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This collection documents the military service and enduring legacy of Captain Willibald C. Bianchi, a 1940 graduate of South Dakota State College and one of the earliest Medal of Honor recipients of World War II. Bianchi demonstrated extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Bataan, continuing to lead and assist fellow soldiers despite multiple injuries, before being captured and later dying as a prisoner of war in 1945.

Materials include photocopies of Bianchi’s personal letters from the Philippines and as a POW, offering rare firsthand insight into the experiences of an American officer during the early Pacific campaign. Additional records include correspondence with his family, military officials, and others, as well as memorial writings, newspaper clippings, and biographical information. The collection also features a photocopy of Bianchi’s Medal of Honor certificate and a certificate signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in recognition of his sacrifice.

The collection holds further significance through its documentation of the efforts by Tom Beattie and the Willibald Bianchi Memorial and Scholarship Committee to honor Bianchi’s legacy at South Dakota State University. These materials trace the creation of a memorial plaque, scholarship fund, and commemorative events, highlighting Bianchi’s continued impact on the university and broader public memory.

The Valerian Three Irons American Indian Collection (Box 1) consists of transcripts from 144 oral history interviews conducted during the 1970s with Native American individuals from a broad range of tribal affiliations across the United States. The interviews document personal narratives, cultural perspectives, and community experiences, capturing voices from tribes including, but not limited to, the Nez Perce, Chippewa, Cherokee, Navajo, Hopi, Choctaw, Sioux, Seminole, Apache, and many others.

This collection serves as a primary source for understanding Native American life, identity, and cultural heritage during the mid-20th century. Conducted during a period of renewed Indigenous activism and cultural assertion, the interviews preserve valuable first-person testimonies on topics such as tribal history, traditions, education, activism, language, and social change. The diversity of tribal representation highlights the complexity and breadth of Native American experiences and contributes significantly to the historical record of Indigenous communities in the United States.

This is an artificial collection of student essays written between 1890 and 1901 at South Dakota State University. The collection includes handwritten, typed, stapled, sewn, or bound manuscripts—many with decorative ribbons or illustrated covers demonstrating a variety of student work and material culture from the period. Most essays are approximately twenty pages in length, indicating substantial academic effort. Although all essays include an author and title, they often list only the student’s graduating class rather than the date of composition.

The topics covered are wide-ranging and reflect the interdisciplinary nature of student inquiry during the late 19th century. Many essays focus on English language studies (particularly rhetorical analysis of writers such as Addison, DeQuincey, and Macauley), mechanical and agricultural sciences (such as woodcarving, bridge construction, irrigation, crop studies, and domestic sheep anatomy), and natural sciences (including entomology, embryology, comparative anatomy, and astronomy). Other essays explore themes in domestic science, floriculture, education, music, evolution, and law, showcasing the curriculum diversity and student interests of the era.

Also included is a student petition and a ledger containing meeting minutes, possibly related to early student governance or club activities.

This collection provides insight into student scholarship and academic expectations at SDSU during the university's formative years. It reflects the educational priorities of a land-grant institution and documents early student engagement with both liberal and practical arts. The diversity of subjects illustrates a curriculum balanced between classical education and applied sciences, and the physical attributes of the essays preserve elements of 19th-century student life, material culture, and academic presentation practices.

This collection comprises historical sketches and narratives of individual counties in South Dakota, drawn from a variety of published and unpublished sources. Represented counties include Aurora, Bennett, Bon Homme, Brown, Brule, Buffalo, Butte, Campbell, Clark, Douglas, Faulk, Grant, Haakon, Hand, Hanson, Harding, Hughes, Lawrence, Lyman, McPherson, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Perkins, Roberts, Spink, Stanley, Sully, Walworth, Yankton, and others. The material includes excerpts from local newspapers, jubilee and anniversary editions, community cookbooks, historical essays, local author contributions, and academic theses. Some counties are represented by detailed historical accounts or commemorative publications, while others are represented by brief overviews or excerpts.

Sources range from local historians, regional publications, official county histories, and collaborative historical efforts such as the American Guide Series. Several items were contributed by local civic organizations or drawn from university theses. The materials date primarily from the early to mid-20th century and reflect the cultural, social, and civic histories of the respective counties.

