This collection is composed of three diaries of J.M Aldrich during his tenure as a student at Dakota Agricultural College from 1885-1888. The diaries give an invaluable account on life as a student during the early years of the college.

The diaries are separated into three volumes, one for each year Aldrich was a student at the college. Between 1930 and 1932, Aldrich made typewritten transcripts copied from his original diaries and included parenthetical comments for clarification. Each daily entry states the day and date, which are underlined, and relate Aldrich's daily activities. Most of the entries are trivial, recounting the activity of each day, but give an excellent portrayal of the atmosphere of Dakota Territory life in the 1880's. Topics included in the diaries range from accounts of his journeys between his home in Minnesota to Brookings to administrative upsets such as President George Lilley losing his position to Lewis McLouth.

The John E. Miller papers are composed of materials collected by Dr. Miller during his career. Included is course material, interviews, talks, writings, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and friends and colleagues. The bulk of the material is Laura Ingalls Wilder and research for his many other writings.

GENERAL MATERIAL
The general material consists of files related to Dr. Miller’s personal life outside of teaching and writing. He was involved with many organizations, such as the South Dakota Humanities Council, the South Dakota State Historical Society, Phi Kappa Phi, and history conferences, such as the Midwestern History Association and the Dakota History Conference. Included are correspondence, photographs, awards, articles about Miller, SDSU material, and family files.

COURSE MATERIALS.
Dr. Miller taught many courses during his tenure as a faculty member of the History Department at South Dakota State University. Courses include U.S. History, South Dakota history, American economic history, and methods and philosophy of history. After his retirement he taught Osher Lifetime Learning Institute [OLLI] courses on many topics such as the great depression, U.S. president and legislators, and democracy. Included are course notes, exams, and other material related to teaching history.

FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES
This material is composed of material gathered on friends and colleagues. Included is correspondence, articles, clippings, and photographs.

INTERVIEWS.
Dr. Miller conducted many oral history interviews during the course of his career. The recordings include many important historical figures, such as George McGovern and John Wooden, as well as prominent members of the South Dakota State University community, and SDSU faculty, staff, and administrators. His early interviews were recorded on audiocassettes, and eventually upgraded to digital recorders. There are some transcripts and permission forms for these recordings, but not all.
See the audiovisual and electronic media series for the recordings.

TALKS, PRESENTATIONS, ETC.
This series consists of many talks, presentations, and workshops given by Dr. Miller throughout his career. He also served on panels at conferences, including the Dakota History Conference and Laurapalooza. Included are notes used articles, journals, books, and research material.

LAURA INGALLS WILDER
Dr. Miller is one of America's leading authorities on Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane, having written many books and articles on the Wilder’s. Material consists of 16 boxes of research on books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder and her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, the Ingalls-Wilder family, places where Wilder lived, notebooks of handwritten notes, critiques of other authors works on Wilder, articles and clippings on related to Wilder, research gathered from manuscript collections related to Wilder, other authors works, and Dr. Miller’s writings.

WRITINGS
Dr. Miller wrote many articles, books, and reviews during his career. He also wrote book chapters, collaborated with other authors, and encyclopedia entries. He was a very prolific writer and it is difficult to know whether everything he ever wrote is included in the collection. Included are manuscripts, books, articles, book proposals, notes, and correspondence with other authors and publishers.

RESEARCH
The research material is composed of material collected by Dr. Miller for various projects. Researchers will find material on topics such as politics, elections, democracy, U.S. and South Dakota history, sports, small towns, and creativity; and historical figures such as Johnny Carson, Lawrence Welk, Sam Walton, John Wooden, Walt Disney, George McGovern, Karl Mundt, Alvin Hanson and many others too numerous to list. This material was used in his writings and in teaching his courses at SDSU.

Included are 40 boxes of articles and clippings from newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals, books, and online research gathered during his many trips to archives, historical societies and libraries. The material consists of notebooks and handwritten notes, writings, publications, books, and photographs. The majority of the material is photocopies, but some books, magazines, and journals are also included.

The Brookings County research is composed of research gathered by John E. Miller from the Donald D. Parker Collection held at the Center for Western Studies, Augustana College, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Donald D. Parker was Head of the History Department at South Dakota State University from 1943-1965. Folders consist mainly of research on early Brookings County, South Dakota and covers the years from circa 1870-1930.

