educational challenges in South Dakota.

The South Dakota State Climate Office Records document over a century of weather and climate data collection across South Dakota and parts of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wyoming. The bulk of the collection consists of daily weather observation sheets submitted by volunteer reporting stations, recording data such as precipitation, air and soil temperature, wind, and solar radiation. The detail and scope of observations vary based on the equipment available at each site. Materials are organized geographically by reporting location, including towns, research farms, and natural landmarks.

In addition to climatological data, the collection includes administrative and research materials such as master’s theses, grant proposals, legal case documentation involving weather data, radar output, storm and cloud photography, and drought and tree ring analysis. Specialized forms, including B-91 climatological reports, are also present, along with materials relating to significant weather events such as flooding and droughts.

This collection offers insight into long-term regional climate trends. It is a valuable resource for environmental research, agricultural planning, legal reference, public safety, and historical climatology.

This collection documents the activities and literary contributions of the South Dakota State Poetry Society (SDSPS). Materials include foundational records such as articles of incorporation, bylaws, board meeting minutes, and correspondence, including letters from board member Deb Gangloff. Additional content consists of newsletters, flyers, photographs, and poetry writing tips by Audrae Visser and Susan Chambers.

The collection features publications by the SDSPS, including multiple editions of Four Quarters to a Section, Prairie Poets, Voices of South Dakota, and indexes such as the Sixty-Year Comprehensive Index of Pasque Petals. Numerous works by South Dakota poets are represented, including chapbooks, anthologies, and contest-winning pieces. A substantial portion comprises issues of Pasque Petals, the society’s official journal. Also included is the 2015 Poet Laureate nomination for Lee Ann Roripaugh.

The records reflect the evolution of poetry and literary engagement in South Dakota, highlighting the society’s role in fostering a statewide community of poets. Through its extensive publications and support of local voices, the SDSPS has served as a cornerstone of the region’s literary culture.

The South Dakota Water Resources Institute Records consist of departmental publications, reports, administrative materials, and collected research related to water quality, irrigation, and resource management. Materials include annual reports, operating budget documentation, informational pamphlets, and photographic records. A significant portion of the collection pertains to the Missouri River Basin Project, encompassing a wide range of technical reports, feasibility studies, environmental impact statements, and planning documents. These reports address critical issues such as irrigation development, water quality standards, aquifer management, flood control, channel degradation, hydrology, and the economic and environmental implications of water resource use.

This collection documents the Institute’s role in advancing water research and policy in South Dakota and the broader Missouri River Basin region. The records reflect federal-state collaboration under programs like the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program and include contributions to state and national discussions on sustainable water use, agricultural irrigation, and environmental protection. The depth and breadth of the Missouri River Basin Project materials provide valuable insights into mid- to late-20th century water management initiatives and the scientific, economic, and political challenges surrounding them. Researchers interested in water resource development, environmental policy, agricultural engineering, and regional planning will find the collection especially valuable.

This collection primarily consists of meeting minutes and several versions of the Stakota Club constitution. The minutes document roll calls, pledges, club business, and the nomination and election of officers. Also included are records of club activities, correspondence, and a list of secretary duties from 1967–1968.

These materials provide insight into the internal operations, leadership structure, and spirited activities of a co-ed student organization that promoted school spirit at South Dakota State University from the 1940s through the 1960s.

The collection documents theatrical activity associated with State University Theatre and is composed of programs, posters, season brochures, schedules, newsletters, correspondence, and photographs related to plays, musicals, revues, one act productions, touring productions, and special events. Materials date primarily from the early 1930s through 2019, with some undated items. The collection reflects annual seasons, individual productions, student showcases, revue series such as Rabbit Rarities and Capers, touring one act performances, festival participation, and organizational activities including Alpha Psi Omega events. Production documentation spans a wide range of dramatic literature, musical theatre, classical works, contemporary plays, experimental theatre, and locally developed productions, illustrating curricular, extracurricular, and public performance activity over time.

