Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1955-2020 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
31.84 linear feet (31 record boxes, 2 document cases)
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The South Dakota Resources Coalition was established in the early 1970s, during the formative years of the national environmental movement. Although conservation efforts had long existed, significant federal action began after 1967 with the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of major environmental legislation.
In 1972, Governor Richard Kneip sought to unify various grassroots environmental groups in the state, offering political support and visibility. Esther R. Edie, then secretary of South Dakotans for a Quality Environment, facilitated communication among citizens' groups. With support from the governor’s office, a South Dakota Environmental Symposium was held on September 28, 1972, attracting around 80 participants. The event featured state officials and experts addressing topics such as water management, forest practices, air quality, recycling, and the establishment of a formal environmental organization.
Following the symposium, the South Dakota Environmental Coalition was formed and became active in state and national environmental issues, including the Oahe irrigation project, the Clean Air Act, the Water Pollution Control Amendments, and the Trans-Alaska pipeline. The group held its first annual meeting in May 1973 at Augustana College. By the end of that year, numerous South Dakota organizations had joined, representing a broad coalition of environmental, civic, and academic interests.
In 1978, the group adopted the name South Dakota Resources Coalition to reflect its wider scope and was incorporated as a non-profit. In 1982, it established the South Dakota Resources Protection Fund to support lobbying efforts. Over the years, the coalition has sponsored public education initiatives and partnered with South Dakota Public Television and the U.S. EPA on projects addressing water quality and land use. Notable projects include the 1973 television series Who Shall Control the Land?, a water quality institute funded in 1974, and the film The Invisible Thief in 1978–79.
The coalition has participated in numerous state advisory committees and regional environmental initiatives, including the South Dakota Futures Program and the Great Plains Environmental Conference. Throughout its history, the South Dakota Resources Coalition has played a significant role in advancing environmental advocacy in the state, particularly in areas such as water quality, waste management, and mining regulation.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
he collection documents environmental advocacy, public policy development, and citizen engagement related to natural resources in South Dakota, primarily from the 1970s through the 2010s. Records are arranged largely by topic and include background research, media coverage, regulatory and legislative documentation, and technical materials such as environmental analyses and impact statements. Significant concentrations address energy production and transmission, rural electric cooperatives and the Public Utilities Commission, air and water quality regulation, irrigation and water development projects, and the environmental impacts of agricultural and extractive industries.
Also included are organizational and administrative files that trace the operations of the sponsoring group(s), including governance records (minutes, bylaws, board and committee files), financial records, membership and outreach materials, and newsletters and public communications. Together, the materials document how environmental issues were researched, debated, communicated, and pursued through public testimony, coalition work, educational programming, and legislative action at local, state, and federal levels.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
1998-09-17 - 6.0 linear feet
1999-07-28 - 15.0 linear feet
2010-09-07 - 5.0 linear feet
2020-11-20 - 12.0 linear feet
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Information request form: Ask Us!
- This collection is open for research in the Reading Room; materials cannot be checked out.
- Not all materials are digitized due to copyright, donor restrictions, or physical condition.
- Contact us in advance to prepare for your visit. If you cannot visit, we will do our best to help remotely.
Telephone: 605-688-5094
Email: arcrefs@sdstate.edu
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.
Language of material
English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Uploaded finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Determinate s of members' willingness to participate in a local environmental organization, Haigh, Tonya R.,
Theses (M.S.) Rural Sociology Dept., South Dakota State University, 1998.
Call number: Archives: LB2385.H1245
Eco Forum: Newsletter of the South Dakota Resources Coalition
Brookings, S.D.: The Coalition, [197?]-
Call number: Periodicals/Lower Level: 574.505 Ec74
Notes area
Note
Using this inventory:
- This inventory lists the collection’s physical materials; it is not a digital repository.
- Select a folder title, then scroll down to view its details.
- Some materials cannot be digitized because of copyright, donor restrictions, or physical condition.
- Available digital materials are linked on the record page.
- For access or copies, contact SDSU Archives and Special Collections.
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.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- South Dakota Resources Coalition (Subject)