The Hubert B. Mathews and Hubert Jean Mathieu Hubert B. Mathews attended Dakota Agricultural College in Brookings in 1888 and accepted a position on the college staff in 1893. He became head of the physics Department, and was the first acting dean of the Division of Engineering. He was Vice President at South Dakota State College. H.B. Mathews coordinated much of the building work on the campus during the first half of the 20th century. Mathews Hall, a dormitory on campus, is named in his honor. Professor Mathews served twice as the Mayor of Brookings from 1907-1910 and again from 1915-1917. Hubert Jean Mathieu, son of Hubert B. Mathews, graduated from South Dakota State College in 1919. He then studied painting under Harvey Dunn. He is known for his Our Democracy editorial cartoons that appeared in such magazines as the Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, Ladies Home Journal, McCall’s and Cosmopolitan in the 1940s. He changed the spelling of the family name back to the original French spelling of Mathieu, supposedly for art reasons. He used the name "Mat" as his signature on many of his works.

Because of their relationship as father and son and their similar names, researchers should look at each folder carefully to ensure the correct information is gathered as material for both men is interfiled. Included are drawing of the campus of South Dakota State University by Hubert J. Mathieu as well as several of the Our Democracy editorial cartoons. The notes file was compiled by Dr. Miller and includes a notebook and several homemade note cards. The photograph file consists only of one photocopied page of three photographs of both Hubert B. and Hubert J.

The Brookings County Democratic Party records are composed of material given to John E. Miller by Ruby Mershon. Her father, Paul, was county chairman of the Brookings Democratic Party during the 1950s. Folders contain clippings, campaign material, newsletters, financial material, programs, and sample ballots. Some items of note include an official program and souvenir banner commemorating the visit of President John F. Kennedy to St. Cloud, Minnesota in 1962.

The South Dakota State University: A pictorial history, 1881-2006 research consists mainly of photocopies of clippings, articles, and yearbooks etc. Researchers will find material related to all areas of the history of South Dakota State University, from activities, athletics and administration to buildings, Hobo Day, and alumni, students and faculty.

The Looking for History of Highway 14 series is composed of research gathered by John E. Miller for this book. The book highlights fifteen towns and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Folders consist of research gathered while compiling chapters for this book and include newspapers, county history books, photographs, and notes by Miller.

AUDIOVISUAL AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA
This series consists of 231 audiocassettes, 10 digital recorders, 17 CDs, 1 DVD, 18 USB flash drives, 24 SD Cards as well as some born digital material.

John T. Belk from Henry, South Dakota was honored in 1930 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Carrie Davis, wife of Willis H. Davis from Hitchcock, South Dakota, was honored in 1930 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Mrs. George L. Renner from Sioux Falls, South Dakota was honored in 1930 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Thornton N. Babcock from Watertown, South Dakota was honored in 1931 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Albert Hill from Alexandria, South Dakota was honored in 1931 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Clara J. Johnson, wife of Vincent S. Johnson from Spearfish, South Dakota, was honored in 1931 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

William Dailey from Flandreau, South Dakota was honored in 1932 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Mrs. Henry J. Strand from Brown County, South Dakota was honored in 1933 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Titus C. Wentz from Bath, South Dakota was honored in 1933 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

T.E. Hayes from Ellingson, South Dakota, was honored in 1934 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Addie Sloat from Gettysburg, South Dakota was honored in 1935 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Mary E. Kotrba, wife of Joseph Kotrba from Mitchell, South Dakota, was honored in 1939 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Andrew T. Brakke from Presho, South Dakota was honored in 1940 as Eminent Farmer in 1940 by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Ella Vallery, wife of Peter P. Vallery from Midland, South Dakota, was honored in 1940 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Anna Hicks, wife of Thomas M. Hicks from Milbank, South Dakota, was honored in 1941 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

