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The A.L. Musson Papers document a 1954 trip to Somalia, East Africa, and include materials spanning from 1950 to 1962. The collection consists of correspondence, trip preparations, photographs, slides, negatives, maps, memorabilia, notes, and reports, as well as publications and recommendations related to agricultural and technical development in Somalia. Scrapbooks compiled by Musson contain photographs with translated Italian captions, while accompanying slides and negatives offer additional visual documentation. Notes provide Musson's personal observations written while in Somalia. The correspondence primarily consists of communication with the Foreign Operations Administration, revealing logistical and diplomatic aspects of the trip. Preparatory documents include details on travel arrangements, customs, immunizations, and security clearance forms. Also included are several analytical and technical documents related to Somali agriculture, such as the “Proposed program for agricultural technical assistance for Somalia” by Musson and Worzella (1954), and a groundwater survey by Thomas P. Ahrens (1951).

The materials provide insight into mid-20th century U.S. international agricultural outreach and development efforts in Somalia. They reflect the administrative planning, environmental assessment, and cross-cultural interactions involved in foreign technical assistance programs. Musson's participation and documentation help illuminate early Cold War-era partnerships and scientific exchanges between the U.S. and East Africa, especially in agricultural policy, research, and water resource development.

The Alfred G. Trump Papers consist of commemorative and recognition items associated with Alfred G. Trump Jr., longtime librarian and library director at South Dakota State University. The contents include a retirement scrapbook from 1972 containing correspondence, newspaper clippings, and 27 color snapshots documenting his retirement and professional relationships. Also included are programs from Trump’s retirement party, certificates of recognition from professional organizations, plaques acknowledging his support of South Dakota State University and participation in the President’s Club during the 1970s, and a certificate documenting his completion of the University of Denver’s Annual Institute of Archival Administration in 1968. The materials further include a 1981 proclamation issued by the Brookings City Commission designating Anne Trump Day, reflecting civic recognition of the Trump family. The records date primarily from 1968 to 1981 and emphasize professional service, institutional affiliation, and public acknowledgment.

These materials documents Alfred G. Trump Jr.’s professional standing within regional and national library organizations, his long service to South Dakota State University, and his engagement in archival education and institutional development. They also reflect the recognition extended by professional associations, the university administration, and the local community, offering insight into the culture of academic librarianship, professional recognition, and civic acknowledgment in the mid to late twentieth century.

This collection is composed of material related to the Centennial Celebration of South Dakota State University in 1981, Allen Barnes’ tenure as Dean of Arts and Sciences, and his leadership in establishing the Performing Arts Center on campus. The Centennial Celebration files (1980–1981) document numerous activities coordinated through the College of Arts and Sciences, including lectures, theatrical and musical performances, alumni engagement events, scholarship ceremonies, and historical retrospectives of academic departments from Aerospace Studies to ROTC. Correspondence, committee records, and planning documents provide insight into the university’s efforts to commemorate its 100th anniversary.

Records from Barnes’ service as Dean of Arts and Sciences (1965–1986) include speeches, planning for creative and international programming, academic initiatives, and a departmental band trip. These materials reflect his broad involvement in academic affairs, curriculum enhancement, and cross-cultural engagement.

A significant portion of the collection is devoted to the development of the SDSU Performing Arts Center (1970–1985), highlighting early conceptual work, documented needs in art, music, and theatre, and fundraising efforts. The files also include documentation of programming strategies and clippings related to the advocacy and planning for the Centennial Center.

The collection provides valuable context on institutional celebrations, academic leadership, and campus facility development at SDSU in the late 20th century.

The Allen Barnes Papers offer insight into South Dakota State University’s centennial planning and celebration, showcasing how academic leadership, alumni relations, and campus history were mobilized to shape institutional identity. Barnes’ extensive contributions as Dean demonstrate his role in advancing international education and interdisciplinary arts programming. His leadership in laying the groundwork for a dedicated Performing Arts Center underscores the importance of advocacy, vision, and collaboration in campus planning and cultural enrichment.

The Andy Hopp Papers document the academic, professional, and research activities of Andy Hopp, primarily in the fields of geography, cartography, environmental studies, and geographic information systems (GIS). The collection spans undergraduate and graduate coursework, professional conference participation, internship experiences, thesis research, and subject reference material. It provides insight into the development of geographic knowledge and pedagogical approaches at South Dakota State University and within professional geographic organizations.

Materials include extensive coursework in physical and human geography, GIS, remote sensing, ecoregions, biogeography, geomorphology, and historical geography, as well as history, math, statistics, speech, and criminal justice. The collection also includes academic products such as projects, maps, assignments, and digital files. Conference materials represent multiple meetings of the Association of American Geographers, including regional and national events.

Additional materials document Hopp’s internship at the SDSU GIS Center of Excellence and his involvement with the National Snow and Ice Data Center. Collected reference materials cover U.S. census maps, environmental topics, and South Dakota wildlife. His thesis research addresses pheasant hunting, bison-cattle comparisons, bird conservation, and tourism in rural and agricultural landscapes.

The collection offers researchers documentation of early 21st-century geographic education and research practices, especially in the Northern Plains region, and for its value in exploring conservation and land-use debates in South Dakota.

The Anthony S. Dylla Papers document research efforts related to irrigation systems, soil analysis, and agricultural water management primarily in Minnesota and surrounding regions. Topics include sprinkler and rotating-boom irrigation, evapotranspiration measurements, soil moisture sensing, nitrogen inputs and leaching, and the effects of wind on irrigation uniformity. The collection highlights Dylla’s contributions to advancing knowledge in hydraulic conductivity, soil classification, and irrigation automation. Also present are publications addressing broader agricultural issues such as drought-hazard soil properties, water seepage control with bentonite, and forage water use studies in Nevada.

Dylla’s research played a key role in improving irrigation strategies in the Upper Midwest, contributing to more sustainable water use in agriculture. His work informed both regional practices and national USDA recommendations, particularly in soil-water dynamics, nitrogen management, and experimental methodology for extension professionals.

The Barbara Bates Gunderson Papers consist primarily of scrapbooks, photographs, correspondence, and memorabilia documenting her public, political, and governmental career, with particular emphasis on her role as a U.S. Civil Service Commissioner and political involvement with the Eisenhower administration. The bulk of the material dates from the 1950s through the 1970s and reflects Gunderson’s national political activity, campaign work, and federal service.

The collection includes extensive newspaper and magazine clippings, black and white photographs, correspondence with U.S. politicians and White House officials, and material related to Gunderson’s appointment to and service on the U.S. Civil Service Commission. Highlights include items from her tenure as National Co-Chairman of the Citizens for Eisenhower Congressional Committee, documentation from her participation in the 1974 South Dakota Republican primary for U.S. Senate, and artifacts from events such as the Federal Woman’s Award Dinner and Civil Service-related conferences.

Scrapbooks form a substantial portion of the collection and offer a detailed visual and documentary record of Gunderson’s professional activities and public recognition. Several binders and albums contain photographs, invitations, speeches, telegrams, and keepsakes. A small number of items, including framed materials, plaques, and presentation pieces, further commemorate her contributions.

Also of note are publications, such as Advance Congregational Christian Journal, Harper’s Magazine, and the Eisenhower World Affairs Institute Proceedings, as well as two paperback book jackets from novels authored by Gunderson. The collection includes memorabilia related to her advocacy for women in government and her involvement with national political platforms and commissions.

This collection provides insight into mid-20th-century political campaigns, civil service reforms, and the evolving role of women in federal government leadership. It is a significant resource for studying the intersection of gender, politics, and public service in Cold War-era America.

The Ben Reifel Papers document the career of Ben Reifel, the first Lakota Sioux to serve in the U.S. Congress, highlighting his work as a legislator, his tenure with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and his advocacy for Native American communities. The collection includes correspondence, photographs, audiovisual materials, memorabilia, and scrapbooks that provide insight into his contributions to public service and Native American affairs. As a pioneering Native American leader, Reifel played a key role in shaping policies related to education, healthcare, and economic development. This collection serves as a valuable resource for understanding his lasting impact on indigenous representation in government and South Dakota's political landscape.

The activities series contains records of Reifel's involvement with various organizations and initiatives, including the Boy Scouts of America, the National Park Service, and the Dakota Territory Citizen Certificates project. It also covers his efforts in Native American affairs, congressional trips, and public events. The awards and honors section features certificates, plaques, medals, and other recognitions Reifel received throughout his career, including awards from the Boy Scouts of America, Sioux tribes, and South Dakota State University.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs materials include correspondence, newsletters, and newspaper clippings that document Reifel's work in advancing Native American education, healthcare, and policy. The campaign series provides an in-depth look at his political career through financial records, advertisements, schedules, and materials related to the South Dakota Republican Party platforms.

Correspondence within the collection spans from Reifel's tenure with the BIA through his congressional career, featuring letters exchanged with prominent political figures such as Barry Goldwater, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and George McGovern. The family history section contains biographical materials, educational records, military service documents, and personal writings that provide insight into his early life and career development.

Memorabilia in the collection includes campaign materials, presidential inauguration items, and personal artifacts such as a U.S. Annotated Code book with Reifel's name embossed on the cover. The photographs offer a visual record of his political career, community interactions, travels, and personal life, particularly highlighting his work in Congress and his connections with Native American communities.

The audiovisual materials consist of campaign advertisements, legislative discussions, interviews, and speeches on healthcare, agriculture, and public service. These recordings also include public appearances and fundraising events. Scrapbooks primarily contain newspaper clippings and campaign materials that document Reifel's public image and key political milestones.

Collected materials include books, periodicals, programs, and poetry reflecting Reifel's diverse interests and professional pursuits. His speeches and writings consist of transcripts and drafts of addresses given at events such as Memorial Day ceremonies and commencement exercises.

Overall, the Ben Reifel Papersprovides a comprehensive view of his contributions to public service, Native American advocacy, and South Dakota’s civic and political landscape. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers seeking to understand his legislative impact, community engagement, and personal legacy.

This collection documents the career and work of Bert Popowski as an author, hunter, and photographer, highlighting his contributions to the fields of hunting, wildlife, and conservation. The materials span from 1935 to 1978, with a significant portion consisting of articles authored by Popowski on topics ranging from big game and varmint hunting to conservation and safety. The research material series is the largest, containing published articles in various hunting and wildlife publications, including an autographed copy of The Outdoorsman (June 1947) featuring his article “Off-Season Duck Hunting.”

The collection includes a wide range of manuscripts accompanied by correspondence with publishers, records of submissions, publication status, and payments received. Manuscripts cover diverse subjects such as hunting techniques, firearms, wildlife, and conservation. Materials also relate to Popowski’s books, including illustrations by Gordon Elliott for Crow Shooting (29 ink drawings) and photograph proofs for Hunting Pronghorn Antelope (37 pages). Additional artwork features a mat board drawing of a fireplace, believed to depict Popowski’s cabin, created by C. Greenidge.

General materials include correspondence from 1942 to 1956, as well as photographs, illustrations, and a phonograph record titled Crow Calling, which features Popowski demonstrating crow calls. The photographs include black-and-white images of wildlife and hunting, negatives, and a set of 22 matted and signed photographs that won first prize at the Iowa State Fair.

Another unique feature of the collection is Popowski’s contributions to the Japanese magazine Modern Hunting (1968–1970), which includes translated articles and writings on hunting techniques. The phonograph record and international publications further illustrate Popowski’s expertise and contributions to hunting practices.

The collection provides a comprehensive record of Popowski’s career, offering insight into mid-twentieth-century hunting culture, techniques, and the conservation movement through his writings, photographs, illustrations, and artistic collaborations.

This collection is comprised of manuscripts, published works, and personal archives of Beryl Stewart, reflecting her contributions to literature and education. It includes newspaper clippings referencing Stewart, a book mentioning her, and multiple issues of Word Craft, a publication from Aberdeen Central High School where she served as an adviser. Her correspondence (1923-1942) contains reference letters and exchanges with publishers, offering insight into her professional relationships.