This collection documents the 1977 South Dakota Delegation trip to Cuba, which included members of the South Dakota State University basketball team. The material primarily captures the media coverage and public reception surrounding the trip. It includes national, state, and unidentified newspaper clippings; press releases; and excerpts from radio broadcasts, many of which report on the delegation’s activities and the political context of the visit. Also included are photographs, rosters of participants, and an audio tape outline titled Cuban Stories, which appears to provide a narrative or interview content related to the trip.

The collection contains correspondence that sheds light on the earliest stages of planning, including references to Fidel Castro and U.S. Senator George McGovern, whose 1975 trip to Cuba helped catalyze this exchange. Though much of the formal planning documentation is missing, the surviving memoranda and letters illustrate efforts to coordinate the trip under challenging diplomatic conditions. Additional items include material from the Cuban newspaper Granma and various internal and external communications concerning the delegation.

The collection is a resource documenting a rare Cold War-era cultural exchange between a U.S. university delegation and Cuba. It offers insight into the role of sports diplomacy, the influence of political figures such as George McGovern, and the broader media and public perception of such initiatives during the late 1970s.

The South Dakota State University Ephemera Collection is an artificial collection composed of assorted ephemeral items related to the university’s history, student life, and promotional materials. These items do not fall under the defined scope of any other established collection and are instead gathered selectively based on their uniqueness, illustrative value, or historical interest. Material is added on an ad hoc basis as it is discovered.

The collection includes newspapers and clippings referencing the early State Agricultural College, athletic passes, decals, diplomas and diploma folders, invitations to student events, dance cards, letters, menus, name tags, examination materials, and souvenir paper items such as notebooks, postcards, and placemats. It also contains view books, student notes, receipts, greeting cards, banquet programs, university binders, metal seals, and tickets to various events. Several items reflect student and faculty experiences, while others highlight campus buildings, traditions, and academic milestones.

Together, these materials offer meaningful glimpses into campus customs, student experiences, university branding, and social life at SDSU. They document a variety of institutional and student activities including formal gatherings, alumni relations, promotional outreach, and campus health protocols.

The collection is valuable for illustrating lesser-documented aspects of SDSU’s institutional culture and student life through material culture and print ephemera. While not systematically gathered, these items provide researchers with visual and tactile evidence of SDSU traditions, commemorative events, and daily campus life. Materials such as early diplomas, souvenir decals, handwritten correspondence, and party memorabilia capture elements of the university’s past that are not always reflected in official records.

This is an artificial collection composed of 40 scrapbook boxes created from newspaper clippings spanning from 1894 to 1967, with some undated material. The collection is divided into athletic and general scrapbooks, each offering a unique perspective on South Dakota State University’s evolving identity and public presence.

The athletic scrapbooks, dated 1947 to 1967, primarily focus on SDSU sports and include clippings from football, basketball, track, and other athletic programs. These scrapbooks document the development of athletic teams, significant games, student-athlete achievements, and coach appointments. They reflect both the competitive spirit and institutional pride that defined mid-20th century collegiate athletics at SDSU.

The general scrapbooks encompass a broader range of topics, including university events, student activities, agricultural research, scientific advancements, campus infrastructure, and presidential and faculty accomplishments. The scrapbooks also feature clippings from across South Dakota that illustrate the university's influence beyond campus, highlighting its role in local and statewide initiatives. Materials are arranged chronologically rather than by subject. Notable volumes include those covering the early decades of the college (1894–1896, 1906–1912) and several that feature advertising and memorabilia. One volume even includes mixed-year content as late as 1951 interfiled with earlier clippings.

This collection documents SDSU’s public image and historical evolution as represented in South Dakota newspapers. It offers researchers insight into how the university's community and achievements were portrayed over time.

These scrapbooks serve as a rich source for examining the public narrative of South Dakota State University. They are valuable for understanding trends in athletics, education, research, and administration, as well as the university's relationship with the broader South Dakota community. Because the scrapbooks capture articles that are often not available in digital newspaper databases, they are especially useful for institutional history, journalism, and regional studies.

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.

