Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1932-2012 (Creation)
Extent
1.0 linear feet (1 record box)
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Plant Science Department at South Dakota State University was established in 1969 through the merger of the Agronomy and Plant Pathology Departments. In 1979, entomologists were added when the Entomology and Zoology Department was dissolved. Thus, the department’s history reflects the evolution of these three academic areas.
Agronomy instruction began in 1888, with early field trials conducted through the Agricultural Experiment Station. Initially part of the Geology and Agronomy Department, agronomy became an independent department in 1902. Over the decades, the department developed strengths in plant breeding, crop and soil science, and seed variety research and instruction.
Plant pathology followed a similar trajectory, with early instruction offered under the Botany Department. The department underwent multiple name changes—reflecting its evolving focus—before officially becoming the Plant Pathology Department in 1950. Research was primarily conducted through the Agricultural Experiment Station.
The Entomology and Zoology Department existed from 1920 to 1979, though courses in these areas were offered as early as 1887. Scientific investigations began in 1888 under the Agricultural Experiment Station. The department shifted from the General Science Division to the Agriculture Division in 1925. From 1938 to 1963, wildlife management courses were included before becoming a separate area. When the department was dissolved in 1979, entomology joined Plant Science, while zoology moved to Biology.
In 2011, the Plant Science Department merged with the Department of Horticulture, Forestry, Landscape and Parks. The department’s expertise now includes agronomy, entomology, genetics, horticulture, landscape architecture, plant pathology, plant physiology, soil science, and weed science. It offers B.S. degrees in Agronomy, Horticulture, and Landscape Architecture, as well as M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Agronomy and Biological Science. The department consistently ranks among the top at SDSU for research expenditures and productivity.
Facilities span six campus buildings, housing laboratories, greenhouses, seed facilities, and the functional genomics core. Additional resources include the SDSU Seed Testing Laboratory, Plant Diagnostics Clinic, Seed Certification, and Foundation Seed Stocks Division. Research is also conducted at three nearby research farms and four statewide research stations. Field Specialists are based in six regional extension offices. The department’s newest facility is the McCrory Gardens Education and Outreach Center.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This collection is composed of records and publications from the South Dakota State University Department of Plant Science. Materials include annual meeting abstracts from professional societies such as the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America, along with departmental reports, newsletters, course notes, announcements, lecture series programs, and posters. The collection documents departmental activities, research progress, academic programs, outreach efforts, and faculty contributions.
Notable items include the "New Ideas" reports on agroecology and tribal collaboration, faculty involvement in international education initiatives in Bolivia, and a 1930s soil science notebook from student Paul Brown. Also of interest are materials related to departmental field days, student expectations, scholarship programs, seminar syllabi, and soil and crop science research. The collection includes visual media (CD-ROMs, DVDs), correspondence, and documents highlighting the department’s extension, academic, and research missions over time.
The records provide insight into the evolution of agricultural education and research at SDSU, showcasing the department’s engagement with regional agriculture, interdisciplinary teaching, and global collaboration. The materials reflect both the historical development and continued innovation within plant science and related disciplines.
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Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.