Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
Extent
357.50 linear feet (175 newspaper boxes)
Name of creator
Biographical history
Joseph “George” Norby was born on February 24, 1924, in Paulina, Iowa, to Joe and Amy (Shook) Norby. He began his career as a typesetter for advertisements at the Ireton Ledger in Iowa and later worked for the Hawarden Independent in Iowa and the Wishek Star in North Dakota. Prior to moving to Brookings, South Dakota, in 1952, Norby was employed at a commercial printing shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
After relocating to Brookings, Norby worked at Harold’s Printing and Advertiser and at Hauff Printing. He began employment with the Brookings Register in September 1970, where he served as a pressman, cameraman, and news compositor until his retirement in February 1986. He continued to work part time at the Register for an additional five years.
On May 29, 1953, Norby married Evelyn Marie Pederson in Sinai, South Dakota. They had two children, Diana Norby Munger and David Norby. Evelyn Norby was born on August 6, 1932, in Sinai, South Dakota, to John and Emma (Thompson) Pederson. She graduated from Sinai High School in 1950 and worked for many years at the Brookings Laundry and as a motel housekeeper from 1955 to 1982. From 1982 to 1986, she was employed as a custodian at the Brookings Register.
Beginning around 1965, when the old Brookings Register building was demolished, George and Evelyn Norby began collecting photographs and newspapers, some dating back to 1890. Over time, the collection expanded significantly and became widely known within the community.
Both George and Evelyn Norby were active members of numerous Brookings area organizations and clubs. George was a member of the Odd Fellows and served on the County Museum Board of Directors. Evelyn was actively involved with First Lutheran Church, including the First Lutheran Church Women, the Church Library Committee, and the quilting group. She was also a member of the Brookings Genealogical Society and volunteered at the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum at South Dakota State University. Together, the Norbys participated in the Rebekah Lodge, the Brookings Area CB Club, the Brookings County Historical Society, and First Lutheran Church. In 1998, they were jointly awarded the South Dakota Preservationist of the Year.
Evelyn Norby died on May 8, 2002, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. George Norby died on September 11, 2003, at the age of seventy-nine.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The Norby Newspapers collection consists primarily of issues of the Brookings Register collected and preserved by George and Evelyn Norby. The newspapers span the years 1879 to 2003, with substantial annual coverage from 1890 through 2003. Early volumes are generally arranged by individual year, while later volumes and supplemental groupings include multi year spans and partial runs. The collection documents local, regional, and state news, including community events, agricultural developments, political activities, business growth, social organizations, and daily life in Brookings and surrounding areas. In addition to the Brookings Register, the collection includes a series of miscellaneous newspaper issues that supplement gaps or represent related local and regional publications. Materials are arranged chronologically by title and year within the Norby Newspapers series.
The Norby Newspapers collection provides a comprehensive and long term record of community life in Brookings, South Dakota, and eastern South Dakota from the late nineteenth century through the early twenty first century. The breadth and continuity of the Brookings Register holdings support research in local history, genealogy, journalism, agriculture, politics, and social change. Preserved through the sustained collecting efforts of George and Evelyn Norby, the collection represents a significant privately assembled archive that enhances institutional newspaper holdings and preserves fragile print materials that document over a century of regional history.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
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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
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
- Norby, George and Evelyn (Subject)