This collection documents theatrical production and performance at the university, offering insight into the evolution of campus theatre programming, student and faculty involvement, repertoire selection, and public engagement. The materials support research into theatre education, performance history, student organizations, and cultural life at the institution and contribute to understanding regional and academic theatre development across the twentieth and early twenty first centuries.

Records related to South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station Biochemistry consist of administrative files, research, and publications.

The Steve Marquardt Papers consists primarily of research files, reports, and correspondence relating to Cuba’s political system, human rights conditions, and restrictions on intellectual freedom. A substantial portion of the material focuses on independent libraries in Cuba and international responses to censorship, repression, and limitations on freedom of expression. Included are Amnesty International reports, Human Rights Watch publications, United States government accountability reports, United Nations documentation, and scholarly analyses addressing Cuban politics, diplomacy, migration, race, health care, and civil society. The collection also contains writings and interviews concerning Fulgencio Batista, Fidel Castro, and post revolutionary Cuba, as well as court and sentencing documents related to political trials. Additional material documents Marquardt’s involvement with human rights and reconciliation organizations in Brookings, South Dakota, and includes limited political campaign materials from the 2008 presidential campaign of Bill Richardson. Other files reflect related interests in libraries, librarianship, literacy, censorship, film, and professional and civic organizations.

The collection documents of international human rights advocacy and scholarly inquiry focused on Cuba during the late twentieth and early twenty first centuries. It offers primary and secondary source material useful for the study of censorship, independent libraries, political repression, and international monitoring of human rights, as well as insight into the activities of advocacy organizations and the role of information professionals in global human rights discourse.

This collection consists of administrative records generated by SDSU’s Student Affairs Division and its predecessor units. It includes detailed biennial and annual reports submitted to the university president, providing insights into organizational structure, budget planning, student service initiatives, and campus life development. The biennial reports are particularly rich in historical and operational content, covering budget requests, staffing changes, departmental goals, and specialized student services such as counseling, orientation, student records, scholarships, and placement services.

Additional materials include planning documents, strategic initiatives, student handbooks, orientation materials, diversity and inclusion programs, alcohol education efforts, and retention studies. Records from committees (e.g., Student Affairs Council, System Retention Committee), campus-wide assessments (e.g., NCA Self-Study), and events (e.g., Hobo Day, Scholars Receptions) are also represented, highlighting the division’s broad engagement in university life.

This collection provides documentation of how student services have been conceived, implemented, and evaluated at SDSU across decades. It is especially valuable for researchers studying the evolution of higher education administration, student development, and campus policy regarding diversity, wellness, and academic support. The records offer institutional context for broader changes in student affairs nationally, including the expansion of student support services, accountability initiatives, and demographic shifts in student populations.

This is an artificial collection of student essays written between 1890 and 1901 at South Dakota State University. The collection includes handwritten, typed, stapled, sewn, or bound manuscripts—many with decorative ribbons or illustrated covers demonstrating a variety of student work and material culture from the period. Most essays are approximately twenty pages in length, indicating substantial academic effort. Although all essays include an author and title, they often list only the student’s graduating class rather than the date of composition.

The topics covered are wide-ranging and reflect the interdisciplinary nature of student inquiry during the late 19th century. Many essays focus on English language studies (particularly rhetorical analysis of writers such as Addison, DeQuincey, and Macauley), mechanical and agricultural sciences (such as woodcarving, bridge construction, irrigation, crop studies, and domestic sheep anatomy), and natural sciences (including entomology, embryology, comparative anatomy, and astronomy). Other essays explore themes in domestic science, floriculture, education, music, evolution, and law, showcasing the curriculum diversity and student interests of the era.

Also included is a student petition and a ledger containing meeting minutes, possibly related to early student governance or club activities.

