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The South Dakota State Climate Office Records document over a century of weather and climate data collection across South Dakota and parts of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wyoming. The bulk of the collection consists of daily weather observation sheets submitted by volunteer reporting stations, recording data such as precipitation, air and soil temperature, wind, and solar radiation. The detail and scope of observations vary based on the equipment available at each site. Materials are organized geographically by reporting location, including towns, research farms, and natural landmarks.

In addition to climatological data, the collection includes administrative and research materials such as master’s theses, grant proposals, legal case documentation involving weather data, radar output, storm and cloud photography, and drought and tree ring analysis. Specialized forms, including B-91 climatological reports, are also present, along with materials relating to significant weather events such as flooding and droughts.

This collection offers insight into long-term regional climate trends. It is a valuable resource for environmental research, agricultural planning, legal reference, public safety, and historical climatology.

The South Dakota Farmers Union Records provide a comprehensive account of the organization's history, advocacy, and role in shaping agricultural policy from the early 20th century to the early 2000s. The collection documents the Union's efforts to support family farmers, promote cooperative enterprises, and influence state and national agricultural legislation. Materials include organizational records, correspondence, meeting minutes, financial statements, educational materials, photographs, audiovisual recordings, and publications.

A significant portion of the collection pertains to the Union's legislative and political engagement, featuring records from state and national conventions, speeches, campaign materials, and lobbying efforts. These materials illustrate the Union's role in advocating agricultural policy reforms, rural economic development, and cooperative business models. Key figures such as Ben Radcliffe, George McGovern, Hubert Humphrey, and Eleanor Roosevelt are represented in convention proceedings, recorded speeches, and radio broadcasts. The 1972 Supreme Court case on public school funding through property tax is also documented through clippings, correspondence, and legal evidence.

The audiovisual materials consist of 13 audiocassettes, 156 open reel tapes, 6 wire recordings, and 34 16mm motion picture films, spanning from 1948 to 1992. These recordings capture state and national conventions, radio programs, speeches, and advertisements, along with footage of state camp activities, tours, picnics, and parades. Many of the materials promote legislative initiatives and endorse political candidates. In 2018, the South Dakota Farmers Union audiovisual collection was digitized with the support of a Recordings at Risk grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources. Due to the fragile state of many recordings, the Archives partnered with George Blood L.P. to ensure high-quality digital preservation in sustainable formats.

The Cooperative Legacy Project, spearheaded by Chuck Groth, communications director for the South Dakota Farmers Union from 1972 to 2008, provides an in-depth oral history of the cooperative movement in South Dakota. This project includes over 110 hours of digital audio interviews with Farmers Union members, cooperative managers, and farm organization leaders. The interviews, recorded in MP3 and WAV formats, are supplemented by documents, scanned photographs, and rough transcriptions, offering insight into the history and impact of the cooperative movement.

The collection also includes publications from the National Farmers Union and various state organizations, as well as South Dakota Farmers Union-produced materials such as convention programs (1938-1983), policy statements (1954-1988), handbooks, and brochures. The photographic collection, comprising over 33,000 photographs and negatives, documents youth programs, conventions, picnics, tours, and key moments in the organization's history, as well as images published in the South Dakota Union Farmer.

Records from local unions throughout South Dakota provide insight into grassroots organizing efforts, consisting of charter records, attendance logs, minutes, and correspondence, with some materials accompanied by photographs. This material includes essential governance documents such as constitutions, by-laws, speeches, scrapbooks, and advertising materials, with Farmers Union annual convention minutes spanning from 1926 to 1946.

This collection serves as an resource for researchers studying agricultural policy, rural advocacy, cooperative movements, and the political and economic history of farming in South Dakota and the United States. Through its extensive documentation of legislative efforts, community programs, and cooperative business models, the South Dakota Farmers Union Records provide a unique perspective on the evolving landscape of American agriculture.

The South Dakota Farmers Alliance Records document the early efforts of farmers in Dakota Territory to organize against economic and political challenges, particularly those posed by railroad monopolies. The collection includes an 1887 address by President H. L. Loucks and proceedings from the Alliance's annual convention, reflecting the organization's advocacy for agricultural and economic reforms. Additionally, an undated advertisement for A Book for Farmers Dunning's Farm Ledger and Historical Account highlights the practical and educational resources valued by the farming community.