H.E. Baxter from Hazel, South Dakota was honored in 1946 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Harold N. Opdahl from Hayti, South Dakota was honored in 1949 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Arthur C. Kelsey from Fedora, South Dakota was honored in 1950 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Mrs. Walter W. Eicholtz from Redfield, South Dakota, was named Eminent Farmer in 1950 by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Mrs. Arthur Justice from Brookings, South Dakota was honored in 1951 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Grace Fairchild from Philip, South Dakota was honored in 1952 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Alfred J. Lien from Platte, South Dakota was honored in 1952 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Mrs. J Rees Dillon from Brentford, South Dakota was honored in 1953 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Grace Hinkley, wife of William P. Hinkley, Sr. from Hoven, South Dakota, was honored in 1955 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Niesje Wiersma, wife of John Wiersma from Volga, South Dakota, was honored in 1955 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Ethel Wieting, wife of Charles Wieting from Tulare, South Dakota, was honored in 1956 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Henry N. Dybvig from Baltic, South Dakota was honored in 1957 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Lillian Larson, wife of George Larson from Lake Preston, South Dakota, was honored in 1957 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Everett Fletcher from Garden City, South Dakota was honored in 1958 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Otto G. Meyer from Sorum, South Dakota was honored in 1960 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Frank Swope from Orient, South Dakota was honored in 1960 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Mrs. Earl L. Arne from Clark, South Dakota was honored in 1961 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Adeline Reynolds, wife of Garret C. Reynolds from Blunt, South Dakota, was honored in 1961 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Albert Keffeler from Sturgis, South Dakota was honored in 1962 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Mrs. Otto Laue from Custer, South Dakota was honored in 1962 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Percy J. Wallace from Britton, South Dakota was honored in 1962 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Mrs. L.W. Herron from Gettysburg, South Dakota was honored in 1963 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Mrs. Donald C. Rice from Tuthill, South Dakota was honored in 1964 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Stella Malone, wife of George H. Malone from Shannon County, South Dakota, was honored in 1965 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Ida Marie Bentley, wife of Thomas O. Bentley from Midland, South Dakota, was honored in 1967 as Eminent Homemaker by South Dakota State University and the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Edith A. Guindon, wife of Roy Guindon from Plankinton, South Dakota, was honored in 1967 as Eminent Homemaker by South Dakota State University and the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Merle L. Hanson from Beresford, South Dakota was honored in 1968 as Eminent Farmer by South Dakota State University and the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Margaret Masteller, wife of Earl Masteller from Selby, South Dakota, was honored in 1968 as Eminent Homemaker by South Dakota State University and the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Warren L Wright from Rowena, South Dakota was honored in 1971 as Eminent Farmer by South Dakota State University and the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Adele Davis, wife of Wilmer Davis from Brookings County, South Dakota, was honored in 1973 as Eminent Homemaker by South Dakota State University and the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Vene C. Eitemiller from Armour, South Dakota was honored in 1973 as Eminent Farmer by South Dakota State University and the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Anne Feller, wife of Francis Feller from Miner County, South Dakota, was honored in 1975 as Eminent Homemaker by South Dakota State University and the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Primulaceae Vent. Primula. Plant specimen collected by N.E. Hansen, 1924. N.E. Hansen (1866-1950) was a Danish-American horticulturist and botanist who was a pioneer in plant breeding. Hansen came to South Dakota in 1895 and became the first head of the Horticultural Department of South Dakota State College. He also served as agricultural explorer for the United States Department of Agriculture. He searched for hardy grasses, fruits, and other plants throughout Europe and Asia and brought them back to the United States to raise or crossbreed with American varieties to produce hardy plants.

Rosaceae B. Juss. Prunus padus L. Plant specimen collected by N.E. Hansen, 1924, also known as bird cherry, hackberry, hagberry, or Mayday tree, is a species of cherry, native to norther Europe and northern Asia. N.E. Hansen (1866-1950) was a Danish-American horticulturist and botanist who was a pioneer in plant breeding. Hansen came to South Dakota in 1895 and became the first head of the Horticultural Department of South Dakota State College. He also served as agricultural explorer for the United States Department of Agriculture. He searched for hardy grasses, fruits, and other plants throughout Europe and Asia and brought them back to the United States to raise or crossbreed with American varieties to produce hardy plants. Specimen is mounted on an 11.5 x 16.5 inch herbarium sheet accompanied by a label with hand-written notation in pencil ink.

