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.