Stewart's manuscripts consist of essays, poems, and short stories, including entries for the South Dakota State Fair literature contests, some with critiques and awarded ribbons. Her published works appeared in various literary and rural publications, demonstrating her influence in both creative writing and regional literature. The scrapbooks, spanning multiple decades, preserve correspondence, publication clippings, and personal reflections, highlighting the breadth of her literary career and the reception of her work. This collection serves as a resource for understanding Stewart's impact on South Dakota's literary and educational landscape.

The Bill Nibbelink Papers documents Nibbelink’s involvement in the development and promotion of alcohol fuels in South Dakota, reflecting his collaboration with Congressman Tom Daschle and regional organizations during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The collection includes a range of government and industry publications on ethanol, such as materials produced by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, the Solar Energy Research Institute, and local advocacy groups like the South Dakota Alcohol Fuels Association. These materials illustrate a critical moment in the push for renewable energy solutions in the Midwest and highlight Nibbelink’s role in distributing and producing outreach materials to support the cause.

In addition to energy policy materials, the collection contains assorted campaign memorabilia and planning documents, including a 1978 recount handbook from the contested congressional election in Moody County. These records offer insight into grassroots campaign operations, local political strategy, and the resourcefulness of early campaign efforts with limited funding. The presence of "Get Out The Vote" materials and memorabilia spanning from 1978 to 2004 captures the longevity of Nibbelink’s political engagement.

Also included are constituent correspondence files known as robo letters, which detail how Daschle’s congressional office handled communication with constituents during his early terms. These are complemented by logistical materials such as South Dakota trip schedules, contact lists, and a congressional telephone directory, providing a fuller picture of day-to-day congressional operations.

Photographs, press clippings, and a 2015 interview with Nibbelink round out the collection, adding visual and personal context to the professional and political records. Altogether, the collection serves as a valuable resource for studying early renewable energy advocacy, political campaigning in rural America, and the evolution of constituent service in congressional offices.

The collection documents the academic career and professional service of Dr. Brandt at South Dakota State University from the late 1970s through the mid 2010s. Materials include records of faculty governance and committee service, such as participation in the Academic Senate, College of Arts and Sciences committees, European Studies Committee, and departmental and college tenure and promotion committees. Teaching materials form a substantial portion of the collection and consist of syllabi, course outlines, assignments, schedules, and examinations for undergraduate and graduate English courses, including Shakespeare, English Renaissance literature, drama, world literature, technical communication, and interdisciplinary European Studies courses. Additional materials document conference participation, research projects, sabbaticals, academic reviews, promotions, awards and nominations, and advising roles for student organizations. The collection also contains correspondence, newsletters, offprints of scholarly articles, vitae, writings, and documentation of professional affiliations, including involvement with the Marlowe Society of America and participation in university presidential inaugurations.

This collection documents faculty teaching, governance, and scholarly activity at South Dakota State University over several decades. It supports research into the history of English studies, curriculum development, faculty service, and academic life at a public land grant university, as well as broader studies of Shakespearean and English Renaissance instruction and scholarship in the late twentieth and early twenty first centuries.

The Charles A. Lundquist Papers consist primarily of personal journals spanning from 1940 to 1946. The journals provide a detailed chronological account of Lundquist’s youth in Webster, South Dakota, documenting his academic progress, extracurricular involvement, community engagement, and reflections on national and global events—particularly World War II. Entries begin in sixth grade and continue through his early college years at South Dakota State College.

Subjects include daily routines, school activities, Scouting achievements, sports participation, work experiences, and family life. Of notable historical value are Lundquist’s observations of wartime developments, such as rationing, war bond drives, local Civil Air Patrol and Victory Corps efforts, and reactions to major WWII events, including VE Day, the atomic bombings, and VJ Day. His entries also provide a rare student perspective on education, civic responsibility, and youth culture in mid-20th-century rural America. The journals reflect a disciplined, curious, and civically engaged young man who carefully documented his development as a student, citizen, and aspiring scientist.

These papers offer unique insight into the lived experiences of a Midwestern youth during World War II, capturing both personal development and broader societal impacts through the lens of an individual who would go on to become a key figure in American space science. The journals also serve as a rich resource for understanding adolescent life, education, and patriotism in small-town America during the 1940s.

Collection is composed of writings, teaching and research materials, and material related to his non-teaching professional activities.

This collection documents the academic, intellectual, and scholarly pursuits of Dr. Charles L. Sewrey, professor of history at South Dakota State University. The materials span from 1862 to 1973 and are composed of collected publications, correspondence, manuscripts, photographs, and published articles primarily related to Sewrey's research interests in anti-Catholicism, American religious and political culture, and frontier life in Minnesota.

The collected material includes newspaper clippings, pamphlets, Socialist Party literature from the 1960s, and an 1862 volume of Aurora Leigh and Other Poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Also present is a significant file on the Steven Truscott case (1966–1969), which explored the wrongful conviction of a Canadian youth. These materials were likely used in support of research and teaching.

The general materials consist of correspondence, course notes, and exams from Sewrey’s history courses, as well as miscellaneous ephemera including photographs and a map depicting the Lake District near Alexandria, Minnesota.

The manuscripts form the core of the collection and reflect Sewrey’s research into anti-Catholicism and religious controversy in American history. Notable among these is his master’s thesis, The Protestant Minister in Frontier Minnesota, written in 1946, which is represented in multiple chapters and outlines both the private and public life of religious leaders on the Minnesota frontier. Additional manuscripts examine topics such as Cold War foreign policy, sectarianism on the frontier, U.S. religion and morality, and the development of land grant colleges. A substantial portion of the manuscripts consists of an extensive, untitled book-length work covering the historical origins, controversies, and social implications of anti-Catholic thought in the United States.

The published works (1945–1973) include academic journal articles, book reviews, and newspaper opinion pieces authored by Sewrey. Prominent among them are articles in The Christian Century, Journal of Church and State, and The Unicorn. Several of these writings focus on anti-Catholic rhetoric, communism, political philosophy, and civic education. The collection also includes transcripts of two broadcasts from Sewrey’s appearances on Professor’s Forum, a program aired by the South Dakota State College radio station.

The Charles L. Sewrey Papers offer insight into the study of anti-Catholic sentiment in American history and the intersection of religion, politics, and public life on the frontier. Sewrey’s research, particularly his analysis of Protestant ministry in Minnesota and his broader writings on religious controversy, contributes to a deeper understanding of sectarian dynamics in the United States. His work engages with key themes in mid-20th-century political thought, moral philosophy, and Cold War-era ideology. In addition, the collection reflects the academic output of a historian actively involved in teaching, public scholarship, and civic discourse at a land-grant institution, making it a valuable resource for scholars exploring American religious and intellectual history, education, and the public role of the historian..

The collection is composed of materials accumulated by Dr. Charles Woodard during his career at South Dakota State University. The papers document his teaching and program development in the English Department, including course materials, syllabi, examinations, lecture notes, committee files, and administrative records for related initiatives. A substantial portion of the collection relates to American Indian studies and education, including files on American Indian cultural tutorials, conferences, advisory and council work, and program review and revision activities. Records also document public humanities and outreach work through organizations and programs such as the South Dakota Humanities Council, reading and lecture series, community discussion initiatives, and related grant activity.

Topical files reflect Woodard’s engagement with regional literature and culture in South Dakota and the Great Plains, including planning and correspondence for conferences and events such as Consider the Century, the Great Plains Writers’ Conference, and Oak Lake writers’ programming. Additional subject areas include reconciliation and peace and conflict programs, veterans and war related topics, cultural representation issues including sports team mascot and nickname controversies, and environmental and civic concerns represented through correspondence, clippings, newsletters, and organizational materials. Materials related to publications include manuscripts, clippings, and correspondence with co-authors and publishers. The collection also contains files on individuals and organizations with whom Woodard worked, and audiocassettes documenting conference sessions, readings, lectures, and presentations, including creative writing instruction and Native American themed programming.

This collection documents humanities teaching and outreach, with particular documentation of American Indian studies programming, regional literary culture, and public humanities initiatives in South Dakota and the northern Great Plains. The papers support research on the development of humanities conferences and community programs affiliated with SDSU and statewide partners, including the planning, funding, and implementation of programs such as Consider the Century, the Great Plains Writers’ Conference, and Oak Lake writers’ activities. The collection also documents late twentieth and early twenty-first century public conversations in South Dakota relating to reconciliation, cultural representation, environmental and civic issues, and debates over sports team mascots and nicknames, as reflected in Woodard’s program files, correspondence, and collected documentation.

This collection contains a personal expense notebook kept by Clark S. Thomas, a student at South Dakota State College from 1937 to 1941. The notebook documents his daily expenses—including meals, entertainment, clothing, school supplies, and income—while in college and during his military service in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1941 to 1945. Also included are receipts for tuition and fees paid between 1937 and 1941.

The Crozier Family Papers documents family history, educational pursuits, crafting expertise, and community involvement spanning multiple generations. The collection records Caryl's life and career, encompassing educational materials from high school and college, extensive correspondence with family and friends, journals and writings detailing life stories and memories, numerous craft and sewing projects, 4-H achievements, recipes, and homemaking activities. It also includes records of her participation in book clubs and other social groups, teaching materials, family and personal photographs, scrapbooks, photo albums, and memorabilia.

Additionally, the collection features family heirlooms such as clothing, quilts, and other crafted items. Files related to Caryl and her husband Edward cover travel journals, correspondence with family and friends, various home and craft projects, wedding and honeymoon details, and their writings. The collection also contains extensive genealogical records, primarily focusing on the Croziers, Kinkners, Ericksons, Joneses, and other extended family members. Researchers will find biographical information, correspondences, genealogical records, and historical notes about Beresford, South Dakota, as well as collected recipes, patterns, and club activities related to Caryl's mother, Elvera Kinkner.

Many files include commercial patterns annotated by Caryl, indicating the recipients of the clothing and images of the finished garments. The collection also features samples of sewing projects Caryl completed during college. Some materials contain stick pins and needles; caution is advised when handling these items.

The Dan W. Johnson Papers and Jeanne Johnson and Antiques Ltd. Records document the personal and professional lives of Dan and Jeanne Johnson, with a strong focus on their activities in Marshall, Lyon County, Minnesota. Spanning much of the 20th century, the collection reflects Dan Johnson’s career in journalism, public relations, and higher education, particularly his work at Southwest State University from 1969 until his retirement in 1981. It includes extensive newspaper clippings, correspondence, speeches, professional writings, campus directories, and institutional publications, much of it collected after retirement.

The collection also documents Johnson's earlier work as a newspaper editor, his service during World War II, and his post-retirement consulting work, most notably for Schwan’s Home Service, Inc. Records from Schwan’s include article drafts, internal correspondence, promotional materials, and photographs. Additional files highlight his community involvement through civic projects, local government initiatives, and regional journalism.

Personal and family materials are also significant in the collection, including correspondence, photographs, and memorabilia related to his children, grandchildren, and extended family. His military service is represented through wartime photos, placement letters, and related documents. Files on colleagues, friends, and educational institutions—such as the University of Minnesota and South Dakota State University—are present as well.

The Jeanne Johnson and Antiques Ltd. Records detail the operation of Jeanne Johnson’s antique business, including articles of incorporation, partner information, a personal planner, and clippings. The collection provides a community-based perspective on mid-to-late 20th-century life in southwest Minnesota, and offers research value in the fields of regional journalism, university public relations, civic engagement, and small business development.

The Dave Martin Papers document the organization, execution, and impact of the 1977 goodwill basketball trip to Cuba, arranged through the efforts of SDSU Sports Information Director David Martin in collaboration with Senators George McGovern and James Abourezk. The collection spans 1975 to 1977 and contains correspondence, proposals, rosters, press lists, programs, newspaper clippings, and post-trip reports that highlight the extensive planning and political considerations involved.