These records provide insight into the broader Farmers' Alliance movement, which emerged in Dakota Territory in the early 1880s in response to declining wheat prices and perceived railroad injustices. The movement gained traction with the formation of the Dakota Farmers' Alliance in 1885, expanding rapidly across the region. The documents in this collection offer valuable historical context on the Alliance's objectives, leadership, and strategies during a critical period of agrarian activism in South Dakota.

The South Dakota Dairy Association records document its role in shaping the state's dairy industry from the early 1900s to the early 2000s. This collection includes ledgers, administrative materials, financial records, and publications that provide insight into the association's governance, advocacy, and industry impact. Annual reports, meeting minutes, and convention programs spanning a century highlight efforts to promote dairy farming practices, support producers, and establish industry standards.

Significant materials include governance documents such as the association's constitution, amendments, and certificate of incorporation, as well as financial records detailing operations and contests. Convention programs from 1911 to 1999, along with reports on industry regulations, illustrate the association's efforts to foster professional development and policy discussions. The collection also includes medals, photographs, and newspaper clippings, offering a connection to the association's legacy.

These materials provide context for understanding the evolution of South Dakota's dairy industry, reflecting broader agricultural trends, economic contributions, and the collaborative efforts that shaped the state's dairy sector.

The South Dakota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (SDAFCS) Records document the evolution of home economics and family and consumer sciences organizations at both the state and national levels. The collection spans from 1913 to 2008 and includes records from predecessor organizations such as the National Association of Extension Home Economists, the South Dakota Home Demonstration Agents Association, the South Dakota Home Economics Association, and the South Dakota Association of Extension Home Economists. Materials include meeting minutes, officer handbooks, annual conference programs, newsletters, reports, correspondence, scrapbooks, constitutions and bylaws, financial records, award documentation, and photographs.

The records trace the activities and organizational changes of home economics professionals, including local and national conference proceedings, program development, and educational initiatives. The earliest materials document the formation of the South Dakota Home Demonstration Agents Association and its leadership, while later records highlight the organization’s transition through multiple name changes, reflecting shifts in the professional scope of family and consumer sciences. Of particular note are correspondence files related to early officers such as Eva Dawes, as well as detailed meeting and committee records from the South Dakota Association of Extension Home Economists, which illustrate the structure and governance of the association from the 1940s through the 1990s.

The collection also contains materials related to professional development and recognition, such as award programs, scholarship information, and membership records. Scrapbooks and photographs document conferences, special events, and member activities. Conference materials and strategic plans from the 1990s and 2000s illustrate the association’s continued focus on leadership, education, and public engagement in family and consumer sciences.

These records document the professionalization and history of home economics in South Dakota, the expansion of educational outreach through the Cooperative Extension Service, and the development of the family and consumer sciences discipline nationally. They provide valuable insight into the leadership, governance, and community service of South Dakota educators, particularly women, who advanced the field through teaching, extension work, and organizational involvement.

The records of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Big Sioux Chapter document the chapter’s administrative, membership, and promotional activities. The collection includes meeting minutes, membership rosters, donation correspondence, national and state convention materials, certificates, award plaques, photographs, promotional items, and informational brochures. Notable items include the chapter’s foundation certificate, chapter banner, and national award plaque.

These materials provide insight into the chapter’s advocacy efforts, organizational structure, and engagement with federal retirees in the Brookings, South Dakota area. The collection also highlights the contributions of local members, particularly Curt and Eunice Stensland, and reflects the chapter’s connection to broader NARFE initiatives.

The Altrusa Records collection documents the activities of Altrusa International District Seven and the Altrusa International Club of Brookings, South Dakota, from 1956 to 2017. The materials include administrative, financial, and event records that reflect the organization’s leadership, service projects, and regional conferences. The collection contains minutes, reports, treasurer’s records, correspondence, membership lists, strategic plans, bylaws, handbooks, and administrative files. A significant portion of the collection consists of materials from annual District Seven Conferences and Presidents’ Workshops held from 1956 to 1995, including programs, reports, banquet menus, and minutes. Also included are records of local Brookings club activities such as the Literacy Lunch, Harvest and Harmony, Wild Game Dinner, Bridge Marathon, and mini-grant programs. The collection documents the organization’s community service efforts, literacy initiatives, and regional leadership development within Altrusa International.

This collection provides documentation of Altrusa International District Seven and the Brookings club’s community engagement, leadership development, and literacy advocacy efforts in the upper Midwest. It illustrates the role of a women’s service organization in promoting education, philanthropy, and civic participation from the mid-twentieth century into the early twenty-first century.