Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1951-1964 (Creation)
Extent
0.42 linear feet (1 document case)
Name of creator
Biographical history
Sigurd Anderson, the 19th governor of South Dakota, was born on January 22, 1904, on an island near Arendal, Norway. His parents, Karl and Bertha Anderson, immigrated to the United States in 1908, settling on a farm southwest of Canton in Lincoln County. Anderson attended Pleasant Ridge School and graduated high school in 1925, the year his family moved near Bancroft in Kingsbury County.
He enrolled at South Dakota State College in 1925, engaging in public speaking, literary, and journalistic activities. After contracting scarlet fever, he took a year off to work as a farmhand and teach in rural schools. In 1928, he transferred to the University of South Dakota, graduating cum laude in 1931. He taught high school history in Rapid City and Webster before returning to USD for law school, earning his degree in 1937. During this time, he married Vivian Walz of Vermillion; they had one daughter, Kristin.
Anderson established a law practice in Webster in 1937 and was twice elected Day County state’s attorney. In 1950, he won the Republican nomination for governor and was elected, setting a record in 1952 as the only South Dakota gubernatorial candidate to receive over 200,000 votes. His administration established the Legislative Research Council and achieved debt-free status for the state for the first time in 40 years.
After two terms, Anderson was appointed to the Federal Trade Commission by President Eisenhower and reappointed in 1958. He resigned in 1964 to return to Webster and run again for governor but lost the Republican primary to Nils Boe, who later appointed him circuit judge, a position he held until 1975.
Anderson received numerous professional and political honors and was active in various organizations. He died on December 21, 1990.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
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.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Information request form: Ask Us!
In Copyright This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use. .sdstate.edu/sdsu-archives-and-special-collections/researcher-registration-form)
The collection is open for research, but please note that the materials in the Archives do not circulate and can only be used In the SDSU Archives and Special Collections Reading Room.
Please contact us in advance so we can prepare for your visit.
If you cannot visit the Archives in person, please reach out to us. We will do our best to help you find the information you need.
In most cases, the materials in this collection have not been digitized and are not available online.
South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections supports access to the materials in its collections. However, access to some items may be restricted due to their fragile condition, donor agreements, or other considerations.
If you would like to know more about the contents of the collection, please contact the SDSU Archives at: Telephone: 605-688-5094 Email: arcrefs@sdstate.edu
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Reproduction of materials from the collection is subject to the following conditions:
- Permission: Written permission must be obtained from the SDSU Archives for any reproduction, publication, or quotation of materials.
- Copyright: Users are responsible for complying with copyright laws and securing any necessary permissions from copyright holders.
- Fragile Materials: Some items may not be reproduced due to their fragile condition.
- Charges: Reproduction charges may apply, and users will be informed of any costs in advance.
-
Acknowledgment: Any reproduced material must include proper acknowledgment of the South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections as the source.
For more information or to request permission, please contact the SDSU Archives.
Languages of the material
English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Uploaded finding aid
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Related descriptions
Notes element
General note
Copyright and Use Statement
In Copyright This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use.
Copyright and Use Statement
In Copyright This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use.
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Anderson, Sigurd, 1904-1990 (Subject)
- United States. Federal Trade Commission (Subject)
- South Dakota. Governor (Subject)