Photographs and slides provide visual documentation of the South Dakota State University and University of South Dakota basketball players in competition with the Cuban National Basketball Team, as well as images of cultural exchanges, ceremonies, and tours of Havana and other sites. The collection also includes depictions of American and Cuban players dining together, meetings with Cuban dignitaries such as Fidel and Raúl Castro, and the participation of Senators McGovern and Abourezk.

This collection documents a unique Cold War–era sports diplomacy initiative that used basketball as a vehicle for cultural exchange during a period of strained U.S.-Cuba relations. It illustrates the role of South Dakota institutions and leaders in international outreach and highlights the intersection of athletics, politics, and diplomacy. The photographs and correspondence provide rare firsthand evidence of citizen and cultural diplomacy efforts during the 1970s, showcasing the symbolic importance of athletic competition in fostering dialogue across political divides.

The David Allan Evans Papers document the professional activities, literary output, and public recognition of David Allan Evans, South Dakota’s first Poet Laureate and a prominent writer-educator at South Dakota State University. The collection spans the late 20th and early 21st centuries and reflects Evans’s influential role in shaping the state’s literary culture and advancing public appreciation of poetry and creative writing.

Included are materials related to lectures, workshops, conferences, literary festivals, and Writers-in-the-Schools programs, as well as his service as Poet Laureate from 2001 to 2015. Newspaper clippings and press coverage highlight Evans’s public appearances, readings, residencies, publications, and achievements. These are arranged chronologically by year, with article titles noted in the folder descriptions.

The collection contains reviews and critical responses to Evans’s poetry and prose, published in newspapers, literary magazines, and peer-reviewed journals. Books authored or co-authored by Evans are also present, accompanied by published copies, promotional materials, and related correspondence. His literary works appear in numerous anthologies, textbooks, and periodicals, with folder descriptions noting title and page references.

A significant portion of the papers focuses on Evans’s Fulbright Scholar appointments and literary teaching trips to China. These include correspondence, diaries, research notes, and writings developed during or inspired by his time abroad, illustrating his role as a cultural ambassador and his engagement in international literary exchange.

Additional materials reflect Evans’s broader intellectual interests and include collected items such as poetry books, journals, business cards, and documents related to Sioux City, Iowa, South Dakota State University, and the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. Personal and professional correspondence includes acceptance letters, fan mail, letters from colleagues and friends, and letters of recommendation. Biographical files document Evans’s college years, honors and awards, alumni reunions, and the establishment of a creative writing scholarship in his name at SDSU.

The collection also includes manuscripts of poems, essays, short stories, and other writings by Evans, many annotated and in multiple versions. These materials reveal a distinct poetic voice rooted in themes of athleticism, rural life, and Midwestern identity. His correspondence and teaching files demonstrate his contributions as a mentor to emerging writers and an advocate for literary arts in both academic and public settings.

Together, the David Allan Evans Papers offer valuable insight into regional literature, poetic form and voice, creative writing pedagogy, and the evolving role of the poet in public life. The collection serves as a rich resource for researchers studying American literature, Midwestern cultural history, and literary engagement across local and international communities.

The David Dwyer Papers, spanning the years 1924–2017 (bulk 1969–2003), document the life and literary career of poet, translator, and writer David Dwyer. The collection comprises a wide range of materials related to Dwyer’s published works, translations, personal correspondence, literary activities, and other creative endeavors, reflecting his engagement with both regional and national literary communities.

Included are drafts, manuscripts, annotated proofs, and correspondence for Dwyer’s major poetry collections, including Ariana Olisvos: Her Last Works and Days (1976) and Other Men and Other Women (1988), as well as numerous published and unpublished poems, prose pieces, and literary projects. The papers also preserve working notes and early drafts that provide insight into Dwyer’s creative process. His translation work is well-represented, particularly his efforts to render the writings of French poet Catherine Pozzi, including Agnes, and related research notes and manuscripts.

Correspondence reflects Dwyer’s relationships with publishers, literary figures, and institutions, as well as his efforts to secure fellowships and publication. The collection includes documentation of his participation in residencies and literary programs, such as the Plains Writers Series and an artist residency in Glen Falls, New York. Awards and recognitions such as the Juniper Prize and the Bush Artist Fellowship are also documented.

Personal materials include educational records, travel documentation, personal correspondence, and items related to his health and final years, notably materials concerning his lung cancer diagnosis, treatment, and death in 2003. Tributes, memorials, and correspondence related to his burial at Assumption Abbey in North Dakota are also present.

Visual and ephemera materials include photographs of Dwyer and family members, headshots, and images of rural South Dakota, as well as membership cards, certificates, and personal documents. The collection also contains literary journals, chapbooks, anthologies, and yearbooks in which Dwyer's work appeared, making it a resource for studying American poetry, literary translation, and regional literary history.

This collection is composed of files from the office of David F. Pearson while serving as Vice President for Administration. Folders consist mainly of correspondence and files dealing with the F. O. Butler Foundation, the engineering controversy of the early 1970s, and material dealing with the celebration of the United States Bicentennial celebration on the campus of South Dakota State University.

The correspondence consists of letters sent and received by David F. Pearson while service was Vice President for Administration.

The F.O. Butler Foundation files are composed of material dealing with the organization of the F.O. Butler Foundation at South Dakota State University. Folders contain approved requests, Articles of Incorporation, campus enrichment, and correspondence files.

The Engineering Controversy files is composed of material dealing with the controversy surrounding the possible removal of the College of Engineering from South Dakota State University in the early 1970s. Folders contain correspondence, analysis, departmental actions, clippings, and master plan material.

The Bicentennial Celebration files is composed of material dealing with the celebration of the United States Bicentennial on the campus of South Dakota State University. Folders consist of budget and proposal material, committee minutes, calendar of events, and correspondence.

The David J. Law Papers document media coverage and political responses to the 1985 farm crisis in South Dakota and beyond. The collection consists of correspondence, newspaper clippings, press releases, photographs, and audiovisual materials, primarily focused on legislative activity, grassroots advocacy, and public sentiment surrounding agricultural hardship during the period. Materials highlight campaigns such as “Give a Buck,” the South Dakota Legislature's rally and trip to Washington, D.C., and reactions from local and national figures. Of particular interest are annotated snapshots, taped interviews with key political leaders, and original broadcast recordings from KWAT Radio. The collection offers insight into media framing, public mobilization, and regional perspectives on a critical moment in American agricultural history.

The Del Johnson Papers span the period of Delmar R. Johnson’s tenure as Director of University Computing Services (1982–2003) and later as Director of Administrative and Research Computing at South Dakota State University (2003–2012). The collection documents Johnson’s leadership and involvement in the planning, development, and administration of computing infrastructure and services across the university.

The records primarily consist of extensive correspondence, committee files, planning documents, and meeting minutes. Topics include computer capacity and configuration planning, instructional computing initiatives, university-wide technology planning, and the multi-phase network infrastructure rebuild project around 2000. Johnson’s work with campus and statewide advisory councils, including the Computer User’s Advisory Council (CUAC), is also well documented. The collection reflects Johnson’s collaborative efforts with university administrators, academic departments, and external consultants such as Elert and Associates and IBM.

Of particular significance are materials related to strategic technology initiatives, including long-term planning for instructional computing, mainframe consolidation, and integration of computing into research and extension services. The collection also provides historical insight into SDSU's evolving IT governance, security policies, and infrastructure across academic units.

The Dona Brown Papers contain research and project records compiled by Dr. April Brooks and Dr. Ruth Ann Alexander, professors at South Dakota State University, and donated to the Archives in 2004. The material primarily relates to a humanities grant and a literary documentation initiative. Contents include general correspondence, an address index for group members, articles, obituaries, and records from Huron College. Also included are project notes, biographies, and questionnaires related to the “Poets and Writers of South Dakota” project, a literary documentation effort initiated by Dona Brown.

This collection documents scholarly and creative efforts to support and recognize South Dakota’s literary community. It provides insight into grant-funded humanities research as well as the collection and preservation of regional literary histories. The materials reflect both institutional involvement in the humanities and a grassroots approach to documenting the voices of local poets and writers.

The Donald Berg Papers are composed primarily of materials documenting the Conference on American Indian History and Culture, including records from the first through eighteenth annual conferences held between 1993 and 2010. These materials include organizational records, conference letterhead, and participant lists dating from 1993 to 2004. The collection also contains research files assembled by Berg related to the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern Railroad, with a focus on railroad safety in Brookings, South Dakota, and proposed expansion projects. These materials include extensive newspaper clippings from 1997 through 2012, draft and supplemental environmental impact statements, Powder River Basin Coal Expansion Project maps, photographs of railroad infrastructure in Rochester, Minnesota, and digital files stored on floppy disks. Additional materials include a Brookings Railroad Safety Plan dated 2007 and a small amount of professional ephemera such as business cards

This collection documents of Berg’s sustained scholarly and public engagement with American Indian history and culture through nearly two decades of conference activity. The railroad research files document local and regional responses to proposed rail expansion, environmental review processes, and railroad safety concerns, illustrating Berg’s application of geographic and historical research methods to contemporary infrastructure and policy issues in South Dakota and the upper Midwest.

The Donald D. Johnson Papers contain a photocopy of a narrative written around 1918 describing the experiences of John P. (Johan Peter) Johnson, a Swedish immigrant and grandfather of the donor, during the years 1871 to 1879. The text was translated by Alma N. Lundin and read at the Benton Lutheran Church in South Dakota circa 1918. The original document is not included. The collection also includes The Quill, a publication produced by students at Marion High School in Marion, South Dakota, published by Donald D. Johnson in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Johnson of Hartford, South Dakota, presumed to be his parents.

The papers document Swedish immigration to South Dakota and the preservation of family and community history through translation and commemorative publication.

The Ed Hogan Papers span from 1960 to 2014 and document the career, scholarship, and public service of Edward P. Hogan, geographer, faculty member, and academic administrator at South Dakota State University. The collection offers comprehensive insight into Hogan’s leadership in building South Dakota’s only geography program and advancing public understanding of the state’s demographic, educational, and regional development challenges. It includes appointment books, correspondence, clippings, certificates, photographs, academic writings, public testimony, and conference presentations, as well as research materials gathered during Hogan’s studies on out-migration, urban planning, geography education, aging populations, and political and cultural identity in South Dakota.

The papers contain personal and professional correspondence (1966–2003), academic and administrative files related to Hogan’s tenure in the Department of Geography and in central administration, and extensive documentation of the Center for Public Higher Education, particularly its efforts to expand university access in Sioux Falls. Drafts, reports, grant proposals, articles, and manuscripts authored or co-authored by Hogan are present throughout, reflecting his long-standing interests in house typology, rural development, internal migration, and geography curricula. Materials also include course files, lecture notes, and notebooks from his studies at Saint Louis University, along with SDSU governance records such as restructuring proposals, diversity council materials, and long-range planning documents. Additional content includes retirement tributes, family history files, and writings related to Hogan’s Irish heritage and public outreach.

This collection is a resource for understanding the development of geography as a discipline at SDSU and within South Dakota’s public higher education system. Hogan’s scholarship on population trends, particularly youth out-migration and community planning, informed both policy and pedagogy across academic and civic contexts. His administrative leadership, especially through the Center for Public Higher Education, provides documentation of institutional responses to changing educational access and demographic needs. The collection supports research in geography education, rural sociology, state policy, migration studies, and the political culture of twentieth-century South Dakota.

The Elizabeth Cook-Lynn Papers document the life and work of Dakota scholar, writer, editor, and educator Elizabeth Cook-Lynn. The collection includes biographical material, extensive correspondence, and a wide range of her literary and scholarly output. Her writings include published and unpublished articles, essays, editorials, poetry, novels, novellas, and book reviews, many of which address Native identity, tribal sovereignty, and the decolonization of education and literature.