This collection provides insight into student scholarship and academic expectations at SDSU during the university's formative years. It reflects the educational priorities of a land-grant institution and documents early student engagement with both liberal and practical arts. The diversity of subjects illustrates a curriculum balanced between classical education and applied sciences, and the physical attributes of the essays preserve elements of 19th-century student life, material culture, and academic presentation practices.

This collection consists of materials produced by Student Health and Counseling Services at South Dakota State University. It includes flyers, pamphlets, newsletters, handbooks, and posters related to student wellness initiatives. Topics include immunization clinics, alcohol awareness, insurance options, body image support, and campus events like the Wellness Fair and National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week. The collection highlights the department’s efforts to promote physical and mental health, encourage responsible behavior, and provide accessible health resources to students.

These records reflect the university's commitment to supporting student well-being through outreach, education, and accessible services. They document the evolution of health promotion strategies and the campus response to issues such as alcohol use, mental health, and preventative care.

This ledger discovered on a table at a rummage sale in Mobridge, South Dakota. A librarian from Northern State University found it, purchased it, and gave it to Phil Mulvaney, Dean of Libraries at NSU, who forwarded the ledger to Dean Marquardt at South Dakota State University. Dean Marquardt transferred it to SDSU Archives and Special Collections in 2002.

The ledger was maintained by an unknown student at South Dakota State College during World War II. The ledger contains a detailed list of student expenses.

This artificial collection consists of student research papers produced by graduate degree candidates between 1938 and 2004. These papers were not submitted as formal theses or dissertations for the completion of a degree. They were gathered for their unique, unusual, or illustrative content, and inclusion in the collection is not systematic. The papers vary in format, including professionally bound volumes, spiral-bound copies, and those placed in report folders.

Topics include scientific innovation, child psychology, social problems, educational practices, language development, and public policy. Examples include a 2004 study on nanostructures for emission detection, a 1994 analysis of homelessness in Sioux Falls, a 1993 examination of the psychological effects of having a hearing-impaired sibling, and a 1968 curriculum design for male homemaking students in Lake Norden High School.

The collection provides insight into the diverse interests and applied research efforts of graduate students at South Dakota State University over nearly seven decades. It offers perspectives on local and regional issues, educational methods, and public service initiatives, making it a valuable resource for understanding historical and social developments in South Dakota and the broader Midwest.

This collection comprises publications and records produced by the Office of Student Activities at South Dakota State University. It includes handbooks, pamphlets, calendars, flyers, correspondence, directories, and photographs documenting student life, organizations, and services. Materials cover areas such as new student orientation, cultural programming, student enrichment, minority student support, university events (e.g., Freshmen Days, Parents Day), and administrative functions like central reservations and the information exchange. Visual materials depict student organizations and campus events.

The collection offers insight into student engagement, campus culture, and organizational development over time. It reflects the evolving role of student affairs in promoting inclusion, leadership, and community, and serves as a valuable resource for understanding the student experience at SDSU.

The Students’ Association Records document the administration, governance, finances, and policy activities of a student governing organization over much of the twentieth century, with particularly dense coverage from the 1970s through the 1990s. The materials include constitutions and by-laws spanning multiple decades, annual and final reports, handbooks, resolutions, election files, newsletters, and clippings that trace the evolution of student governance structures and priorities. Administrative files reflect a wide range of student concerns and services, including housing, health services, legal aid, alcohol policy, multiculturalism, student organizations, campus safety, and quality of student life.

Agendas and minutes record deliberations and decision-making processes, while Board of Control minutes, beginning as early as 1910, provide long-term continuity in oversight and institutional governance. Associated committee records document student participation in advisory and administrative bodies related to academics, student activities, athletics, food services, media, and campus-community relations. Financial records detail budgeting processes, activity fees, allocations, audits, and fiscal policy, illustrating how student funds were managed and contested over time. Subject files further contextualize these records within broader state, regional, and national higher education issues, including tuition, financial aid, legislative advocacy, student rights, and inter-university relations.