The H.M. Briggs Library holds five illuminated manuscript leaves, or single pages, consisting of religious texts dating from the 13th to the 15th centuries. One leaf is from the Biblia Sacra Latina (Vulgate Bible), handwritten on vellum and dating to the 13th century. It features wide margins, red and blue chapter numerals, historiated and illuminated initials, and intricate penwork ornamentation.

The remaining four leaves are from the Hours of the Virgin, a section of the Book of Hours, a devotional text widely used during the Middle Ages. These 15th-century vellum leaves originate from France, Flanders, and Paris, with one printed incunabula leaf produced by Philippe Pigouchet for Simon Vostre in 1496. The leaves include rubricated and historiated initials, decorative borders, and elaborate ornamentation in red, blue, and gold. The Hours of the Virgin, also known as the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, includes prayers, hymns, psalms, and lessons said at each of the eight canonical hours. The leaves were acquired from the estate of Morris Elmer Nellermoe, Jr. (1926–2004).

This collection consists of organizational records related to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in South Dakota. Materials include the constitution and by-laws of the Unified Encampment of South Dakota, proceedings from the Grand Encampment and its Ladies Auxiliary, and proceedings of the Annual Department Council. These documents provide insight into the governance, structure, and activities of the Order at the state level, including ceremonial, administrative, and auxiliary functions.

The Incredible Gladys Pyle Collection comprises clippings, correspondence, financial records, manuscripts, research materials, transcripts, and audiocassettes, documenting the life and contributions of Gladys Pyle, a trailblazing political figure in South Dakota.

The clippings include advertisements for the book The Incredible Gladys Pyle and news articles marking Pyle’s 96th birthday. Correspondence features letters discussing the book’s pub-lication, including corrections suggested by Pyle and a handwritten letter from Governor Sig-urd Anderson commending her political contributions. Financial records are minimal, consisting of itemized expense lists.

Two manuscripts of the book are included - one with the published title The Incredible Gladys Pyle and another under the alternative title Gladys Pyle: Always a Pioneer. Research materi-als span from 1918 to 1984, providing historical context. The collection also includes transcripts of interviews with Pyle, some accompanied by notebooks containing interview questions.

The audiocassettes document Pyle’s reflections on her career, including her tenure in Pierre, involvement in the ERA committee, and business endeavors. Additional recordings capture her 90th birthday recollections, childhood memories, and insights into Huron College. Other tapes contain travel logs from unidentified individuals recounting experiences in Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, China, and Japan, as well as Radio Issues Forum broadcasts from 1976. A re-cording of guitar music is also included, though its significance is unclear.

This collection provides insight into Pyle’s legacy as a pioneering woman in politics, preserving firsthand accounts of her experiences and historical contributions through written and audio materials.

The Holmspun Medicine Show Collection contains audio recordings and related documentation from a weekly 30-minute call-in medical radio program hosted by Dr. Richard Holm and co-host Joan Hogan. Spanning from approximately 1994 to 2006, the collection includes both audiocassettes and compact discs of the show, which aired primarily on South Dakota Public Radio.

Programs cover a broad spectrum of health-related topics including chronic diseases, preventative care, aging, nutrition, exercise, mental health, and public health policy. Many episodes feature interviews with medical professionals, researchers, and public figures such as Senator Tom Daschle and Senator Larry Pressler, with discussions on health care reform and regional medical challenges. Notable segments include seasonal health tips, special programming on child welfare, flu prevention, diabetes, and heart health, and interviews from health reform conferences.

This material provides insight into rural and regional health concerns in South Dakota during the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

This artificial collection documents Hobo Day, the homecoming celebration of South Dakota State University, through a wide range of published and ephemeral materials dating from 1912 to 2023, with the bulk of the material from the mid twentieth century through the early twenty first century. The collection consists of newspapers, newsletters, correspondence, news releases, souvenir programs, posters, invitations, handbooks, certificates, placemats, and extensive ephemera such as buttons, bumper stickers, hats, pennants, a crown, license plates, and apparel. Also included is a substantial photographic component documenting parades, football games, royalty, floats, student activities, visiting dignitaries, alumni events, and associated traditions across multiple decades. Materials originate from campus offices, student organizations, community sources, donors, and later retrospective collecting efforts. Items are added to the collection as materials are discovered or donated, reflecting its ongoing and accumulative nature.