The collection also contains teaching files, course materials, and academic papers from her tenure at institutions such as Arizona State University and Eastern Washington University, reflecting her efforts to establish and expand Native American Studies as an academic discipline. Research files and documentation from her participation in conferences, symposia, and public speaking engagements highlight her role as a national voice in Indigenous intellectual and political discourse.

A significant portion of the collection relates to Wicazo Sa Review: A Journal of Native Studies, which Cook-Lynn co-founded and edited. These records include editorial correspondence, manuscript submissions, issue drafts, grant applications, and administrative documents that trace the development of this influential scholarly publication.

Supplementary materials cover a broad range of Native American issues and topics, including legal, cultural, and educational matters, and include clippings, reports, advocacy literature, and publications.

The Elizabeth Cook-Lynn Papers are a vital resource for researchers studying Native American literature, tribal sovereignty, and the evolution of Indigenous scholarship in the United States.

This collection includes materials related to the personal and professional lives of Elmer and Cecile Sexauer, such as postcards, diaries, scrapbooks, and essays written by Cecile during her college years. It also contains items like agricultural reports presented to Elmer, certificates from their 50th college reunion, and various family papers. Travel diaries and over 400 postcards document their trips across the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Canada, and Japan.

The collection offers valuable insight into the lives of Elmer and Cecile Sexauer, highlighting their family history, travels, and involvement in organizations like the Grain and Feed Dealers National Association. It serves as an important resource for understanding their personal experiences and social networks in the early 20th century.

The general material consists mainly of essays written by Cecile Welch Sexauer during her college career. Also included is a Christmas card list of the Sexauer's for 1971, scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings, a book of Agricultural Department Reports presented to Elmer Sexauer in 1947, and certificates presented to the Sexauer's on the anniversary of their 50th college reunion. Some examples of their personal stationery, grade school papers from Elmer's youth, and a language paper of Laura Sexauer, Elmer's sister are also included.

A scrapbook of Elizabeth Anne Baker, age 9 weeks, chronicles her first visit to her grandparents’ home during Easter 1947. It was prepared by Jeannette Gagnon-Abbey for the Sexauer's.

The scrapbook was presented to Elmer Sexauer by the Grain and Feed Dealers National Association as a permanent reminder of the Forty-fourth Annual Convention held at Louisville, Kentucky October 13-15, 1940. Elmer was president of the Association at that time.
The postcards are composed of postcards from the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean that the Sexauer’s collected on their travels. There are over 400 postcards in this collection.

The Travels series consists of travel diaries hand-written by Cecile Sexauer. These diaries contain information about where the Sexauer's traveled and the customs, history and items of interest of these places. Some of the places the Sexauer's traveled to Europe, Canada, and Japan. Also included is a souvenir book of the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship.

The Elvin Bjorklund Papers document the professional career and contributions of Elvin Bjorklund to the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), particularly in South Dakota and Region 5 of the United States Department of Agriculture. The collection includes reports, conference materials, historical narratives, personnel records, photographs, and training documentation. Topics covered include the history, organization, and development of the Soil Conservation Service; conservation projects in the Black Hills and Missouri River Basin; irrigation and land use initiatives; and leadership and training programs.

Notable items include a biographical profile of Elvin Bjorklund, anniversary materials from the SCS’s 25th year, documentation on the Oahe Irrigation Project, correspondence regarding Ross D. Davies, and black-and-white photographs capturing conservation personnel, farms, and field events. Also present are engineering handbooks for Region 5 and materials reflecting national and regional soil conservation programs and needs assessments.

This collection provides insight into mid-20th-century federal conservation efforts, especially within South Dakota. It offers a detailed look at USDA soil conservation strategies, training practices, and local implementation, and it preserves the legacy of key individuals like Hugh Hammond Bennett and Ross D. Davies. Researchers interested in agricultural history, public land use policy, and federal environmental programs will find these materials especially useful.

Photocopy of a handwritten memoir of Emil Jacobsen's life. The bound volume includes 254 pages of Jacobsen's personal narrative, along with 10 additional pages containing family tree information and explanatory notes. The memoir offers a detailed, first-hand account likely to hold historical and genealogical significance, particularly in documenting everyday life, cultural identity, and regional experiences during Jacobsen's lifetime. It may also provide valuable insight into immigration, settlement patterns, and family history, making it a useful resource for researchers, descendants, and local historians.

The E.S. McFadden Papers document the career, research, and legacy of Edgar Sharp McFadden (1891–1956), a pioneering American plant breeder best known for developing Hope Wheat, the first variety resistant to stem rust. McFadden’s work in genetics and agronomy spanned South Dakota and Texas, and he contributed significantly to agricultural science through federal and academic research programs, including with the USDA and Texas A&M.

The collection spans McFadden’s professional life and includes research notebooks, writings, correspondence, photographs, honors, and biographical materials. Of particular note are research materials related to wheat breeding and rust resistance, including field data, experimental notes, and correspondence concerning Hope Wheat. Writings include published and unpublished scientific and popular articles, speeches, and autobiographical pieces. Also included are awards and certificates from scientific societies, clippings about McFadden’s achievements, and documentation of public recognition such as “McFadden Appreciation Day.” The papers provide insight into 20th-century advancements in crop improvement and agricultural science in the United States.

The Ethel Austin Martin Papers span her personal life, academic background, professional career, and enduring legacy in the field of nutrition. The collection includes correspondence, publications, autobiographical writings, oral history transcripts, photographs, ephemera, awards, and memorabilia. It documents her education from elementary school through graduate studies at Columbia University, her work as an educator and director of nutrition services at the National Dairy Council, and her authorship of several widely used nutrition textbooks. Also included are materials related to her professional affiliations, recognitions, and involvement in national and international conferences. A significant portion of the collection relates to her long-standing relationship with South Dakota State University, particularly her efforts to establish the Ethel Austin Martin Program in Human Nutrition. Items such as diplomas, certificates, calling cards, and a blanket worn in the first Hobo Day parade help illuminate her personal story, while her correspondence and writings reflect her contributions to nutrition education and public health.

Ethel Austin Martin was a nationally recognized leader in nutrition education and public health. As director of nutrition services at the National Dairy Council, she helped shape national nutrition programming. Her influence extended through her textbooks, professional service, and advocacy. This collection is of particular value to researchers studying 20th-century nutrition education, women in science, public health outreach, and South Dakota State University's institutional history. The papers offer insights into both her professional impact and personal legacy, especially her dedication to fostering human nutrition education through the endowed chair at SDSU.

The F. C. W. Kuehn Papers consist of architectural plans for various buildings, primarily located in South Dakota, spanning from 1917 to 1952. It includes designs for one-story and other structures, such as commercial buildings, schools, churches, and residential properties. Notable examples include the Huron Dairy Products Company, several South Dakota Standard and Kuehn’s Standard school buildings, and the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Doland. Additionally, the collection features plans for public works projects, including city auditoriums, fire stations, and service stations, as well as residential structures and a variety of renovations and repairs. These plans reflect the architectural development and growth of South Dakota during the early to mid-20th century, highlighting a range of construction types and purposes.
The architectural drawings include work from both Kuehn's years enrolled in the International Correspondence Schools and his career as an architect.

The general items are composed of miscellaneous items related to Kuehn.

The random specifications are composed of construction specifications for projects Kuehn worked on.

The Frank E. Denholm Papers primarily document Denholm’s service as U.S. Representative for South Dakota’s First Congressional District from 1971 to 1975. The collection reflects his advocacy for rural America, particularly through his work to reinstate the Rural Electrification Act and support legislation on agriculture, rural water systems, and rural development. It includes extensive press releases, congressional reports, financial disclosures, and newspaper clippings related to his legislative activities.

Campaign materials feature prominently, with county-level organizing documents, bumper stickers, advertisements, and memorabilia spanning multiple election cycles. The collection contains correspondence, including exchanges with political figures such as George McGovern, Richard Kneip, J. Edgar Hoover, and Tom Daschle.

Denholm’s earlier and later careers as an FBI agent, sheriff, auctioneer, and attorney are also represented. Non-congressional files include his work in law enforcement, his private business ventures, and his involvement in regional civic life.

Visual documentation includes nearly 1,500 photographs and slides, many related to campaigns, official travel, and public events, as well as oversized items such as campaign posters and scrapbooks. Audio-visual materials include reel-to-reel recordings and 2-inch quad video tapes of campaign advertisements and congressional work.

The collection also features materials related to Denholm’s wife, Mildred Niehaus Denholm, who was active in his campaigns and participated in Congressional Wives’ organizations. Born May 9, 1927 in Andover, South Dakota, Mildred Denholm was a teacher and trained secretary with additional studies in music. The papers include her biographical information, correspondence with Frank Denholm, and documents relating to her role in the Congressional Women’s Club. She passed away on August 14, 2014.

Additional material includes Denholm’s autobiographical writings, family history, South Dakota State University coursework, speeches, public statements, and memorabilia such as awards, plaques, and a pen from the Nixon White House. The papers offer insight into South Dakota political history and mid-20th century rural policy advocacy.

The Denholm Papers serve scholars of political science, rural history, South Dakota state politics, and 20th-century congressional history by preserving a detailed account of one legislator’s efforts to shape federal policy to better serve rural constituencies.

This collection contains a variety of materials documenting historical, personal, and professional narratives. It includes biographical sketches, photographs, clippings, collected scripts, writings spanning several decades, and an M.S. thesis. A significant portion is dedicated to a World War II trip, featuring correspondence, diaries, interviews, maps, speeches, research notes, and collected materials. Other highlights include tributes, miscellaneous items, and materials related to agriculture and economic studies. The collection offers a comprehensive view of various topics and periods, emphasizing key historical events and personal experiences.

The collection contains correspondence dating from 1940 to 1950, including letters addressed to George L. Brown in his capacity as president of South Dakota State University and other professional correspondence. A small group of materials dating from 1944 to 1946 includes letters and an image associated with commemorations of Brown’s work and long service to the institution. The records document administrative responsibilities, professional relationships, and institutional recognition during the later years of Brown’s career.

This collection documents George L. Brown’s leadership roles and continued involvement with South Dakota State University during the closing years of his professional life. The correspondence and commemorative materials offer insight into institutional governance, presidential duties, and the recognition of long-term service within a land grant university context.

The collection includes clippings (1960-1965), correspondence (1929-1962), and materials from the Department of History and Political Science (1943-1957). It features Glimpses of SDSU (1957), A History: The Abbots, the Allyn's, the Stickney's and the Young's (undated), greeting cards (undated), and a Study in History (undated). It also contains manuscripts by Gertrude Stickney Young, including material on the history of South Dakota State University's history department, Christmas cards with artwork by Ada Caldwell, certificates, and other personal items.

This collection offers insights into Young's academic and civic contributions, reflecting her influence on South Dakota State University and her dedication to preserving history. Works such as Glimpses of SDSU and family histories underscore her role as a writer and historian, while correspondence and clippings highlight her professional and personal impact. The collection is a significant resource for understanding South Dakota's educational and cultural development.

This collection consists of editorials written by Gordon Garnos between 1998 and 2016. The bulk of the material includes city, state, and national editorials published in the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion, as well as weekly syndicated “Seeing South Dakota” columns that appeared in newspapers across South Dakota. Editorial content covers a wide range of topics including agriculture, economic development, education, governance, legislative issues, local interest, national affairs, and politics. The collection also contains index listings, title lists, and multiple runs of columns arranged in reverse chronological order. Documentation includes editorial gaps, the final published column (October 31, 2016), and an obituary and related correspondence following Garnos’s death.