These records offer a comprehensive view of student governance as an evolving institution within the university, revealing how students organized, represented themselves, and negotiated authority with university administrators and external bodies. They are significant for understanding changes in student life, campus culture, and higher education policy across much of the twentieth century. Researchers will find particular value in the long chronological span of constitutions and minutes, the detailed financial documentation of student fees and budgets, and the subject files that situate local student concerns within statewide and national movements in higher education and student activism.

This collection consists of transcriptions of the diaries of Susan A. Jones, completed in March 2006 by her great-granddaughter, Virginia Vander Wal. The diaries, written between 1863 and 1870 while Jones resided in Massachusetts and Wisconsin, document her daily life, including social events, weather observations, work, and notable occasions such as funerals, religious milestones, and her engagement.

The 1863 diary, written prior to her marriage to Henry R. Jones, contains several references to the Civil War. The original materials vary in format, with some entries on fragile loose pages and others in small bound diaries with compact, often faded handwriting. Transcription challenges are noted in the text, including illegible sections marked with blanks and uncertain words placed in brackets. The original spelling has been preserved.

Virginia Vander Wal also contributed genealogical background, an account of the transcription process, and personal notes marked in boldface. Supplementary materials include a photocopy of Susan A. Jones’s portrait and Henry R. Jones’s military discharge papers. The diaries are incomplete, with gaps in daily or monthly entries across some years.

The Theodore W. Schultz Collection documents the extensive contributions of Schultz to economics, particularly in agricultural productivity, human capital, and economic development. The collection spans from 1932 to 1992, with the bulk consisting of Schultz's personal collection of articles, primarily offprints from journals, many bearing his signature. Included are a few articles authored by others that review Schultz's work or contain biographical material. This archive is a valuable resource for understanding Schultz's intellectual impact and the evolution of economic thought in these fields.

The general series includes correspondence (1975-1989) and a small number of collected works. Notably, the correspondence contains a letter from Schultz to Dr. Leon Raney, Dean of Libraries at South Dakota State University, discussing the creation of a bibliography of his works. His publications include books, reports, and reprinted articles on key economic themes such as foreign aid, agricultural development, investment in human capital, and educational policies. Prominent works include Agricultural Productivity in Low-Income Countries(1981), The Economics of Being Poor(1980), and Investing in People(1981).

The Dale Hoover Collection on Theodore Schultz consists of draft articles and conference papers, with some article reprints. Collected by Dale Hoover, a faculty member at North Carolina State University's Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, this material includes highlighted passages, annotations by Hoover, and correspondence from Schultz. Schultz sought Hoover's input on drafts before publication. Additionally, the Schultz Symposium materials (1980-1981) reflect continued discussions on his economic theories. This collection is significant for researchers studying economic policy, agricultural economics, and human capital investment, offering firsthand insights into Schultz's academic and professional influence.

The Personal Papers are composed of materials Daschle separated from the rest of the collection which were of personal interest to him. Included are pre-congressional materials, campaign records, legislative records, correspondence, political records, media files, and files saved for their intrinsic value.

In 1978, Daschle was elected to the United States House of Representatives, winning the race by a margin of 110 votes, following a recount, out of more than 129,000 votes cast. Daschle served four terms in the House of Representatives and quickly became a part of the Democratic leadership.

At the 1980 Democratic National Convention Congressman Daschle received 10 (0.30%) delegate votes for Vice President of the United States. Although he was not a candidate, Daschle (along with others) received votes against incumbent Walter Mondale, who was re-nominated easily.

he U.S. House of Representatives papers is composed of some campaign files and voting record information. Also included is "The Daschle Record" which contains 12 books compiled by his staff containing Daschle's voting record, sponsorships, and summaries of committee and subcommittee records from 1979 to 1986.

