Norman Gambill Papers

7.42 linear feet (7 record boxes, 1 document case)

The Norman Gambill Papers document the academic, administrative, and creative work of Dr. Norman P. Gambill, professor of art history and long-time head of the Visual Arts Department at South Dakota State University. The collection spans his professional career and includes materials that predate his tenure at SDSU. It comprises administrative files, curriculum materials, records of events and conferences, facilities planning documents, teaching files, grant and fundraising records, meeting files, personal and professional research, and extensive manuscript drafts.

Administrative files include correspondence, memos, calendars, departmental planning documents, and records related to staffing and enrollment. Curriculum materials reflect institutional program reviews, curricular development, and planning for general education and visual arts coursework. The collection also contains records from numerous departmental events, exhibitions, and fundraisers—including Evening for the Arts, DVAGI, and the TechSigns conference—as well as documentation related to the development and use of campus facilities.

Teaching materials include course outlines, study guides, and media, while the grants and fundraising series includes proposals, awarded grants, and event planning files. Meeting files span faculty, department head, and university-level committees, often overlapping in content and structure.

The research and activities series highlights Gambill’s scholarly interests and involvement in arts organizations, with materials such as correspondence, bibliographies, photographs, and conference participation. The manuscript series includes multiple annotated drafts of his unpublished works, most notably Ritz and American Mediocrity, Designing Hollywood: Productions of Harry Horner, and his Ph.D. dissertation, Citizen Kane: An Art Historical Analysis.

This collection provides a view of Norman Gambill’s intellectual legacy and contributions to art history, film studies, and arts administration. His leadership shaped the growth and visibility of SDSU’s Visual Arts Department, and his scholarship reflects deep engagement with American cultural history, design, and cinema. The materials offer valuable insights into curriculum development in the arts, interdisciplinary teaching, academic administration, and arts advocacy in the Midwest.

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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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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

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.

• 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.

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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.