The Gordon Garnos Papers offer insight into South Dakota's political and civic discourse at the turn of the 21st century. As a longtime columnist and former press secretary to Governor Frank Farrar, Garnos brought institutional knowledge and a regional perspective to public commentary. His editorials reflect the evolving priorities and concerns of rural communities, especially in relation to state government, agricultural policy, and economic change. The collection is a significant resource for researchers studying media influence, public opinion, and political culture in South Dakota during the late 1990s through mid-2010s.

The H. H. DeLong Papers are comprised of research, publications, and professional activity related to rammed earth construction, with a strong focus on agricultural and rural building applications. Materials include bulletins, circulars, extension publications, engineering data, research reports, manuals, and bibliographies dating from 1919 to 1988, with some later contextual material through 2011. The publications were issued by land grant universities, federal and state agencies, international organizations, and research institutions, including South Dakota State College, the United States Department of Agriculture, Texas A and M University, the University of California, and the United Nations. Subjects addressed include soil composition, construction techniques, structural performance, building finishes, housing design, and applications of rammed earth and related earthen building methods such as adobe, cob, and pisé de terre. The collection also includes news articles highlighting rammed earth projects and public interest in the method. Biographical materials related to Henry Herbert DeLong are present, including clippings, honors, obituary material, a curriculum vitae, and portrait photographs, documenting his professional career and recognition for contributions to agricultural engineering and rammed earth research.

The collection provides documentation of twentieth century research and practical guidance on rammed earth construction in agricultural and rural contexts, reflecting the role of land grant institutions and government agencies in promoting cost effective and locally sourced building materials. The inclusion of publications authored by or associated with Henry Herbert DeLong documents his contributions to the development and dissemination of rammed earth construction methods and their application in the United States. The materials support research in agricultural engineering, sustainable building practices, rural housing, and the history of earthen construction technologies.

The Harold W. Shunk Papers focuses on Native American history, particularly the Dakota and Lakota tribes. It includes a wide range of materials, such as newsletters, manuscripts, notebooks, and historical lists. The collection documents significant events and figures in the history of the tribes and their interactions with federal agencies.

Among the key materials are typewritten transcripts from the Wahehe Heirship hearing, personal histories related to the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, and writings about the Dakota Indian Tiospaye system. The collection also covers military posts like Fort Laramie and Fort Totten and includes detailed accounts of the Big Foot massacre at Wounded Knee and the second Battle of Wounded Knee. Prominent individuals featured in the records include Crazy Horse, Crow King, Spotted Tail, Plenty Horses, and Harold W. Shunk, providing insights into the tribal leadership, cultural practices, and the role of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in local governance

A significant portion of the collection focuses on the Wahehe Heirship hearing transcripts, which address inheritance rights for Wahehe's allotment, alongside personal histories of individuals connected to the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. Writings on the Dakota Indian Tiospaye system feature alongside documents pertaining to military posts such as Fort Laramie and Fort Totten. Accounts of moments such as the Big Foot massacre at Wounded Knee and the second Battle of Wounded Knee are also included.

Physical artifacts, such as mounted steer horns, provide additional cultural context.

The collection contains materials documenting the Lothrop, Hawley, and Walters families from the late nineteenth century through the early twenty first century. Formats include baby books, scrapbooks, photograph albums, loose family photographs, correspondence, invitations, certificates, reunion memorabilia, an autograph book, academic records, and a municipal reform paper. Items date from 1879 to 2002 with several undated components. The materials reflect family life, education, social activities, and community involvement in South Dakota and the broader region.

The collection provides a continuous record of multiple generations and offers evidence of family history, regional history, and social practices from the late 1800s to the early 2000s. It documents milestones such as births, marriages, reunions, education, and community participation, and includes rare early photographic material and institutional ephemera from South Dakota.

Comprises 71 journals kept by Henry and Inez Johnson documenting rural life near Baltic, South Dakota.

The Hilton M. Briggs Papers document the professional career, presidency, retirement, and postretirement activities of Hilton M. Briggs, president of South Dakota State University from 1958 to 1975. The collection spans from the 1940s through 2001 and includes correspondence, administrative and biographical materials, speeches, writings, reports, scrapbooks, photographs, clippings, certificates, awards, and memorabilia. Materials document Briggs’ leadership at South Dakota State University, including campus growth, administrative reorganization, alumni relations, presidential housing, athletics, and student life, as well as his involvement in national and international agricultural education initiatives.

The collection contains extensive documentation of Briggs’ retirement and recognition, including congratulatory letters, legislative resolutions, tribute volumes, plaques, trophies, and certificates from professional organizations, alumni groups, agricultural associations, and equine organizations. Significant portions of the collection relate to Briggs’ induction into the Saddle and Sirloin Club portrait collection, including correspondence, photographs, and programs. The papers also include Briggs’ scholarly and professional writings in animal science and agricultural research, progress reports, journal articles, and later reflective writings, including an autobiography.

Photographic materials document university events, campus architecture, travel, family life, professional activities, and Briggs’ long standing involvement with horses and horse shows. Scrapbooks and memorabilia volumes compile news coverage, honors, and personal materials spanning his early career through retirement. The collection also documents Briggs’ work after leaving the presidency, including international agricultural programs, People to People tours, and the Botswana Agricultural College project.

The Hilton M. Briggs Papers document the longest presidential administration in the history of South Dakota State University and a period of substantial institutional transformation. The collection provides evidence of the university’s transition from a college to a university, expansion of academic programs, growth in enrollment and facilities, and changes in shared governance involving faculty and students. Briggs’ writings and administrative records also contribute to the historical study of animal science, agricultural research, and extension education in the mid twentieth century. The extensive recognition materials and retirement documentation reflect Briggs’ national influence in agricultural education, university administration, and livestock and equine communities, while the international materials illustrate the global reach of land grant agricultural expertise during the postwar period.

The Hofer/Loewen Family Papers primarily document the agricultural operations, political involvement, and personal history of the Hofer family in Beadle County, South Dakota. Spanning from 1947 to 2000, the collection includes detailed farm accounting records maintained through various record book formats, including those issued by South Dakota State College Extension, National Farmers’ publications, and Farm Credit Services. These ledgers provide comprehensive data on land use, livestock inventories, crop production, machinery, expenditures, and farm business summaries.

Also included are materials from Ben Hofer’s 1996 campaign for the South Dakota State Senate, such as advertising, posters, newspaper clippings, and promotional items. Additional content consists of biographical material on Ben Hofer and his father Josua Hofer, a funeral program, photographs, and a farm history written by Elise Waldner. Notably, the collection contains acreage measurements for Milford Township compiled by Josua Hofer in 1940, offering valuable local land use documentation. A series of calendars captures daily appointments and activities, contributing further insight into the family’s agricultural and civic life.

This collection offers researchers a longitudinal record of farm management in eastern South Dakota across five decades, illustrating evolving agricultural practices and rural economics. It also reflects the political and civic engagement of a farming family, particularly through Ben Hofer’s campaign materials and local documentation compiled by Josua Hofer. The materials offer researchers insight into mid-to-late 20th-century rural life, land use, and regional agricultural history in Beadle County.

The J. Howard Kramer Papers are composed of an unedited manuscript draft for Kramer's book A History of South Dakota State University, 1884 to 1975. The manuscript is divided into two segments: the first includes the introduction through Chapter 10, and the second includes Chapters 11 through 13. This version of the manuscript contains material that was later reduced or omitted during the editing process prior to publication. In addition to the manuscript, the collection includes biographical summaries compiled by Kramer of South Dakota State University presidents from George Lilley through Hilton M. Briggs, covering the years 1884 to 1975.

This collection provides insight into the institutional development of South Dakota State University and preserves contextual material not present in the published version of Kramer's history. The president biographies offer additional perspectives on administrative leadership and university governance during key periods of transformation and growth.

The J.M. Aldrich Diaries consist of three volumes documenting Aldrich’s student years at Dakota Agricultural College from 1885 to 1888. The diaries provide a detailed daily account of his experiences during the formative years of the college. Each volume represents one academic year: Volume 1 (1885–1886), Volume 2 (1886–1887), and Volume 3 (1887–1888). Between 1930 and 1932, Aldrich transcribed the original diaries into typewritten copies and added parenthetical annotations for clarification.

Entries are organized by day and date, offering insight into Aldrich’s routine activities, travels between Minnesota and Brookings, and observations of campus life. Although many entries describe ordinary events, they collectively convey a rich portrayal of student life and the broader Dakota Territory environment during the 1880s. Notable topics include transportation challenges, early college operations, and administrative changes, such as the replacement of President George Lilley with Lewis McLouth.

These diaries are a primary source reflecting the student perspective during the early years of Dakota Agricultural College. They document both the mundane and institutional aspects of academic life in the upper Midwest frontier and serve as a foundational narrative for understanding student culture and college development in the Dakota Territory.

The J.P. Hendrickson Papers are composed of material collected by Hendrickson in connection with his work on constitutional reform in South Dakota and his contributions to local government in Brookings. The collection spans from 1885 to 2002, with the bulk of the material dating from 1968 to 1998. Included are commission documents, reports, minutes, drafts, correspondence, and research files related to the South Dakota Constitutional Revision Commission, the Citizens Commission on Executive Reorganization, and other committees examining state and local governance.

The papers contain extensive records of constitutional study, including annotated drafts, comparative analyses, staff reports, constitutional amendments, and testimony. Minutes and supporting material document the activities of the Constitutional Revision Commission from its inception through the mid-1970s. Additional files include official election returns, legislative reports, and legal cases affecting constitutional interpretation. Hendrickson’s work on the Brookings Home Rule Charter is reflected in records, drafts, speeches, and correspondence from the 1990s. The collection also contains publications, atlases, government handbooks, municipal records, and newsletters that provided context for his teaching, research, and public service.

This collection documents J.P. Hendrickson’s role as a political scientist, educator, and civic leader in shaping South Dakota’s constitutional and governmental framework during the late twentieth century. The materials highlight his contributions to the South Dakota Constitutional Revision Commission (1969–1975), his involvement in the development of state governance reforms, and his authorship of the Brookings Home Rule Charter in 1996. The collection preserves the debates, proposals, and documentation of statewide constitutional change, while also illustrating Hendrickson’s influence on local governance in Brookings. Together, these records provide an essential resource for understanding constitutional reform, political restructuring, and civic engagement in South Dakota.

The James K. “Tex” Lewis Papers comprise research data, field notes, correspondence, publications, photographs, and teaching materials that document Lewis’s extensive range management research and instructional activities. The bulk of the materials pertain to Projects 216, 217, 239, and 421, long-running studies on forage production, grazing systems, livestock weight monitoring, and soil moisture dynamics conducted primarily at the Cottonwood Range Field Station, but also at Antelope Range Field Station, the Badlands, and other locations. The collection includes detailed observational and statistical data (e.g., point frame data, clip plot studies, Vegometer readings, and remote sensing imagery), climatological records, experimental livestock weights, soil analyses, and related environmental assessments. Boxes also include datasets used in simulation modeling (e.g., SPUR) and course materials for RANG, AS, and WL courses taught by Lewis.

Additional documentation reflects collaboration with national and regional entities such as the American Grassland Council, Society for Range Management, Great Plains Agricultural Council, and Bureau of Land Management. Also included are aerial photographs, GIS data, proposals, and internal reports, showcasing the depth and scientific rigor of Lewis’s methodology. Later series feature writings, technical guides, and training materials used in both academic and governmental range science settings.

This collection is a resource for understanding mid- to late-20th-century range science and ecosystem monitoring in the Great Plains. James K. Lewis’s work contributed significantly to innovations in grazing system design, range condition monitoring, and statistical modeling of range-livestock interactions. His leadership in integrating remote sensing, climatological data, and ecological classification methods helped shape contemporary range management practices. The materials are particularly valuable for researchers interested in the evolution of land use planning, sustainable grazing systems, and interdisciplinary range-livestock ecology. The inclusion of raw data and simulation outputs enhances the collection’s potential for longitudinal environmental and climatic studies.

