Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in Brown County, northeastern South Dakota, near the city of Columbia. It was established in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Encompassing over 21,000 acres of wetlands, grasslands, and open water, the refuge was created to protect and enhance migratory bird habitat, particularly for waterfowl.
It is recognized as a Globally Important Bird Area and a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. Sand Lake provides critical breeding, nesting, and migratory stopover habitat for hundreds of bird species, including ducks, geese, herons, and endangered whooping cranes. The refuge also supports a variety of mammals, amphibians, and fish species.
The refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and includes facilities for research, conservation, and public recreation, such as birdwatching, environmental education, photography, and regulated hunting and fishing.
The Saturday Literary Club, founded in 1897 with 14 members, was the first women’s club organized in Brookings, South Dakota. Dedicated to social engagement and cultural enrichment, the club played a significant role in the community’s intellectual life.
Scabbard and Blade is a national collegiate military honor society founded in 1904 at the University of Wisconsin to recognize outstanding ROTC cadets and promote excellence in military training. The South Dakota State College chapter, designated as Company I, 6th Regiment, was installed on May 15, 1927. The organization sought to raise the standard of military drill and instruction in colleges, strengthen cooperation among military departments, encourage the development of capable officers, and foster fellowship among cadets.
Membership was open to ROTC cadets enrolled in the advanced course and was based on demonstrated qualities including efficiency, patriotism, honor, courage, obedience, and good fellowship. The chapter functioned as an honorary organization within the military science program and remained active at South Dakota State University until sometime in the 1970s.