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This artificial collection consists of assembled materials, publications, and documents related to buildings and landmarks on the campus of South Dakota State University. Developed over time rather than through a formal records transfer process, it draws from a variety of sources, including university departments, staff, and individual donations. As a result, the files vary widely in content and completeness, with some buildings represented by detailed construction specifications and dedication materials, while others include only clippings or brief correspondence. Materials are added as they are discovered, and there is no comprehensive or systematic effort to document every campus structure. The collection spans from the late nineteenth century to the present and documents the development, use, renovation, and historical significance of SDSU buildings and landmarks. It reflects the university’s physical growth and changing infrastructure and includes building specifications, construction and renovation plans, capital outlay reports, budget data, architectural blueprints, maintenance records, and materials related to dedications, groundbreaking ceremonies, anniversaries, and other commemorative events. Buildings represented range from academic halls (such as Shepard Hall and Crothers Engineering Hall), agricultural facilities (such as Dean Farms and the Agronomy Buildings), research centers (such as the Northern Plains Biostress Laboratory and the Raven Precision Agriculture Center), libraries, student housing and unions, athletic facilities (such as Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium and Coughlin-Alumni Stadium), and landmark structures including the Coughlin Campanile and Woodbine Cottage.

This collection is composed of departmental histories written by various South Dakota State University faculty and staff during the years 1957 and 1958. These narratives provide overviews of departmental development, academic programs, faculty activity, and institutional contributions. The material reflects a wide range of detail and length, from comprehensive multi-part accounts to brief summaries. Departments represented include Agricultural Engineering, Agriculture, Education/Psychology, Foreign Languages, History, Pharmacy, Physics, Speech, Veterinary Science, and others. Some histories trace departmental evolution from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century, while others focus on more recent developments up to 1958 or remain undated. The Foreign Languages section is divided into three time periods—1885–1927, 1927–1950, and 1950–1958—documenting a more extensive narrative. This collection complements histories written during the university’s Centennial and serves as an early effort to preserve institutional memory from a departmental perspective.

The departmental narratives offer insights into the academic and administrative development of South Dakota State University from its early years through the mid-20th century. These histories preserve firsthand perspectives on institutional growth, teaching priorities, research initiatives, and curricular changes across multiple academic disciplines. They are significant for researchers examining the evolution of SDSU’s land-grant mission, the expansion of academic departments, and the documentation practices of mid-century higher education.