The collection consists of records related to theatre education and production at South Dakota State University and affiliated programs. Materials include course syllabi, lecture notes, reading materials, examinations, and instructional resources for acting, directing, theatre history, rhetorical theory, children’s theatre, theatre arts management, and European cultural studies. The collection also contains extensive prompt books for theatrical productions directed by Dr. Johnson, documenting rehearsal processes, staging decisions, scripts, cast lists, programs, photographs, and related ephemera. Records of Prairie Repertory Theatre and State University Theatre are well represented and include publicity, programs, reviews, correspondence, budgets, attendance reports, Board of Directors minutes, planning materials, photographs, slides, and audiovisual recordings. Additional materials document professional relationships with theatre practitioners, including costume designs received from Broadway costume designer Carrie Robbins, as well as speeches, awards, retirement materials, and records of service to university governance and arts organizations.

The collection provides documentation of theatre instruction, production, and administration at South Dakota State University over several decades. It offers primary source material on regional theatre practice, university based repertory theatre, and the integration of professional theatrical standards into academic programs. The records support research on theatre pedagogy, directing practices, institutional theatre history, and the development of performing arts programs in South Dakota.

The James Pollock Papers document the life, art, and contributions of South Dakota artist James Pollock, with a particular focus on his involvement in the U.S. Army's Combat Art Teams (CAT) and his artistic works related to the Vietnam War. The collection encompasses a wide range of materials, including notes, interviews, reports, articles, photographs, and sketches, offering a detailed look at Pollock's creative process, his military experiences, and his artistic evolution both during and after his service. A central component of the collection highlights Pollock's role in the Combat Art Teams, which aimed to capture the realities of war through visual art. His contributions span various phases of the Vietnam conflict and also includes material of other Combat Artist Team military assignments in locations such as Korea, Thailand, Germany, Alaska, and Panama.

The collection features numerous original ink sketches that showcase Pollock's distinctive style and his evolving artistic vision over the years. These works cover a broad range of subjects, from wildlife and landscapes to human figures, frequently drawing inspiration from his South Dakota heritage. In addition to his war-related art, Pollock's work has been exhibited in venues such as the Indianapolis Exhibit and the Robinson Museum in Pierre, South Dakota. Articles and press releases from publications like South Dakota Magazine and Vietnam Magazine document his artistic impact, highlighting the significance of his contributions to both military and civilian audiences.

Correspondence within the collection reveals Pollock's interactions with a diverse group of individuals, including political figures, fellow artists, military personnel, and veterans. These letters provide valuable insight into the professional and cultural networks that supported Pollock's artistic endeavors.

Beyond his military and war-related art, the collection includes Pollock's personal projects, such as his illustrations for Blood on the Killdeer by Dana Close Jennings, as well as his involvement in South Dakota's Centennial and Bicentennial celebrations. His engagement with the public is further reflected in materials related to his participation in art forums for veterans. The collection also documents Pollock's media presence, including his web site, articles, and video content, which showcase his outreach efforts to veterans and the broader public.

Overall, the James Pollock Papers offer a comprehensive portrait of an artist whose work bridges military history, cultural heritage, and personal expression, underscoring the enduring impact of his artistic contributions.

The collection is primarily composed of materials created or collected by Janet Stofferan during her employment with the Simplicity Pattern Company between 1968 and 1971. Materials document the daily operations of company field staff and fashion promotion activities, including correspondence, promotional publications, newspaper clippings, insurance information, travel policies, routing schedules, payment records, and stylist scheduling and promotional materials. Specific programs and initiatives represented include The Designer Touch, Holiday Glamor Show, Know Your Pattern Size, Modern Miss Extra, and related routing and stylist documentation.

The collection also includes a small body of materials relating to Adaline Henrietta Snellman Hsia, records concerning the history of home economics at South Dakota State University, course syllabi from the 1960s, and judging materials for the Little International Agricultural Exposition at South Dakota State University.

This collection documents the fashion industry field operations and promotional practices of the Simplicity Pattern Company in the late twentieth century. It also offers contextual material on home economics education at South Dakota State University and student and alumni involvement in Little International, contributing to the historical record of academic and extracurricular programs connected to apparel, textiles, and agricultural education.

The Jay Dirksen Papers document his tenure as Track and Field and Cross Country coach at South Dakota State University from 1969 to 1977. The collection is composed primarily of files on student-athletes coached by Dirksen, containing record sheets of training programs, correspondence, clippings, photographs, and data related to the running careers of individual athletes. These records provide detailed insight into the development, performance, and achievements of numerous SDSU runners during this period.

In addition to athlete files, the collection includes extensive materials from Dirksen’s research on cross country running, spanning from 1957 to 1981. This research encompasses training methods, physiological data, and evaluations of performance, reflecting both experimental and applied approaches to distance running. The presence of running articles compiled between 1979 and 2008 further demonstrates Dirksen’s long-term engagement with the field of cross country and track.

The collection is a resource documenting collegiate athletics at South Dakota State University during the 1960s and 1970s, as well as its contribution to the study of endurance training and cross country running. The athlete files illustrate the careers of numerous individuals who competed under Dirksen’s guidance, while the research files highlight his role in advancing training practices that influenced distance running programs at SDSU and beyond.

The Jim Koch papers document the academic, athletic, and early coaching career of Jim Koch, with emphasis on his development as a wrestler and coach from his high school years through the early stages of his collegiate coaching career. Materials span approximately 1961 to 1981, with the strongest coverage dating from 1963 to 1981. The collection includes records from Koch’s time as a student athlete at Milbank High School and South Dakota State University, as well as documentation of his early coaching activities, including his work with the South Dakota State University junior varsity wrestling team and his initial years coaching at the University of Wisconsin Parkside. Materials include academic records, coursework, athletic ephemera, awards, training and exercise methods, correspondence, newspapers and newspaper clippings, NCAA championship materials, photographs, tournament schedules, tuition, and alumni records.
This collection documents Jim Koch’s wrestling and coaching career and provides insight into high school and collegiate wrestling in the Midwest during the 1960s and 1970s. It illustrates the relationship between academic life and intercollegiate athletics at Milbank High School and South Dakota State University and records the early professional development of a coach who later became a prominent figure in collegiate wrestling. The materials also contribute to the historical record of wrestling programs at South Dakota State University and the University of Wisconsin Parkside.

The collection consists of materials assembled by Jim Marking that reflect his professional activities as a basketball coach and educator from the mid twentieth century through the 1970s, with later materials documenting recognition of his career. Instructional content includes undated and dated mimeographed handouts, course outlines for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation courses, examinations and notebooks, and materials addressing ethics, psychology, and physiology of sport. Coaching documentation includes practice notes, drills, playbooks, scouting and recruiting records, weight training programs, scorebooks, and trend analyses in basketball. The collection also contains official programs, press clippings, team photographs, and published articles related to SDSU basketball, including the 1963 NCAA Division II National Championship. Administrative and personal materials include correspondence regarding basketball camps, internal SDSU memoranda, retirement cards and letters, retirement press coverage, obituary material, and documentation of Marking’s induction into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame.

The collection documents collegiate and high school basketball coaching practices, physical education instruction, and athletic program development in South Dakota during the mid twentieth century. It offers insight into coaching philosophy, training methods, recruiting practices, and instructional approaches used at South Dakota State University and within the state’s secondary school system. The materials also document Jim Marking’s role in SDSU athletics, including championship seasons, conference competition, and his retirement and later recognition, contributing to the institutional history of SDSU and the broader history of basketball in South Dakota.

The Goodale Papers consist of scanned pages from a scrapbook documenting the Goodales' experiences as students at South Dakota State College from 1953 to 1957. The scrapbook also includes material they collected following their graduation, extending through 2013.

The John E. Miller Papers document the academic, professional, and scholarly contributions of Dr. John E. Miller, longtime faculty member in the Department of History at South Dakota State University. The collection includes course materials, oral history interviews, public talks and presentations, manuscripts, published works, and extensive research files. The bulk of the collection centers on Miller’s nationally recognized work on Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane, but also reflects his broader research interests in American history, democracy, political culture, and Midwestern small-town life.

The general material series includes correspondence, photographs, awards, articles about Miller, and records of his involvement with organizations such as the South Dakota Humanities Council, South Dakota State Historical Society, Phi Kappa Phi, and the Midwestern History Association. Course materials reflect Miller’s teaching of U.S. history, South Dakota history, American political thought, and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute courses following his retirement. Talks and presentations span decades of academic conferences, workshops, and public panels, including participation in the Dakota History Conference and Laurapalooza.

The interviews series includes oral histories with figures such as George McGovern and John Wooden, as well as SDSU faculty and administrators. Early recordings were created on audiocassette and later on digital media; some are accompanied by transcripts and release forms. The writings series includes manuscripts, book proposals, article drafts, encyclopedia entries, and collaborative works. Sixteen boxes are devoted to Miller’s research and writing on Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family, comprising handwritten notes, research from archival sources, critiques of other Wilder scholars, and drafts of his own publications.

Miller’s research files cover a wide range of historical figures and topics such as democracy, elections, U.S. and South Dakota history, creativity, and popular culture. Subject files include material on Johnny Carson, Walt Disney, Sam Walton, and Lawrence Welk, as well as materials related to his books Looking for History on Highway 14 and South Dakota State University: A Pictorial History, 1881–2006. Also included are Brookings County historical research drawn from the Donald D. Parker Collection; materials related to the Brookings County Democratic Party donated by Ruby Mershon; and artwork and records concerning Hubert B. Mathews and Hubert Jean Mathieu.

Audiovisual and digital content includes 231 audiocassettes, 10 digital recorders, 17 CDs, 1 DVD, 18 USB flash drives, 24 SD cards, and born-digital materials. These recordings document interviews, lectures, and research materials gathered over the course of his career.

This collection is especially valuable for its preservation of the scholarly legacy of one of South Dakota’s foremost historians. Miller’s research on Laura Ingalls Wilder contributed significantly to American literary and cultural history, and his oral histories and writings provide rich documentation of South Dakota’s political, educational, and social landscape. The materials reflect the intellectual and civic life of the region, while also offering insight into the historian’s role as teacher, writer, and public scholar. The breadth and depth of this collection make it an essential resource for the study of Midwestern identity, public history, American democracy, and the institutional history of South Dakota State University.

This collection consists of one file folder of correspondence between W. Sigurd Opdahl and his wife, Goldie Opdahl, written while W. Sigurd was employed at an airplane factory in Long Beach, California, during World War II. His letters describe his journey to California and his work at the factory, while hers detail daily life in Hayti, South Dakota. The collection also includes a letter from their daughter, Lou Ellen Johnson. All letters are photocopies of the originals.

The Joye Ann Billow Papers document the professional career, family history, and personal interests of Dr. Billow, a longtime faculty member of the South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy. The collection includes awards, honors, correspondence, curricula vitae, and publications reflecting her academic contributions. Materials also document her role in organizing the South Dakota Tours for new faculty in 2000 and 2001, including packets, correspondence, and photographs.

Personal and family materials form a substantial portion of the papers. These include biographical portraits, school photographs, yearbooks, baby books, and family correspondence. Genealogical documents from the Billow, Pierce, Herb, and Lux families are present, along with memorial books and condolence materials. A large scrapbook contains family genealogical records such as birth, confirmation, and marriage certificates, as well as collected correspondence and memorabilia.

The collection is especially rich in photographs, encompassing portraits, family groups, travels, and collected images, as well as images related to ceramics, clocks, and other objects. In addition, the papers contain Dr. Billow’s original artwork, including watercolors, ink drawings, and sketches, which reflect her artistic pursuits after retirement.