Due to the size and scope of the Daschle collection this collection was minimally processed. This means that material was placed in acid-free folders and containers, but processing at the item level was keep to a minimum. Only folders that had little or no description were looked into with more depth. Artifacts, such as plaques, framed items, textiles, art, and other three-dimensional items, were separated and placed in appropriate storage. Photographs were also separated and placed in proper storage containers.

Dates for each folder were chosen on what could be quickly ascertained. The dates are meant to give researchers a general idea of the dates of the material that is in each folder. These dates were selected on what could be quickly ascertained. If there was a range of dates covering material, then the earliest date was chosen.

In the 1986 election, Daschle became South Dakota's junior senator by winning 52 percent of the vote in a tight race with Republican Senator James Abdnor. Senator Daschle was appointed to the Finance Committee during his first year in the Senate, an unusual honor for a freshman. In 1988, he became the first South Dakotan ever to hold a Senate Leadership position when he was named the first ever co-chair of the Democratic Policy Committee by then Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell.

When Senator Mitchell retired in 1994, Daschle ran for the post of Democratic Minority Leader and won, 24-23, over Senator Christopher Dodd. Only Lyndon B. Johnson had served fewer years in the Senate before being elected to the Leader position.

Senator Daschle served as Minority Leader from 1994 to 2001, when the Senate became deadlocked with 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans for the first time in the Senate's history. Daschle became Majority Leader for 17 days, from January 3 to January 20, because the new congress took office before a new presidential administration. Vice-President Al Gore acted as ex officio President of the Senate to give the Democrats a majority.

Daschle and Trent Lott, the Republican Leader, negotiated for five weeks to invent new rules to share power in an evenly-divided Congress and finally came up with an agreement that was passed unanimously by the Senate. In May of 2001, Republican Senator Jim Jeffords became an Independent, which gave the Democrats a majority in the chamber to make Senator Daschle Majority Leader once again, from June 6, 2001-January 3, 2003. After the 2002 election, Daschle again became Minority Leader for the 108th Congress until his defeat in the 2004 election.

Tom Daschle lost the 2004 election to John Thune by 4,534 votes, a 49%-51% margin. He had been the Democratic Leader for ten years, two years longer than Lyndon B. Johnson, and was the first party leader in a half-century to be voted out of office.

The U.S. Senate papers series of the Daschle Papers is composed of records created by Tom Daschle and his staff during his tenure in the U.S. Senate. Included are trip schedules, speeches, sponsored and cosponsored legislation, and administrative files including financial disclosures, appointments and schedules. This series does not contain much material related to Daschle's campaigns for voting records during this time.

The trip schedules and files regarding his frequent trips back to South Dakota, including quite a few of Daschle's "Trip Notes" which are Daschle's notes to his staff regarding his impressions of the details of the trip and issues and concerns encountered on the trips that he wanted his staff to address.

Also included are files on the Whitewater issue during the Clinton administration, veterans issues, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota Water Projects, the accident of South Dakota Governor Mickelson, and aviation issues.

This collection documents the administration, evaluation, and financial oversight of the Title III Strengthening Institution Program Grant during the mid-1990s to early 2000s. It includes financial records such as account statements, expenditure reports, and year-end summaries spanning 1995 to 2001. Administrative content includes internal and external correspondence, forms, policies and procedures manuals from 1995 and 1996, and documents from Activity V, a grant initiative focused in part on married student housing. Materials related to assessment and compliance include the original development grant application (1995), annual and quarterly evaluation reports, an external consultant site visit report, and project performance reviews. A substantial portion of the collection is devoted to evaluation tools and feedback, including surveys distributed to faculty and students, project evaluation datasets, and summaries of meetings with grant activity directors. Supporting materials and miscellaneous documentation such as reports, notes, and undated presentations round out the collection. The documents collectively reflect the planning, implementation, and institutional impact of Title III funding at South Dakota State University.