This collection documents the development and continuity of Hobo Day as a central tradition in the history of South Dakota State University. The materials document changes in student culture, athletics, campus traditions, alumni engagement, and public representation of the university over more than a century. The long run of buttons, ephemera, and photographs offers a detailed chronological record of themes, slogans, design styles, and institutional priorities associated with homecoming celebrations. The collection supports research in university history, student life, regional culture, and commemorative practices at land grant institutions.

The collection consists of correspondence between Henry Langford Loucks and Richard F. Pettigrew from 1914 to 1916, primarily discussing political issues related to the progressive movement in early 20th-century America. Loucks' letters to Pettigrew span from November 1914 through July 1916, while Pettigrew's responses cover a similar period. In addition to the correspondence, the collection includes undated photographs, editorials authored by Loucks, and a 1917 pamphlet titled Will the Farmer be the "Goat" Once More?, which addresses agricultural and economic concerns. The materials provide insight into the political discourse and reform efforts of the time.

The Helen J. Van Zante Endowment Collection documents the impact of the Van Zante endowment in advancing the visual arts at South Dakota State University. The collection includes materials related to visiting artists such as Chris Casady, David Joshua, Carol Hepper, Dennis Holm, Thomas Huck, Roy McKelvey, Ron Stucki, and Steve Welch. It contains event programs, student essays, videos, posters, and publications that reflect a wide range of campus art initiatives. The records highlight exhibitions, professional engagement, and academic contributions made possible through the endowment, including the Design Forum, Visual Wave: Daktronics Alumni and Employees, and the Visiting Professorships in the Visual Arts.

The collection offers insight into the cultural and educational efforts supported by the Helen J. Van Zante Endowment. Through artist residencies, student engagement, and public programming, the endowment fostered creative expression, professional development in the arts, and collaboration between the university and broader community in the fields of design and visual media.

This appears to be a collection of commissioned works, created sometime in the 1960's or 1970's according to the organization's web site. These were most likely done in the later part of that period, as evidenced by the citation on the picture of Lincoln Hall as the "Lincoln Music Hall" – the library had already shifted, so this was after 1975 or so. Given this date, the painting of Old North (razed in 1962) was very likely done from a photograph, as the others also may have been reproduced.

The Grace Wangberg Papers document mid-20th-century sewing instruction through an extensive collection of sewing samples and related materials, primarily from the 1940s. The collection consists of two boxes of hand-stitched fabric samples demonstrating various sewing techniques such as arrowheads, bias, buttonholes, collars, seams, plackets, and smocking. These samples appear to have been used for educational or instructional purposes, reflecting domestic sewing practices of the period. The collection also includes a small notebook of handwritten recipes by Grace Wangberg and correspondence, offering additional insight into her personal and domestic life.

The Norby Collection documents the history, development, and daily life of Brookings, South Dakota, and Brookings County, with limited coverage of South Dakota more broadly, from the late nineteenth century through the early twenty first century. Assembled by George and Evelyn Norby, the collection is organized into multiple series reflecting their sustained efforts to collect, compile, and preserve local historical documentation.

The collection includes extensive runs of the Brookings Register newspaper, providing long term coverage of local news, community events, politics, agriculture, business, and social life. Complementing the newspapers are compiled data files created by the Norbys that aggregate information drawn from newspapers and other local sources. These compiled records document city and county officials, elections, businesses, streets and addresses, homes and housing, churches, public services, cemeteries, schools, South Dakota State University buildings, and other aspects of municipal and community history.

Topical subject files form a substantial portion of the collection and include materials related to Brookings city and county government, organizations, churches, businesses, historic districts, education, South Dakota State University, named individuals, military service, railroads, public safety, cemeteries, and statewide topics. These files consist of clippings, publications, ephemera, maps, directories, reports, and reference materials and reflect both official activity and community life. Researchers are advised to consult both city and county subject groupings, as related material may appear in either.

The collection also includes a large body of directories, primarily telephone directories serving Brookings and surrounding rural areas, along with city directories, farm directories, regional directories, and campus directories for South Dakota State University. These directories document residents, businesses, institutions, and service areas over time. Ephemera within the collection includes business cards, envelopes, signs, calendars, bumper stickers, postcards, ribbons and badges, matchbooks, tokens, framed images, and other transient printed materials associated with local commerce, events, and organizations.