This collection is a resource for documentation of Dr. Billow’s three decades of service to pharmacy education at SDSU and her broader contributions to campus governance and community organizations. It preserves the history of faculty professional service at a land-grant university and highlights the integration of academic work with community engagement. The extensive genealogical and family materials provide insight into the Billow and Pierce families of Pennsylvania and South Dakota connections, while the inclusion of original art illustrates Dr. Billow’s creative endeavors following her academic career. Together, the papers present a multifaceted record of professional achievement, family heritage, and personal expression.

The collection is composed of manuscripts, correspondence, galley proofs, research, books and publications related to her published works of fiction and nonfiction.

The general material is composed of Norris' juvenilia from Bennington College, instructors' mid-term and final reports of her course work from college, and biographies and interviews of Norris conducted by various media organizations. Also included is a collection of notebooks from the early 1970's to 2009. These notebooks are spiral bound and appear to be daily journals with notes and drafts of poems and essays. They also contain postcards, clippings, business cards, prayer cards, photographs, recipes, etc. Of note is the manuscript for Elizabeth Krays Letters, Memos, and Notes to Marie Bullock: Two Great Ladies of American Poetry. A 1937 edition of Conversation at Midnight by Edna St. Vincent Millay and signed by John H. Norris is also included.

Poetry is composed of Norris' poetry in anthologies, books, catalogs, chapbooks, contributions, and periodicals. These publications all include Norris' poetry, and some also include works by her husband, David Dwyer, (this will be noted on the front of the folder).
Nonfiction books consist of draft and annotated manuscript pages, galley proofs, cover art and typeface layout, book jackets, book notes, correspondence, research, reviews, audio books, international editions, promotional material, book tour information, advance proofs, hard cover and paperback books. Material varies with each book title. This material is arranged alphabetically by publication title.

Other writings consist mainly of essays, reviews, and sermons published in journals, anthologies, books, textbooks, etc. Also included are scripture reflections for daily devotions, Afterword, Forewords, Introductions, Prefaces, and Symposia to which Norris has contributed.
Works mentioning Norris are also included. They are composed of publications with articles mention Kathleen Norris.

This collection was compiled by Lawrence Hunt’s daughter, Gayle (Hunt) Matz, and documents aspects of Hunt’s personal history and family legacy. It includes a short biography written by Matz, an audio cassette recording titled Grandy Hunt 1918–1989, in which Lawrence Hunt shares memories of the Great Depression and his World War II service, and seven digital photographs. The cassette was recorded by Hunt’s granddaughter, Erin, as part of a school project. Materials offer insight into 20th-century American family life and military service through a personal narrative lens.

The Linda Hall Daschle Papers document the professional achievements and public service of Linda Hall Daschle, particularly in the aviation sector, alongside selected materials related to her husband, Senator Tom Daschle’s political career. The collection spans from the early 1960s through the early 2000s and includes personal memorabilia, professional correspondence, press clippings, publications, and extensive audio-visual content.

Materials in the collection reflect Linda Daschle’s pioneering roles in federal aviation policy, including her tenure at the Civil Aeronautics Board and as Deputy Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. The papers include awards, plaques, certificates, and commemorative items that mark key milestones in her career, as well as documentation of her public recognition by professional aviation organizations and federal institutions. A significant portion of the collection consists of VHS recordings of interviews, speeches, public service announcements, and events in which Daschle participated or was featured, illustrating her influence and visibility within the field.

The collection also preserves materials related to her early life, including beauty pageant recognition, and her civic engagement beyond aviation, such as her involvement with women’s and Native American organizations.

Complementing Linda Daschle’s materials are documents from Tom Daschle’s congressional and senatorial campaigns, including campaign plans, collected clippings, scheduling documents, and promotional materials. The audiovisual content also includes campaign advertisements, speeches, interviews, and farewell remarks, providing context to his political trajectory and public service legacy.

Overall, the collection offers insight into Linda Hall Daschle’s contributions to federal aviation policy, her role as a trailblazing woman in government service, and the broader political and public life of the Daschle family.

The Lonita Gustad Corothers Papers consist primarily of personal diaries kept from 1945 through 2010, along with related writings, correspondence, poetry, and reflections. The collection is centered around Corothers' detailed diary entries, beginning in August 1945 and continuing through June 2010, documenting daily life, personal relationships, family matters, and religious reflections. Of particular note are descriptions of her experiences as a pharmacy student at South Dakota State College from 1946 to 1950, and early entries reflecting on the aftermath of World War II.

Accompanying the diaries are seven timeline index notebooks compiled by Corothers, which summarize entries and highlight significant life events through starred notations. Additional series include excerpted diary passages arranged by theme (e.g., courtship, marriage, family life), typed or printed transcriptions with later comments by the author, and copied alphabetical diary volumes for easier reference.

The collection also includes correspondence between Lonita and her future husband, Tom Corothers, dating from 1949 to 1964, primarily during their courtship and early marriage. A grief notebook written following Tom’s death reflects on their relationship and her experience of loss.

Corothers’ literary output is represented in five poetry binders compiled in 2003, categorized by topic (Nature and Faith; Love, Anger, Humor; Death and Grief; Philosophy; Age and Miscellaneous), as well as multiple poetry notebooks and untitled drafts. Additional writings include prose, meditations, and reflections, many handwritten or typed on scrap paper such as envelopes, grocery lists, or church bulletins, often undated and unordered.

Together, the materials offer a deeply personal and extensive life record, rich in autobiographical detail and reflective commentary spanning over six decades.

The Marcus S. Zuber Papers consist of a single box of personal and professional materials documenting Zuber’s career in corn breeding research. The collection is composed primarily of scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings, certificates, photographs, news releases, and correspondence. It also includes diplomas representing Zuber’s academic achievements—a B.S. from South Dakota State College, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Iowa State College, and an honorary degree from South Dakota State University—as well as a citation from the Army Service Forces for the Army Commendation Ribbon. These materials provide a detailed record of Zuber’s contributions to agricultural science and public recognition of his service and achievements.

The Marilyn Richardson Papers document the growth and formalization of dance as an academic discipline and performing art at South Dakota State University (SDSU), largely through the pioneering efforts of Marilyn Richardson. Spanning the years 1957 to 1994, the collection includes awards, correspondence, programs, newsletters, publicity materials, scrapbooks, photographs, slides, and videocassettes that trace the establishment of SDSU’s dance curriculum, student organizations, and performance traditions.

The collection includes numerous awards and plaques recognizing Richardson’s contributions to SDSU, state and regional dance education, and professional associations such as AAPERD and the South Dakota Association for Health, Physical Recreation, and Dance. General files feature Dance Club records, concert choreography, dance camp and workshop materials, administrative proposals, and personal correspondence. Included are materials related to the creation of the dance minor, biographical documentation of Richardson, and collaborative records involving figures such as Nellie F. Kendall, Barbara Kohn, and Terry Larvie.

Photographs, slides, and videocassettes provide visual documentation of dance concerts, rehearsals, student and faculty performances, the Motion Machine student company, workshops, guest artist residencies, and experimental choreography. Publicity materials consist of posters created to promote student and faculty concerts and often feature collaged images of past performances. Scrapbooks compiled by the Dance Club and Modern Dance Club include photographs, programs, and clippings that reflect student engagement and the evolving role of dance within the university community.

This collection captures the dance program at SDSU during a period when the arts were gaining broader academic legitimacy within land-grant institutions. It reflects Marilyn Richardson’s leadership in elevating dance from extracurricular activity to academic offering, her commitment to student development, and her efforts to connect university dance with K-12 outreach and public engagement across South Dakota. The records document the creation of the dance minor, the founding of the Motion Machine touring company, and the long-standing Annual and Experimental Dance Concerts—milestones that shaped the presence of performing arts at SDSU. The collection serves as a valuable resource for understanding the intersection of education, performance, and community arts during the late 20th century.

The collection documents the professional career of Dr. Mary Peterson Arnold as a journalism educator, administrator, researcher, and advocate for scholastic journalism and student press rights. Materials include course syllabi and instructional content for undergraduate and graduate journalism courses at South Dakota State University, particularly media law, international women’s issues, and science writing. The collection contains correspondence, sabbatical records, promotion and tenure materials, departmental reviews, and institutional branding records reflecting her administrative and faculty roles. Also present are research papers, published and unpublished writings, conference materials, reports, and policy documents addressing high school journalism, student freedom of expression, diversity and recruitment, women in media management, and journalism education. Awards, plaques, certificates, photographs, and commemorative items document professional recognition from national journalism and education organizations. Records related to high school journalism associations and youth media programs further illustrate Arnold’s sustained engagement with scholastic journalism at the state and national levels.

The collection documents journalism education and media law instruction in the late twentieth and early twenty first centuries, with particular emphasis on scholastic journalism, student press freedom, and the role of women in news media leadership. It reflects national professional networks in journalism education and records institutional leadership and curriculum development at South Dakota State University. The materials support research on journalism pedagogy, youth media advocacy, gender equity in media organizations, and the professionalization of high school journalism programs.

The Mary Jo Benton Lee Papers document her work in teaching, program development, diversity initiatives, and outreach at South Dakota State University from 1987 to 2010. The collection is composed of four main areas: the Promotional Techniques for Engineers class, student class projects, personal files, and the SDSU–Flandreau Indian School Success Academy.

The Promotional Techniques for Engineers class, created in 1987 by Dean of Engineering Ernest Buckley and Benton Lee, was designed to train engineering students in journalism and public communication. Students promoted university and statewide events, managing substantial budgets to design publicity campaigns, advertisements, news releases, and promotional materials. Records include class lecture notes, campaign notebooks, audio-visual materials, assignments, and proceedings of the American Society of Engineering Education describing the course.

The Class Projects series contains files related to student-led promotional campaigns, including the Impact ’87 Trade Fair, the Making Connections ethics seminar, and the Expanding Horizons Together entrepreneurship workshop. Materials include promotional reports, news clippings, media kits, advertisements, event programs, and evaluation documents that illustrate how engineering students applied communication skills in real-world projects.

The Personal Files series includes Benton Lee’s professional records while serving as graduate assistant for the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium (1992–1998), during which South Dakota’s tribal colleges were incorporated into the consortium, and her role as Diversity Coordinator for the College of Engineering (1998–2010). These files reflect engineering diversity initiatives, faculty meetings, scholarship programs, recruitment and retention activities, management and leadership training, and national organizations promoting women and minorities in STEM.

The Flandreau Indian School Success Academy files document the development of an early and intensive college preparatory program for American Indian high school students co-founded by Benton Lee. Materials include program reports, annual evaluations, histories of the Flandreau Indian School, commencement materials, and ten-year program reviews spanning 2000 to 2010.

This collection provides a record of teaching methods that combined communication and engineering, highlighting how students were engaged in leadership and professional skill-building through public relations campaigns. It also illustrates the broader efforts of South Dakota State University to support diversity and inclusion in engineering education, particularly through partnerships with tribal colleges and the Flandreau Indian School. The papers reflect Benton Lee’s career as a scholar, teacher, and administrator who shaped engineering outreach, diversity initiatives, and early college preparatory opportunities for underrepresented students.

The Matt Cecil Papers comprise photocopied Federal Bureau of Investigation files on hundreds of twentieth-century journalists, editors, broadcasters, publishers, news organizations, and related government officials, obtained by Matthew Cecil through the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts. The materials document FBI monitoring, contacts, and public relations activities during the J. Edgar Hoover era and after. Inclusive dates span 1918 to 2000, with the bulk from the 1930s to the 1970s.