These records help researchers understand how federal Title III grants were utilized to support institutional development and student services at SDSU. They provide insight into program design, administrative strategies, and accountability measures for strengthening educational infrastructure, particularly during a period of strategic planning and assessment in the late 20th century. The documentation of Activity V illustrates a focus on nontraditional student needs, such as housing for married students, while the numerous evaluation instruments demonstrate a systematic approach to institutional self-assessment and continuous improvement.

This collection is composed of class schedules, student handbooks, advertisements, and a newspaper article titled USDSU plan to expand published by the Argus Leader. The class schedules likely reflect course offerings and institutional calendars for the University Center campus in Sioux Falls, while the student handbooks provide policies, academic regulations, and student resources. The included advertisement and article document public discourse surrounding the expansion of South Dakota State University's presence in Sioux Falls under the USDSU initiative, offering contextual insight into regional higher education planning and institutional development.

The collection provides a view of academic operations, student life, and institutional outreach associated with SDSU’s activities in Sioux Falls. It reflects broader discussions about access to public higher education in South Dakota and the state’s efforts to expand degree offerings beyond the Brookings campus. The inclusion of class schedules and student handbooks documents the services and structure of the University Center, while the press coverage adds a valuable public perspective on its expansion and strategic importance.

The University College Records document the development, administration, and activities of South Dakota State University’s University College and its predecessor units responsible for general registration, academic advising, career planning, student success initiatives, and assessment. The materials span from 1968 to 2018 and include annual reports, program reviews, self-studies, statistical data, course materials, advising handbooks, strategic planning documents, assessment summaries, enrollment reports, accreditation materials, workshop files, faculty profiles, student profiles, and records related to academic support services. The records also document relationships with state agencies, job service programs, workforce development councils, and higher education centers. Formats include correspondence, reports, handbooks, schedules, posters, brochures, tallies, budgets, data summaries, meeting materials, institutional reviews, and electronic files.

These records provide documentation of the evolution of academic advising, general studies programming, student support services, and career planning at South Dakota State University. They reflect institutional responses to statewide workforce initiatives, accreditation requirements, changing general education standards, and student success priorities. The collection is significant for understanding the administrative history of University College, the development of advising and retention strategies, and SDSU’s participation in statewide and regional higher education collaborations.

This collection consists of publications and printed material produced by the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Marketing and Communications unit, formerly known as University Relations. The records span several decades and reflect the unit's central role in internal and external university communications. The materials document institutional messaging, campus updates, and promotional efforts intended for various audiences, particularly faculty, staff, prospective students, alumni, and the public.

Major components of the collection include high-frequency campus communication pieces such as Today at State, Faculty Bulletin, University Bulletin, SDSU Update, E-Connect, and SDSU Newsline. These serials provided regular updates on lectures, events, job postings, policy changes, and campus news. They underwent several title and format transitions reflecting changes in communication technology and strategy:

• 1944–1970: Faculty Bulletin
• 1971–1977: University Bulletin
• 1978–2004: SDSU Update
• 2000–2004: E-Update (briefly printed, then online)
• 2004–2007: E-Connect (online only)
• 2007–present: SDSU Newsline (emailed and web-published)

Today at State, a daily bulletin printed during the academic year from 1971 to 2007, was directed toward campus faculty and staff, serving as a primary channel for time-sensitive updates.

Additional materials in the collection include Calling Home from South Dakota State University, Impact State, Arts at State newsletters, research and promotional reports (e.g., SDSU Marketing Strategy, Graphic Identity Manual), event guides, market research, and publications related to specific colleges and campus initiatives. Issues of College Home from SDSU Magazine, special event planning documents, donor recognition materials, and visual promotional content such as postcards, banners, and merchandise catalogs further illustrate the university’s evolving branding and outreach strategies.

This collection also includes content documenting significant institutional moments such as the SDSU Centennial, branding initiatives, and building dedications. It offers insight into how SDSU has communicated its mission, academic offerings, and institutional priorities to various stakeholders over time.

