Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The Faculty Women’s Club at South Dakota State College was organized in the early twentieth century at the invitation of Mrs. Elwood C. Perisho, wife of the college president. Created to strengthen connections among female faculty members, faculty wives, and women students, the club combined social fellowship with practical service to the campus community.
Its early structure included four standing committees: Student Loan Fund, Extension, Hospital Bed, and Faculty Mother. The Extension Committee organized programs and promoted the college to prospective students. The Hospital Bed Committee responded to the lack of a formal campus health service. The Faculty Mother Committee paired faculty housewives with women students for informal mentorship, a practice later replaced by a Courtesy Committee. By 1926, the club’s primary committees were Student Loan, Courtesy, and Calling, with the Student Loan Committee becoming central to the organization’s mission. Through teas, benefits, bake sales, concessions, and graduation collections, members raised funds to provide small, low-interest loans to students.
Beyond campus, the club participated in civic improvement efforts in Brookings. Members worked with the Civic League to advocate for municipal services such as garbage disposal and depot beautification, and they established a student employment center to connect students with local domestic work opportunities. During the 1930s, the club focused on preserving and strengthening its loan fund while expanding its programming to include lectures on international affairs and travel. Members also supported the formation of the Girl Scouts locally and assisted underprivileged children, in addition to hosting visitors during major campus events.
During World War II, the club contributed to national relief efforts through Red Cross work, the assembly of kit bags, and the purchase of war bonds and stamps. It also welcomed the wives of Army Administration School participants and formed interest groups centered on activities such as needlework, dramatics, book discussions, and recreation. A Newcomers Club provided temporary membership for new faculty families.
In the postwar decades, the organization continued to adapt. In 1953–1954, members endorsed the development of an art center and museum on campus, establishing a building fund and contributing sustained financial support through the 1960s. The club’s independent student loan fund was eventually merged with the university’s broader financial aid program. By the 1970s, interest groups expanded to include horticulture, gourmet cooking, and antiques, and regular monthly meetings gave way to fewer annual gatherings. Scholarship administration transitioned to the university’s financial aid office in the 1980s.
Reflecting broader institutional and social change, the organization evolved in the 1990s and, by the late decade, became the SDSU Club, opening membership to men and redefining its identity within the university community.