Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1920-1999 (Creation)
Extent
2.54 linear feet (4 document cases, 1 oversize box)
Name of creator
Administrative history
Rotary International is a global organization of business and professional leaders dedicated to humanitarian service, promoting high ethical standards in all vocations, and fostering goodwill and peace. The movement began in 1905 when four Chicago businessmen met to build fellowship within the business community. As membership grew, meetings rotated among members’ places of business, inspiring the name ""Rotary."" Rotary became international in 1910 with the formation of a club in Canada, and by 1921 it had expanded to every continent. The organization formally adopted the name Rotary International in 1922.
The Brookings Rotary Club was established in 1919 through the efforts of local businessmen Ivan Cobel and Clyde Hinkley, who believed a Rotary Club would help strengthen ties among the business community. With support from other local business leaders and sponsorship from the Watertown Rotary Club, the Brookings club received its charter on February 1, 1920. Arthur Stoll served as the first president, and the club began with 21 charter members.
Throughout its history, the Brookings Rotary Club has contributed significantly to local civic and youth initiatives. These include supplying instruments and uniforms to the Brookings High School band, sponsoring Boy Scouts and youth sports teams, and initiating the concept for the Brookings United Retirement Center. The club also helped establish the United Fund, provided equipment for the Brookings Hospital, and developed Rotary Park. Members have contributed to international efforts as well, including book drives for schools in South Africa and the Philippines, financial support for the Polio Plus campaign, and contributions to the Rotary International Foundation.
Brookings Rotarians have played an active role in the broader Rotary organization, with six members serving as District Governors. The club has sponsored young professionals for international group study exchanges and awards a four-year scholarship annually to a local student attending South Dakota State University. It also provides educational awards for students studying abroad.
The Brookings Rotary Club remains active today, supporting local projects and promoting fellowship and service among members from the business, industrial, and educational sectors. Weekly meetings continue to serve as a platform for community engagement and informative programs.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The records document the activities, administration, and history of the Brookings Rotary Club from 1920 to 1999. Materials include foundational documents such as the 1920 charter, by-laws, and constitution; correspondence, committee reports, and assignments from the 1960s through the 1990s; district conference planning and reports to the District Governor spanning 1957–1999; and membership directories from 1943–1999. The collection also contains certificates, awards, attendance records, banquet programs, president’s plans, and a book project. Extensive newsletters titled Rotary Cog date from 1920–1998, along with clippings, photographs, and a club history compiled between 1955 and 1995. Additional materials include a songbook, records of Rotary Foundation scholarship activity, and summaries of club plans and objectives.
The collection provides documentation of the Brookings Rotary Club’s organizational development, community involvement, and participation in Rotary International programs over nearly eight decades. It reflects local leadership, service initiatives, and the continuity of civic engagement in Brookings, South Dakota.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
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Physical access
Technical access
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Reproduction of materials from the collection is subject to the following conditions:
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Languages of the material
English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
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.
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Brookings Rotary Club (Brookings, S.D.) (Subject)