This collection contains the official minutes of faculty meetings held at South Dakota State University from the institution’s early years through the 1980s. The records are largely complete, with notable gaps between Fall 1898–Spring 1903 and June 1907–March 1918. The minutes document the administrative, academic, and policy-related discussions and decisions made by the faculty. In addition to the meeting notes, some files include supplemental materials relevant to agenda topics, such as student petitions or brochures from campus events. While the tone of the records is generally formal and procedural, the documentation provides insight into the evolving structure of faculty governance, campus concerns, and institutional development over time.

These records serve as a primary source for understanding the historical governance of South Dakota State University, the role of faculty in institutional decision-making, and the administrative evolution of the university. They are particularly valuable for tracing faculty engagement, responses to student concerns, and the shifting format and purpose of faculty meetings across decades.