Man walking on the Trans-Siberian Railway platform by the train in Harbin, China; written in pencil on the back: China

Ornamental plantings in a park in Harbin, China; written in pencil on the back: Park at Harbin 1924

Ornamental plantings and statuary in a park in Harbin, China; written in pencil on the back: Park at Harbin 1924

Man standing by some ornamental plantings in a park in Harbin, China; written in pencil on the back: Park at Harbin 1924

Men selling pears by the Trans-Siberian Railway east of Harbin, China while other walk by; written in pencil on the back: Chinese selling pears on East Siberian Railway east of Harbin, 1924

N.E. Hansen with two others standing in a Kaoliang sorghum field at Echo in Manchuria, China; written in pencil on the back: Kaoliang at Echo, Manchuria 1924

N.E. Hansen and another man are standing in a Kaoliang sorghum field at Echo in Manchuria, China; written in pencil on the back: Kaoliang at Echo, Manchuria 1924

Men selling fruit on the Trans-Siberian Railway in Manchuria, China; written in pencil on the back: Chinese selling fruit on Siberian Railway Manchuria 1924

N.E. Hansen at a bazaar in Fushun, Manchuria in northern China, there are men sitting by a building in the background; written in pencil on the back: Futachien 1924

People looking at fruits and vegetables for sale at a bazaar in Fushun, Manchuria in northern China; written in pencil on the back: Fruit and vegetable bazaar at Futachien 1924

Man pulling a rickshaw down a street in Fushun, Manchuria in northern China; written in pencil on the back: Futachien 1924

Storefronts in Manzhouli, Manchuria in northern China; written in pencil on the back: Manchouli North China 1924

Four of N.E. Hansen's assistants stand by a horse-drawn wagon by a building at Mendoche before they begin a search for hardy peach trees in northern China; written in pencil on the back: Mendoche 1924 North China

N.E. Hansen and his three assistants gathering specimens in a field with a horse-drawn wagon at Mendoche before they begin a search for hardy peach trees in northern China, there is a dog in the grass; written in pencil on the back: Mendoche 1924 North China

Terrain in Mendoche, northern China that N.E. Hansen traveled in is search for hardy peach trees in 1924; written in pencil on the back: Mendoche, North China 1924

N.E. Hansen and two assistants climb rough terrain to gather specimens in their search for hardy peach trees in Mendoche in northern China in 1924, Hansen is holding a peach tree specimen, one man is holding a gun; written in pencil on the back: Mendoche, North China 1924

N.E. Hansen and two assistants gather specimens in their search for hardy peach trees in Mendoche in northern China in 1924, Hansen is holding a peach tree specimen, one man is holding a gun, burlap bags are holding specimens, there is a dog in the foreground; written in pencil on the back: Mendoche, North China 1924

N.E. Hansen and two assistants climb rough terrain to gather specimens in their search for hardy peach trees in Mendoche in northern China in 1924; written in pencil on the back: Mendoche, North China 1924

N.E. Hansen and two assistants climb rough terrain to gather specimens in their search for hardy peach trees in Mendoche in northern China in 1924; written in pencil on the back: Mendoche, North China 1924

Trans-Siberian Railway tracks through the mountains enroute to Saolin in northern China; written in pencil on the back: Railway Saolin 1924

Transmission lines above buildings on a busy community street on the Trans-Siberian Railway enroute to Saolin in northern China; written in pencil on the back: On Siberian Railway enroute to Saolin 1924 North China

Assistants to N.E. Hansen gather specimens of pears in Saolin in northern China; written in pencil on the back: Saolin 1924 North China pear research

Man feeding chickens in Saolin in northern China where N.E. Hansen was conducting research on pears; written in pencil on the back: Saolin, Manchuria 1924 North China pear research

Fruit peddlers at Anda in northern China, soybeans are temporarily stored in covered bins awaiting shipment in the background; written in pencil on the back: Soybeans stored ready for shipment at Anda, North China 1924

N.E. Hansen is standing behind a man with a carrying pole on his shoulders and two baskets full of pears at Hansen's headquarters while conducting pear research at Saolin in northern China, there are two men accompanying them, another man stands off to the left; written in pencil on the back: North China 1924

Man with a carrying pole on his shoulders and a basket full of pears at N.E. Hansen's headquarters while conducting pear research at Saolin in northern China; written in pencil on the back: North China 1924

Man standing on a stone walkway by a small fence by a plot of plant near the Trans-Siberian Railway in northern China; written in pencil on the back: On Siberian Railway 1924

People walking on a street toward a temple in Seoul, Korea in 1924; written in pencil on the back: Seoul, Korea 1924