Materials related to the Norbys themselves document the acquisition, housing, processing, and public presentation of the collection, including South Dakota State University Archives records, Images of the Past program materials, and limited personal correspondence, photographs, and household items. Together, the series span approximately 1871 to 2006, with some undated material, and are arranged by series and subject to reflect the structure of the Norbys’ collecting activities.

Painting by Evelyn T. Hubbard; Oil on Panel, of Old Central and Old North at South Dakota State University;

The painting is a ‘legacy’ in the archives. A handwritten note in the Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs collection from Chuck Cecil (Nov. 3, 1967) reads “Contact Mrs. Earl Washburn of Fulton, S.D. regarding painting by Mrs. Evelyn Hubbard of Old North & Old Central. They desire the painting go to the Art Center.

The Edwin C. Graber Poetry Collection consists of chapbooks containing original poetry written between 1937 and 1949, with several undated works. The poems explore themes of nature, solitude, time, and spirituality through lyrical and reflective language. Titles such as Stars Are My Parade, Nature the Peerless Colorist, and Zeniths as Yet But Dimly Seen illustrate Graber’s focus on the natural world and metaphysical contemplation.

The collection documents the creative work of South Dakota poet Edwin C. Graber and preserves his limited-edition chapbooks, many of which are not widely available. It provides material for the study of mid-twentieth-century regional poetry and poetic expression rooted in the Great Plains.

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.

The David Richards Collection on N.E. Hansen documents the extensive horticultural work and plant exploration of Niels Ebbesen Hansen (1866–1950), a pioneering plant breeder and professor of horticulture at South Dakota State College. Hansen was known for introducing hardy fruits, ornamental plants, and forage crops suitable for the Northern Great Plains. David Richards, a long-time admirer of Hansen, frequently visited him in his office. Following Hansen’s death in 1950, Richards received permission to preserve several items and salvaged numerous documents otherwise destined for disposal. These materials form the basis of this archival collection.

The collection includes Hansen’s bulletins and circulars for the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station, manuscripts and article drafts containing his handwritten notes and corrections, and correspondence with colleagues, friends, and customers interested in plant orders. Also present are catalog descriptions prepared for seed catalogs, transplanting cards documenting the propagation of hybrids, and research reports to the Agricultural Experiment Station and South Dakota State Horticultural Society. Additional materials include clippings, photographs, collected Russian publications, travel notes, international journals, seed catalogs, and multiple volumes of Seeds and Plants Imported from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Subjects covered in Hansen’s writings span apples, crabapples, apricots, cherries, currants, grapes, pears, plums, roses, alfalfa, trees, and topics in plant genetics and breeding.

This collection offers valuable insight into the development and global expansion of a prominent South Dakota-based technology company. Daktronics, Inc. played a key role in advancing electronic display technology, particularly in the sports and public event industries. The materials reflect the company’s transition from a regional enterprise to an internationally recognized leader in digital scoreboards and timing systems.

The collection docouments Daktronics’ involvement in high-profile events such as the 1980 Winter Olympics and the Holmenkollen Ski Festival, providing context on the company’s early international contracts and technical innovation. It also captures internal corporate culture, shareholder engagement, and public relations efforts through its newsletters, reports, and promotional materials.

Additionally, the collection has local and institutional value, illustrating the economic and technological contributions of South Dakota businesses and highlighting the involvement of South Dakota State University alumni in the company's growth. It serves as a useful resource for researchers studying regional entrepreneurship, corporate communications, and the evolution of sports technology.

The Dakota Farmer Collection is composed primarily of printing plates, specialty publications, survey reports, correspondence, and photographs documenting the development, promotion, and influence of The Dakota Farmer, a prominent agricultural periodical in the northern Great Plains. The bulk of the collection consists of printing plates used in publication production, including column and cover mastheads, ornamental frames, and original artwork. These visual elements reflect the magazine’s branding and editorial identity during the early to mid-20th century. A detailed inventory of the plates is provided in the container list.

