Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1923-2011 (Creation)
Extent
24.49 linear feet [21 record boxes, 2 oversize flat boxes, 1 document case]
Name of creator
Administrative history
Home economics extension work in South Dakota developed through neighborhood and community clubs, often organized at the county level and coordinated by county demonstration councils that advised local home demonstration agents. A state council met annually during State Farm and Home Week to share recommendations and guide programming. Early efforts grew out of Farmers’ Institutes and local women’s clubs, which provided educational programs on farm and home topics in rural communities.
After passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914, Venia Keller became the state’s first female Extension worker, linking Extension work with homemakers’ clubs and public demonstrations. Home demonstration programs expanded during World War I through federal funding that supported county agents promoting food conservation and home production. Growth continued in the 1920s with new clubs, leader training, and expanded instruction in food, clothing, and home management.
In 1928 the Capper-Ketcham Act increased funding for Extension work, and the South Dakota Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs was organized at the State Fair. The Federation encouraged participation from local clubs, coordinated statewide meetings, and supported educational projects and contests. District meetings introduced during the Great Depression helped reduce travel costs and continued into the 1940s.
By the mid-twentieth century, clubs also supported charitable and educational initiatives, including sponsoring an international exchange student and contributing to organizations such as the Crippled Children’s Hospital and the South Dakota Art Museum. Although the organization’s name changed over time, its purpose remained consistent: supporting education, strengthening local participation, and improving home and community life.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This comprehensive collection documents the history, leadership, and activities of the South Dakota Association for Family and Community Education (SDAFCE) and its predecessor organizations, including the South Dakota Extension Homemakers Council and affiliated Home Demonstration Clubs. The records span from the early 20th century through the late 1990s and reflect decades of grassroots civic engagement, adult education, and rural community development led by women across South Dakota.
The collection includes administrative records such as constitutions, bylaws, financial statements, chairmen handbooks, guidelines, honorary certificates, and minutes from state and local meetings. It also features extensive newsletters, membership applications, correspondence, cross-stitch patterns, postcards, and program materials. A substantial portion of the collection is composed of club-level documentation—including enrollment records, secretary’s books, and scrapbooks—from Brookings, Moody, Minnehaha, Pennington, Perkins, Spink, and Clark counties. These materials illustrate the scope of educational projects, cultural programming, safety campaigns, and international outreach efforts conducted by local clubs.
Of particular note are items from the Susan Wilder Scholarship Committee, slide presentations on homemaker history, and artifacts such as wall hangings, podium cloths, gavels, and banners. The records also include documentation of SDAFCE’s collaboration with the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service and participation in national and international homemaker associations.
This collection offers valuable insight into the role of rural women in shaping South Dakota’s educational and civic landscape. It is a vital resource for researchers studying women’s voluntary associations, cooperative extension history, home economics, and local grassroots leadership.
System of arrangement
This collection is arranged into series
- Series 1. Administration
- Series 2. Brookings County Clubs
- Series 3. Moody County Clubs
- Series 4. Minnehaha County Clubs
- Series 5. Pennington County Clubs
- Series 6. Perkins County Clubs
- Series 7. Spink County Clubs
- Series 8. Clark County Clubs
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.
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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
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
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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.