This collection is a resource for their comprehensive documentation of South Dakota State University’s official communications, branding evolution, internal messaging, and public outreach. They reflect administrative priorities, institutional culture, and university-community relationships. These materials are particularly useful for researchers studying higher education marketing, land-grant university identity, and institutional communication trends over the 20th and 21st centuries.

The University Program Council Records document the cultural, educational, and social programming organized by the council at South Dakota State University. The collection includes posters, newsletters, clippings, programs, brochures, and calendars related to concerts, dances, theatrical productions, films, lectures, festivals, and campus traditions such as Hobo Day. Arranged in three boxes, the materials cover both recurring and single occurrence events and reflect the council’s role in coordinating campus programming.

These records provide documentation of student activities and campus events and illustrate the scope of programming supported through student leadership. The collection offers evidence of changing entertainment offerings and campus traditions and supports research on student life and organizational activity at the university.

The Valerian Three Irons American Indian Collection (Box 1) consists of transcripts from 144 oral history interviews conducted during the 1970s with Native American individuals from a broad range of tribal affiliations across the United States. The interviews document personal narratives, cultural perspectives, and community experiences, capturing voices from tribes including, but not limited to, the Nez Perce, Chippewa, Cherokee, Navajo, Hopi, Choctaw, Sioux, Seminole, Apache, and many others.

This collection serves as a primary source for understanding Native American life, identity, and cultural heritage during the mid-20th century. Conducted during a period of renewed Indigenous activism and cultural assertion, the interviews preserve valuable first-person testimonies on topics such as tribal history, traditions, education, activism, language, and social change. The diversity of tribal representation highlights the complexity and breadth of Native American experiences and contributes significantly to the historical record of Indigenous communities in the United States.

This collection documents the founding, development, administration, and academic programming of the Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College at South Dakota State University from its establishment in 1999 through the early 2000s. The records reflect the efforts of President Peggy Gordon Elliott and key faculty members, including Bob Burns and Harriet Swedlund, to transform SDSU’s honors program into a formal college aligned with national standards of academic excellence.

Materials include early conceptual planning, internal proposals, mission statement drafts, budget projections, strategic plans, curriculum development, and student and faculty handbooks. Extensive documentation exists for course designations, independent and directed studies, colloquia (notably Honors 303), and various academic enrichment opportunities such as the Griffith Honors Forum Lecture Series and national scholarship preparation. Faculty engagement is documented through course proposals, mentoring efforts, and travel grants. Student engagement is represented through surveys, orientation materials, recruitment strategies, alumni feedback, and graduation lists.

The records also reflect broader institutional collaboration and outreach, including residential life integration, the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, multicultural initiatives such as the USDA Multicultural Scholarships, and the Developing Native American Scientists (DNAS) program. Documents related to the Bison Research Project and cross-cultural academic programs reveal the College’s role in fostering interdisciplinary and community-based research, particularly in partnership with tribal communities and national grant programs (e.g., FIPSE, USDA Higher Education Challenge Grants).

The collection also includes meeting minutes from the University Honors Committee and the Honors Program Committee, reports to university leadership, course catalogs, faculty correspondence, assessment plans, and annual reports. Noteworthy are the lectures and events featuring figures such as Ken Burns, Ellen Dissanayake, and Terry Waite, as well as programs like the Lakota Nation Service Learning initiative.

This collection is a resource for documenting the institutionalization of honors education at South Dakota State University and its alignment with national models of high-impact undergraduate education. It offers insight into the university’s strategic investment in academic rigor, interdisciplinary engagement, and inclusivity in higher education. The breadth of programs, collaborations, and pedagogical approaches preserved here illustrate SDSU’s evolving commitment to student excellence, faculty innovation, and community impact.