Point on the Inland Sea in Japan; written in pencil on the back Point on Inland Sea, Japan 1924

Village nestled in the mountains by the Inland Sea in Japan; written in pencil on the back: Along Inland Sea, Japan 1924

Ships at port in Tokyo Bay at Yokahama, Japan; written in pencil on the back: Yokohama 1924

Steamer ship by the dock at the port in Tokyo Bay at Yokahama, Japan, people are riding bicycles on the dock, the ship is possibly a steamer ship called the Admiral from a line of ships owned and operated by the United States government; written in pencil on the back: Yokohama 1924

Steamer ship by the dock at the port in Tokyo Bay at Yokahama, Japan, the ship is possibly a steamer ship called the Admiral from a line of ships owned and operated by the United States government; written in pencil on the back: Yokohama 1924

Steamer ship by the dock at the port in Tokyo Bay at Yokahama, Japan, a porter is walking on the dock by the ship, the ship is possibly a steamer ship called the Admiral from a line of ships owned and operated by the United States government; written in pencil on the back: Yokohama 1924

Passengers waiting to board a steamer ship by the dock at the port in Tokyo Bay at Yokahama, Japan, the ship is possibly a steamer ship called the Admiral from a line of ships owned and operated by the United States government; written in pencil on the back: Yokohama 1924

Apple photographed with a ruler for scale for N.E. Hansen's research

Two Karakul fat tailed sheep were white long haired woolen sheep found in Turkistan that N.E. Hansen urged should be imported to the United States for dry hot regions like Arizona and New Mexico

N.E. Hansen meeting Ivan V. Michurin, a Russian horticulturalist, at his orchard in Russia

N.E. Hansen looking at a sapling tree at in orchard in Chelyabinsk, Russia with two other men; written in pencil on the back: Tscheljabinsk 1934

N.E. Hansen (back row hear center with lighter color jacket, white beard) and Ivan V. Michurin (seated in front of Hansen) pose for a photograph with a large group of people at Michurin's orchard in Chelyabinsk, Russia

N.E. Hansen (wearing hat) is with friends in Brookings, South Dakota; writing on the back: S.D. plant wizard and friends Brookings 5-19-39 compliments York Sampson

N.E. Hansen wearing a Siberian costume and holding a sheaf of wild Siberian flowered alfalfa

Portrait of Professor N.E. Hansen

Professor N.E. Hansen stand in ornamental grass at the horticulture grounds of South Dakota State College, the classroom building (right) and the Horticulture building (behind Hansen) are visible in the background

People seated in folding chairs and the grass in front of Lincoln Memorial Library on the campus of South Dakota State College to hear Carl Hansen speak during the recognition service for Dr. N.E. Hansen for his work in horticulture

N.E. Hansen standing by a small table in a room with horticultural displays of flowers and fruits

Dr. N.E. Hansen and an another man are in a greenhouse full of flowers on the campus of South Dakota State College

This collection is composed mainly of Powers' notes and materials he wrote about his history of the college. For the most part, these are draft materials. Also included are some correspondence and some totally unrelated material. This material includes notes about the foundation of the Brookings Public Library, and notes on the World Disarmament Committee, including a petition against conscription signed by many university faculty.

This collection is composed of materials related to dance and the teaching of dance at South Dakota State University. Slides, photographs, videos, posters and scrapbooks document the formal entrance of dance into the university curriculum.

The awards and plaques are composed of various awards and plaques presented to Marilyn Richardson over the years.

The general papers is composed of programs, newsletters, Dance Club material, dance camp and workshop material, concert choreography, and clippings from newspapers and other publications. Also included is the Dance Minor proposal and history at SDSU, information on Nellie G. Kendall, Barbara Kohn, and Terry Larvie, and biographical data of Marilyn Richardson.

The publicity material is composed of posters used for publicity for dance concerts given at SDSU by students, faculty and guest artists and companies. Some of the posters include collages of photographs which may duplicate photographs in the Photographs, Slides and Videocassettes series.

The photographs, slides and video cassettes include images of students and faculty, dance concerts, rehearsals, camps, workshops, the Motion Machine and guest artist and companies. The videos are of concerts, the Motion Machine, student projects, student solos, dance camps, rehearsals, and experimental dance.

The scrapbooks were created for the Dance Club and the Modern Dance Club and include photographs, programs, and clippings.