This collection is composed of administrative and planning records related to the Centennial Celebration of South Dakota State University, held in 1981. The material was generated by the Centennial Steering Committee and its sub-committees, and it documents the organization, activities, events, publications, and commemorative items produced for the centennial.

The administrative records include budgets, general correspondence, thank-you letters, departmental summaries, event planning documents, member lists, and official minutes. A significant portion of the collection is devoted to the activities of the various sub-committees, which coordinated specific events and functions such as Hobo Day, Commencement, Proclamations, Publicity, Souvenirs, the Harding Lecture, and a seminar honoring SDSU alumnus and Nobel laureate Theodore Schultz. The materials produced by these sub-committees typically include reports, plans, and internal documentation.

The collection also contains commemorative content such as a centennial poem, calendar of events, publications like The Messenger, Oakwood, and a special volume titled SDSU Centennial 1881–1981. Files of congratulatory letters from alumni, land-grant colleges, South Dakota organizations, and dignitaries highlight the broad support and recognition received during the celebration. Transcripts and audiocassettes of the commencement address, departmental histories, and a list of featured speakers offer further insight into the academic and ceremonial focus of the event.

Memorabilia housed in the collection includes paperweights, notepads, buttons, a commemorative coaster, and notarial seals, all reflecting the visual identity and branding of the centennial year.

This collection documents the centennial milestone of South Dakota State University, capturing both the institutional pride and the scale of community engagement that marked the 100th anniversary. It provides insight into university-wide planning, cross-departmental coordination, and alumni outreach, as well as commemorative traditions and symbolic gestures of recognition. The sub-committee structure reveals the breadth of campus participation and the diversity of celebratory programming, while the inclusion of published materials, congratulations, and keepsakes illustrates the external impact and cultural legacy of the centennial.