The Vera Way Marghab Papers is a comprehensive archive documenting the life and work of a woman who played a significant role in the luxury textile industry. The collection offers insight into her personal journey, from her early years in South Dakota to her time as a piano student in New York City, as well as her relationship with Emile Marghab through extensive correspondence. While much of the material is centered on her personal life, the collection also reflects her role in the linen industry as the driving force behind Marghab, Ltd. and Emile Marghab, Inc. The records highlight her meticulous nature, as she preserved extensive documentation on both her personal and professional endeavors. Given the interwoven nature of her life and career, the materials are arranged into distinct series that provide a structured approach to understanding her legacy.

The Business Series encompasses all aspects of the Marghab enterprises, both in New York and Madeira. It includes materials on the founding of the company, capturing the vision and strategy behind Emile and Vera's business model, as well as its eventual dissolution. Correspondence reflects their relationships with artisans, business partners, and shop managers, while records on design illustrate Vera's influence in maintaining the highest standards of quality. Trademark and copyright documents, including coded correspondence aimed at protecting proprietary designs, shed light on the competitive nature of the textile industry. One of the aspects of this series is the material related to the Mayflower cloth, a specially designed tablecloth for the 1957 Mayflower II voyage, which later became an exhibition piece at the World's Fair in Australia. Administrative records from the New York and Madeira operations provide insight into the governance and structure of the business, including shareholder meetings, factory logistics, and high-profile engagements with diplomats and the U.S. Navy. Employee records detail the hiring process, disputes, and pension plans, while financial records illustrate the company's fiscal health, including instances of embezzlement and tax matters. The marketing strategy developed by Vera is well-documented, with strict guidelines for Marghab Shops, controlled advertising, and policies that set the company apart from competitors. Records on the shops provide a glimpse into Vera's selective approach, including her direct correspondence with store managers and evaluations of potential retail locations.

The Personal Series reflects Vera's multifaceted life beyond her business endeavors. Materials include portraits and fabric samples that visually represent her legacy. Her commitment to philanthropy is evident in records of charitable donations and correspondence with organizations she supported. A large portion of the series consists of clippings and collected materials, which demonstrate her curiosity and engagement with various subjects. Personal correspondence includes letters to and from family, friends, and colleagues, some of which intersect with business matters. Financial records cover her personal wealth management, including investments, estate planning, and legal affairs. The series also includes materials on her life in Madeira, providing additional context to her time spent there beyond the confines of business. The establishment of the Marghab Gallery at the South Dakota Art Museum is well-documented, capturing her dedication to preserving the artistry of Marghab linens. Music played an important role in Vera's early life, and materials on her musical education and performances offer insight into this passion. Personal writings, including reflections and philosophical musings, provide a more intimate look at her character and outlook on life.

Significant figures in Vera's life are highlighted through correspondence and clippings, most notably her husband, Emile, and her immediate family. Her engagement with politics is documented through materials on political figures and organizations of interest to her. Rare book records illustrate her scholarly interests and her contributions to South Dakota State University's library. Recognition for her contributions to the textile industry and beyond is captured in awards, articles, and documentation of a Marghab video project. Social engagements and affiliations with arts organizations further reflect her cultural involvement. Her extensive travels, both domestic and international, are documented in travel records, revealing her connections to a broader global network. Her deep ties to Watertown, South Dakota, are evident in materials related to her home, Wayland, and her properties on Lake Kampeska, as well as documentation on community events and restoration projects.

This collection is of exceptional significance, offering researchers a rich narrative of a woman who was both a cultural tastemaker and a shrewd business leader. It captures the evolution of a company that set new standards in luxury linens, the meticulous approach that defined its success, and the challenges it faced in an ever-changing economic and political landscape. Equally important, it provides a deeply personal portrait of Vera Way Marghab, allowing scholars to explore the intersections of entrepreneurship, artistry, and personal ambition. The collection stands as a valuable resource for those interested in business history, women's history, textile design, and the legacy of craftsmanship that Marghab linens represent.