The publications within the collection were primarily produced for advertising and marketing purposes, aimed at demonstrating the magazine’s value to potential advertisers. The reports consist of surveys conducted among farmers, merchants, and bankers in North and South Dakota, assessing the magazine’s market reach, readership habits, and its role in shaping regional agricultural discourse.

A notable file documents the process of contracting a redesigned cover for The Dakota Farmer. This material includes correspondence between magazine staff and the contractor, critical evaluations of contemporary agricultural publications, and three proposed sample covers. The file offers a unique view into the publication’s design decisions, aesthetic considerations, and promotional strategies.

Together, these materials illustrate The Dakota Farmer’s function not only as a journal of agricultural information but also as a tool for regional promotion and commercial engagement in the Dakotas.

The collection consists of six Sumerian cuneiform tablets originating from sites including Drehem, Jokha, and Senkereh in ancient Mesopotamia, along with associated documentation. Five tablets measure approximately 1.5 by 1.5 inches and contain administrative texts such as receipts for livestock, temple offering records, and a sealed temple document. One tablet measures approximately 4 by 6.5 inches and has no transcription. Translations accompanying the tablets provide basic information on date, place of origin, and content. South Dakota State College President Willis E. Johnson purchased five of the tablets from Edgar J. Banks in 1923. The sixth tablet was transferred from the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum. Supporting materials include correspondence, clippings, antiquities law references, research notes, manuscripts, photographs, maps, exhibit documentation, and information related to other institutional collections and the UCLA Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. The collection spans from ancient Mesopotamian history to modern research activities conducted primarily in 2002 and 2003.

The collection provides primary source evidence of economic, religious, and administrative practices in ancient Mesopotamia through original Sumerian cuneiform tablets. It documents early twentieth century antiquities collecting practices in the United States through the acquisition of the tablets by South Dakota State College from Edgar J. Banks. The associated research and exhibit materials reflect modern scholarly and educational efforts to interpret, contextualize, and present ancient writing systems and Near Eastern history to academic and public audiences.

This is an artificial collection composed of miscellaneous materials generated by various committees at South Dakota State University. Contents include pamphlets, reports, correspondence, proclamations, and meeting minutes. The materials were not acquired through a systematic collecting effort but are instead compiled as they are discovered. Documents in this box span a wide range of committee functions, from academic policies and faculty engagement to student recruitment, ROTC programming, and computing issues.

Among the more substantial items are minutes from the Classification Committee (1900–1914), which addressed admissions and credit policies, and the Rules and Regulations Committee (1931), which proposed consolidating institutional policies into a single publication. The Faculty Committee on Air Transport produced a report on the impact of air travel on university operations, while the Faculty Workshop Committee considered graduation timelines and student communication skills in a 1957 meeting. Materials from the Computer Users Advisory Council include correspondence about software copyright concerns during the rise of campus computing. The Committee on Radio Broadcasting outlined strategies for effectively using radio to serve South Dakota residents.

Other committees represented include the Curriculum and Veterans Enrollment Committee, which handled tuition claims and enrollment issues for veterans; the High School Contact Committee, which produced reports on outreach strategies and recruitment; and the ROTC Inspection and Military Field Day Committee, which planned field events in coordination with academic scheduling. A pamphlet from the Civilization Committee highlights a discussion series titled Dialogues in Higher Education that reflected on intellectual life and teaching philosophies.

This collection offers insight into the internal deliberations, planning efforts, and institutional concerns of mid-20th century campus committees. It documents the evolving priorities of a land-grant university (from student services and academic procedures to external communication and community outreach) during a period of significant social, technological, and administrative transformation.

This collection contains research materials, correspondence, photographs, publicity materials, and draft content related to the book The College on the Hill, authored by Amy Dunkle with contributions by V.J. Smith. The book is an anecdotal history of South Dakota State University, and the collection reflects the research and writing process behind its creation. Materials include chapter drafts, topic files, interview transcripts, university ephemera, and digital media. The collection spans a wide array of subjects, including student life, university traditions, athletics, Hobo Day, campus buildings, academic departments, notable alumni and faculty, social events, and broader historical moments such as wartime campus life, political visits, and student activism. Also included are photographic prints and digital files used for publication, chapter ideas not included in the final text, and materials connected to university history and memory.

