Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1922-2014 (Creation)
Extent
2.46 linear feet (1 records box, 1 oversize box, 1 half-document case)
Name of creator
Administrative history
The first journalism course at South Dakota State College was offered in 1908, 27 years after the college's founding, during a period when journalism programs were emerging in many Midwestern state universities. In 1919, the School of Printing was established, and in 1924, Journalism Professor Charles D. Byrne, later Chancellor of Higher Education for Oregon, merged the journalism and printing departments to form the Department of Printing and Rural Journalism.
In the 1930s and 1940s, the department offered a two-year printing program combined with three additional years of journalism, resulting in a Bachelor of Science in Printing and Rural Journalism (PRJ). The department achieved accreditation in 1948, the first year of national journalism accreditation. South Dakota State College was the first department to be visited by an accrediting team and recommended for accreditation, according to Dean Earl English of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. In 1951, under department head George Phillips, the current building was dedicated.
In 1956, the PRJ program was revised to a four-year curriculum, and a Bachelor of Science in Printing Management was introduced. That same year, the department began offering a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and a Master of Science in Journalism. In 1958, a Master of Science in Printing Management was added, making the department one of the few in the country to offer a graduate degree in printing management. The program was discontinued in 1972.
After Professor Phillips retired in 1973, Professor Vernon Keel, who later became director of the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University, took over as department head. The graduate program was suspended from 1973 to 1975 to focus on the undergraduate program. Professor Keel resigned in 1976 to become department head at the University of North Dakota. Professor Ruth Laird led the department until 1978, followed by Professor Richard Lee, who served from 1978 to 2002. Professor Mary Arnold, the current department head, was appointed in 2002.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The School of Communication and Journalism Records collection at South Dakota State University offers a view of the department’s academic, professional, and cultural history. The materials include a wide array of newsletters, pamphlets, programs, posters, reports, and instructional aids that document the department’s evolution, its educational initiatives, and its engagement with both students and the broader journalism community.
The collection features numerous departmental publications such as newsletters and bulletins that provided updates on internships, academic programs, and faculty activities. It includes promotional and commemorative materials from events like Journalism Week, Newspaper Day, the Lusk Lecture, and various banquets and conferences. These materials reflect the department’s commitment to fostering professional development and celebrating milestones in journalism education.
A significant portion of the collection is devoted to student involvement and experiential learning. The South Dakota Observer, a newspaper entirely produced by students—from writing and editing to typesetting and printing—serves as a central artifact of the department’s hands-on approach to journalism training. Other student-centered materials include style guides, course announcements, and workshop pamphlets, which illustrate the department’s emphasis on practical skills and industry standards.
The collection also highlights the department’s efforts to engage with underrepresented communities, particularly through materials related to American Indian journalism and media. Pamphlets and programs from career conferences and symposia underscore the department’s role in promoting diversity and inclusion within the field.
Instructional resources such as transparencies, slides, and visual aids used in teaching courses on media history and design are also present, offering insight into the pedagogical strategies employed by faculty. Administrative documents, including annual reports and institutional reviews, provide context for the department’s internal development and external recognition, including national awards and accreditations.
This collection is a resource for understanding the history of journalism education in South Dakota and the broader Midwest. It captures the department’s leadership in printing and rural journalism, its dedication to student learning, and its contributions to the professional journalism landscape.
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.
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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.