This collection documents how institutional memory is shaped through personal narratives, oral histories, and archival sources. It captures the lived experiences of students, faculty, and administrators from the late 19th century through the early 21st century. The collection provides researchers with insight into the cultural traditions, social history, and academic tra

This collection documents the activities and presence of a wide range of student organizations at South Dakota State University, representing academic, professional, cultural, religious, political, and recreational interests. Materials span more than a century of student life and showcase the diverse extracurricular landscape of the university.

This is an artificial collection composed of ephemeral and documentary material related to SDSU student organizations. It includes flyers, newsletters, charters, constitutions, programs, brochures, clippings, correspondence, and award certificates. The collection is not comprehensive, and materials have been added informally as discovered. Some items date as far back as the Class of 1891, while others represent 20th and 21st-century groups, such as cultural associations (e.g., Chinese Student Association, Black Student Alliance), professional and academic clubs (e.g., Agronomy and Conservation Club, Sigma Tau Delta), Greek organizations, and recreational or service groups (e.g., Habitat for Humanity, Karate Club). File size and completeness vary greatly across organizations.

This collection offers a snapshot of student engagement at SDSU across generations. It reflects changing student interests, identities, political affiliations, and social movements. Particularly valuable for those studying student activism, campus culture, and organizational development, it captures the evolving role of student leadership and extracurricular involvement in shaping the university's history.

This collection contains photographs taken by Clav Snow during his time as a student at South Dakota State College in the early 1930s. The images document campus life and student activities, including Hobo Day celebrations, military Field Day Exercises, candid gatherings, and academic settings such as a psychology class. Also featured are photographs of the SDSC Boxing Club, campus buildings and landmarks, and fellow students. The collection offers a visual record of student experiences and campus culture during that period.

The Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railway Company Records are significant for their detailed documentation of railroad operations and internal communications during a formative period in American transportation history. Originating from the Madison, South Dakota depot, these materials provide insight into how a major regional railway coordinated its daily activities, managed logistics, and handled communication across departments. Forms such as car reports, conductor delay records, and telegrams offer a practical view of the operational structure and administrative routines of a Class I railroad.

The collection is especially valuable for understanding the role of railroads in the economic development of South Dakota and the broader Midwest. It reflects how railway infrastructure supported small-town commerce and regional connectivity, offering a window into how railroads functioned as essential lifelines for rural communities throughout the 20th century.

In addition to its content, the collection carries significance for its preservation history. After being donated to Prairie Village in Madison, the records survived a barn fire that destroyed much of their storage environment. The effort to salvage, photocopy, and encapsulate representative samples demonstrates a successful recovery initiative and highlights the importance of archival intervention in the face of loss or deterioration.

Although the records do not constitute a comprehensive archive of the company’s transactions, they offer a rare and instructive sampling of original railroad forms and internal procedures. As such, they serve not only as a resource for transportation historians but also as a useful reference for scholars interested in archival preservation, regional history, and industrial-era communication practices.

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.

The Carol Hepper Collection documents the professional career and artistic exhibitions of contemporary American sculptor Carol Hepper, spanning the mid-1980s through the early 2000s. The materials reflect Hepper’s national presence in the contemporary art world, with records from major galleries, museums, and academic institutions across the United States. Included are exhibition catalogs, brochures, press materials, and digital media (CD-ROMs and video files) from solo and group exhibitions in venues such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Phillips Collection, the Portland Art Museum, and the North Dakota Museum of Art. The collection also contains documentation of academic appointments, artist residencies, and publications featuring Hepper’s work.

The collection is a comprehensive documentation of Hepper’s sculptural evolution and thematic explorations, including organic forms, material experimentation, and contemporary interpretations of landscape and structure. It serves as a valuable resource for research in late 20th-century American sculpture, women's contributions to contemporary art, and regional artistic networks.

This collection is composed of financial ledgers documenting the operations of boarding and housing facilities at South Dakota State University from 1885 to 1923, with one undated record. Materials include records for the Boarding Club, College Boarding Hall, Dormitory Club, and Cafeteria, reflecting administrative functions such as board payments, expenses, labor costs, and student refunds. The ledgers offer insight into student life, university housing, and institutional operations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Notable items include the Board Deposit Account Ledger (1888–1899), Cafeteria and Boarding Club ledger (1921–1923), and Dormitory Club Journal (1908–1915). The records are arranged in two boxes and span a transitional period in university residential services.

The ledgers provide early documentation of student housing and dining services at Dakota Agricultural College (now SDSU), illustrating economic and administrative aspects of campus life. These materials are significant for studies in higher education history, university infrastructure, and student welfare in a land-grant institution context.

This collection consists of materials related to Blanche Avery Johnston, a member of the South Dakota State College Class of 1916. The materials provide insight into student life in the early 20th century and the experiences of Johnston and her classmates. Included are a booklet titled College Life at South Dakota State College, a news clipping featuring an interview with Johnston about the first Hobo Day celebration, a series of letters exchanged among members of the Class of 1916, and photographs documenting their time at the college. These items offer valuable documentation of campus traditions, student correspondence, and collegiate culture during the 1910s.

The materials in this collection were collected and donated by Dr. Charles Woodard of the South Dakota State University English Department. The collection is primarily composed of correspondence between Audrae Visser and Dr. Woodard, much of which documents her literary development and academic work. Included are many of Visser’s writings created to fulfill class assignments, such as book reports, instructional texts, and a Pioneer Humor Project undertaken for the Heritage of the Prairies Institute at Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota.

In addition to extensive correspondence, the collection contains clippings, photographs, and a wide range of poetic and prose writings by Visser. These include autobiographical sketches, children's stories, fiction, speeches, and both published and unpublished poetry. Notable published works represented are Country Cousin, Honyocker Stories, Pheasant Flights, and Prairie Poetry. Also included are materials related to her awards, honors, and organizational memberships, as well as written accounts of her travel experiences and photographs she took on various trips, including one to Mexico. Writings by other authors and anonymous works are also present.

The Army Administration School Records document the presence and operation of military training programs at South Dakota State College during World War II. Materials include a written history of the Army Administration School with lists of officers and likely participants; survey reports detailing buildings and property provided to the Army by the college; and administrative or instructional materials such as course evaluations, correspondence, and enrollment statistics. A scrapbook offers contextual materials including newspaper clippings, photographs, and event programs. Additional documents relate to the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP), such as geography course outlines, evaluation forms, and a summary of credit-transfer questionnaires. Notably, one unrelated artifact—a 1913 certificate for a purebred stallion—is also present, though its connection to the collection is unclear.

This collection provides insight into the integration of military training programs into land-grant college campuses during World War II. It highlights the role of South Dakota State College in supporting national defense efforts through infrastructure, instructional resources, and personnel. The records are valuable for understanding military-civilian collaboration in higher education, as well as the broader social and institutional impacts of wartime mobilization. The scrapbook materials also offer a unique visual and narrative record of military life and academic intersections during this period.

This collection consists of extensive aerial photographs documenting western South Dakota, with particular focus on the Black Hills region. The images span various dates and locations, including Meade and Pennington counties, and were taken primarily during the summer and fall months. Many of the photographs were created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, some as part of efforts to monitor environmental conditions such as mountain pine beetle infestations.

The collection includes individual and sequential image sets identified by flight lines, roll numbers, and dates. Several groups of photographs are infrared and color aerials, some annotated or indexed, and are organized by geographic location or agency designation. Accompanying materials include photographic indexes, flight maps, USDA parameters, and some duplicate negatives.

The Academic Women's Equity Coalition Collection is composed of administrative and organizational records documenting the activities and advocacy efforts of the coalition at South Dakota State University. Materials include clippings, correspondence, meeting agendas, programs, committee and dues-paying member lists, and financial records. A brief historical summary outlines the group's founding and development. Notably, the collection contains a draft complaint filed with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs regarding alleged discrimination at the university, along with the results of the subsequent investigation.

This collection provides valuable insight into grassroots advocacy for gender equity within a university setting during a period of evolving institutional accountability. It reflects the organizational structure, strategic concerns, and policy engagement of the coalition as it sought to address systemic discrimination and support academic women. The inclusion of a formal discrimination complaint and the investigation's outcome highlights the collection’s importance in documenting civil rights and equity enforcement efforts at SDSU.