The collection consists of FBI case files, correspondence, memoranda, routing slips, teletype messages, surveillance reports, news releases, interviews, essays, investigations, clippings, and magazine tearsheets. Files are organized by creator or entity and include broadcasters, columnists, reporters, writers, cartoonists, editors, publishers, federal agents and government officials, news agencies, periodicals, and film, radio, and television programs. Examples include files on figures such as Steve Allen, Eric Sevareid, Dorothy Kilgallen, I. F. Stone, Westbrook Pegler, and Ed Sullivan; editors including James Wechsler and Freda Kirchwey; publishers including William Randolph Hearst and Katharine Graham; agencies and outlets such as Associated Press, United Press International, the Chicago Tribune, the New Republic, and the Nation; and entertainment properties and programs including the FBI radio series and television series and Hearst Metrotone News. Topic files include materials on public relations practitioners, academic and political figures, and organizations such as the Society of Former Special Agents. Documentation includes standard FBI redaction sheets inserted where pages were withheld under Title 5 U.S.C. 552 and 552a. Some photocopies are light or blurred as noted by FBI reproduction statements. A subset of folders is marked water damaged; papers are dry but warped and may be brittle.

The papers provide primary evidence of FBI interactions with and assessments of the news media, publishing, and entertainment industries, with emphasis on the Bureau’s public relations strategies during the Hoover era. The records support research on government and the press, media history, and the professional activities of individual journalists and editors. Topical coverage includes Communism, McCarthyism, organized crime, kidnapping, threats, the Kennedy assassination, and smear campaigns, offering source material for studies of twentieth-century American political culture, information control, and media influence.

The N. E. Hansen Papers document the life, career, and plant exploration work of Niels Ebbesen Hansen (1866–1950), a horticulturist, botanist, explorer, and professor at South Dakota State College. Hansen was renowned for developing hardy fruits and forage crops suited for the Great Plains, and this comprehensive collection spans from the late 19th to the mid-20th century, reflecting his pioneering plant-breeding research and global botanical expeditions.

The collection includes correspondence, field notes, manuscripts, publications, journals, plant specimens, photographs, and research files. Early field notebooks and ledgers document Hansen's experimental work in alfalfa, clovers, and grains at the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Plant introduction records from Russia, Siberia, Turkestan, and China are extensively represented through travel logs, USDA contracts, expense reports, and photographs. Plant specimens and related horticultural data span multiple decades and continents, offering insight into his breeding strategies and selection processes.

Hansen’s manuscripts and publications explore topics such as breeding for cold resistance, disease tolerance, ornamental and edible plant development, and his views on Soviet agricultural practices. Of particular note are his multi-part manuscript series “Russian as Observed by an Agricultural Explorer” (1934–1937), which offers a critical and highly detailed commentary on Soviet collectivization, agrarian policies, and scientific developments. Numerous addresses and lectures document his national and international engagements with scientific and farming communities, including the Dry Farming Congress and State Horticultural Society.

Extensive correspondence from 1873 to the 1940s details his professional relationships with fellow horticulturalists such as Luther Burbank, institutional partners like the USDA, and international contacts including Soviet agronomist N.I. Vavilov. Clippings and biographical files document his recognitions, public reputation as the “Burbank of the Plains,” and memorials in his honor, including his 1949 South Dakota State College tribute and posthumous induction into the South Dakota Hall of Fame.

Photographs in the collection provide vivid documentation of Hansen’s expeditions, including images of him and his assistants in Manchuria, Siberia, and the Da Hinggan Mountains searching for hardy fruits. Other images depict South Dakota State College greenhouses, plant displays, and early experimental plots. Journals from his student years (1879–1883) and professional career reflect his early interests and scientific development.

This collection is a resource for studying early 20th-century plant exploration, American-Soviet agricultural exchange, Great Plains horticulture, and the role of land-grant institutions in shaping regional agricultural adaptation and innovation. Hansen’s impact on food systems, especially through breeding hardy fruits, grasses, and legumes, continues to influence breeding programs worldwide.

The Nels Granholm Papers consist of correspondence, notebooks, course materials, conference files, research documentation, organizational records, grant files, presentations, project materials, travel documentation, writings, photographs, electronic media, and general professional files. Notebooks include professionally maintained diaries, calendars, and reading and event notes, each numbered by the donor and containing a table of contents. Conference materials document meetings attended or participated in, including programs, schedules, proceedings, and session notes. Correspondence includes letters and emails arranged chronologically and alphabetically. Course materials reflect teaching in Biology, Microbiology, Botany, Zoology, Honors courses, and Global Studies, with a concentration on Bioethics and Global Studies I and II and materials from an Honors Colloquium. Files related to the Global Studies Program document program administration, planning, internships, majors, and conferences. Additional series document research grants, sabbatical activity and exchanges at Manchester Metropolitan University, participation in professional organizations, lectures and presentations, collaborative and individual projects, research topics, service and committee work at South Dakota State University, domestic and international travel, faculty exchange activity at the University of Winnipeg, scholarly writings, and general professional and retirement-related materials.

The collection documents of faculty life, interdisciplinary teaching, and international academic exchange at South Dakota State University during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. It is significant for understanding the development of Global Studies and bioethics instruction at SDSU, faculty engagement in professional organizations, and the role of international collaboration in university teaching and research. Granholm’s extensive notebooks and travel documentation offer sustained evidence of scholarly practice, intellectual networks, and institutional service within a land grant university context.

The Neva Whaley Harding Papers, curated by Jane Alexander, offer a comprehensive exploration of Neva's life, family heritage, and community engagement. The collection is composed of various mediums like manuscripts, correspondence, interviews, certificates, diplomas, and audio recordings, providing insights into Neva's life from her formative years to later life stages.

This collection documents the personal, academic, and domestic history of Neva M. Whaley Harding—a South Dakota homesteader, educator, and writer—and her husband, Albert Spencer Harding. Topics covered include personal experiences, family history, genealogy, education, community involvement, and social issues. Materials include autobiographical writings, manuscript drafts, photographs, certificates, and a substantial body of correspondence with family, friends, and historians.

Of particular value are interviews recorded on open reel audiotape, which delve into Neva’s personality, philosophy, and life experiences, including reflections on events such as the Great Depression and the World Wars. Her manuscript I Recall Pioneer Days in South Dakota and associated research and editorial materials provide first-person insight into settler life and rural womanhood. The collection also includes documents from Neva and Albert’s time at South Dakota Agricultural College, illuminating aspects of college life in the early 20th century.

Through Jane Alexander's efforts, the collection serves as a testament to Neva's legacy and her influence on both her family and her broader community. It offers valuable primary source material for researchers studying women's history, South Dakota heritage, and intergenerational memory.

The Norman Gambill Papers document the academic, administrative, and creative work of Dr. Norman P. Gambill, professor of art history and long-time head of the Visual Arts Department at South Dakota State University. The collection spans his professional career and includes materials that predate his tenure at SDSU. It comprises administrative files, curriculum materials, records of events and conferences, facilities planning documents, teaching files, grant and fundraising records, meeting files, personal and professional research, and extensive manuscript drafts.

Administrative files include correspondence, memos, calendars, departmental planning documents, and records related to staffing and enrollment. Curriculum materials reflect institutional program reviews, curricular development, and planning for general education and visual arts coursework. The collection also contains records from numerous departmental events, exhibitions, and fundraisers—including Evening for the Arts, DVAGI, and the TechSigns conference—as well as documentation related to the development and use of campus facilities.

Teaching materials include course outlines, study guides, and media, while the grants and fundraising series includes proposals, awarded grants, and event planning files. Meeting files span faculty, department head, and university-level committees, often overlapping in content and structure.

The research and activities series highlights Gambill’s scholarly interests and involvement in arts organizations, with materials such as correspondence, bibliographies, photographs, and conference participation. The manuscript series includes multiple annotated drafts of his unpublished works, most notably Ritz and American Mediocrity, Designing Hollywood: Productions of Harry Horner, and his Ph.D. dissertation, Citizen Kane: An Art Historical Analysis.

This collection provides a view of Norman Gambill’s intellectual legacy and contributions to art history, film studies, and arts administration. His leadership shaped the growth and visibility of SDSU’s Visual Arts Department, and his scholarship reflects deep engagement with American cultural history, design, and cinema. The materials offer valuable insights into curriculum development in the arts, interdisciplinary teaching, academic administration, and arts advocacy in the Midwest.

The Oscar and Alice Simonson Papers offer an unusually detailed and continuous financial and operational record of a South Dakota family farm from 1941 to 1979, a period that spans World War II, postwar agricultural expansion, and major changes in rural economies. The Farm Family Record Books serve as a rare primary source documenting everyday economic decisions, household consumption, and farming practices in the northern Plains.

Alice Simonson’s precise and sustained recordkeeping provides insight into the role of women in farm management and the intersection of domestic and agricultural labor. Additionally, the accompanying photographs, oral history interview, and personal correspondence contextualize the lived experience of mid-20th-century farm families, enriching research in rural history, agricultural economics, women's studies, and social history.

This collection is valuable for scholars studying rural life, the evolution of federal agricultural policy, and the social fabric of family farming communities in the Midwest.

The collection consists primarily of instructional and academic materials documenting Phillip E. Plumart’s education and teaching in poultry science from 1950 to 1989. Materials include binders of course handouts, lecture notes, quizzes, problem sets, and extensive typed responses prepared for poultry management courses at Kansas State College during the early 1950s. The collection also contains Plumart’s 1952 master’s thesis in poultry science, focused on the effects of sex linked feathering on chick growth and development. Additional materials document later instructional activity, including course materials from Poultry Management AS 366 at South Dakota State University in 1988, Extension related documentation such as a County 4 H Member Record System user guide, publications of the National 4 H Poultry Development Committee, and assorted poultry publications. The materials reflect both Plumart’s graduate level training and his later role as a faculty member and Extension specialist.

This collection documents mid twentieth century poultry science education and agricultural instruction through the academic work of Phillip E. Plumart. It provides detailed evidence of poultry management curricula, instructional methods, and applied research at Kansas State College during the early 1950s, as well as the continuation of poultry education and Extension work at South Dakota State University into the late twentieth century. The inclusion of Plumart’s master’s thesis and course development materials offers insight into the evolution of poultry science, agricultural pedagogy, and Extension programming, particularly in relation to poultry production, student training, and youth agricultural organizations such as 4 H.

This collection consists of five scrapbooks compiled by Reed G. Hart, Jr., documenting his leadership of jogging clubs in Kwajalein (Marshall Islands) and Saudi Arabia from 1968 to 1983. The scrapbooks contain black-and-white and color photographs, news clippings, race scorecards, and other memorabilia chronicling the activities of the Kwajalein Jogging League and the Saudi Arabian Jogging Association. The Kwajalein volumes feature events such as the 6-mile, 10-mile, and 1,000-mile competitions, as well as a biathlon; they also highlight team and individual participation across a wide demographic. Notably, the 1973–1974 scrapbook includes coverage of Lili Ledbetter, a record-setting young runner. The Saudi Arabian scrapbook, which includes less youth participation, documents marathons and features images of both running events and local scenery. Together, these materials provide insight into expatriate athletic culture and recreational programming during the late 20th century.

The Richard C. Wahlstrom Papers contain published articles, research reports, lectures, talks, and related materials documenting Wahlstrom’s extensive work in animal science, particularly in swine nutrition, from the 1950s through the 1990s. The collection includes South Dakota State University publications, journal articles, technical bulletins, conference papers, and photographs that illustrate his research on dietary supplementation, feed efficiency, and animal husbandry practices.

Subjects represented include selenium toxicity and supplementation, the role of vitamins, amino acids, and protein in swine diets, the use of alternative feedstuffs such as oats, alfalfa meal, sunflower meal, and brewers’ grains, and studies on carcass composition and growth performance. The papers also feature experimental studies on antimicrobial use, housing systems, mineral absorption, and the effects of specific feed additives on reproduction and health. In addition to research publications, the collection contains speeches delivered at professional meetings, award citations, departmental newsletters, and correspondence reflecting Wahlstrom’s contributions to the American Society of Animal Science and his recognition as Distinguished Professor of Animal Science.

This collection is a resource of mid- to late-twentieth century animal science research at South Dakota State University. It highlights Wahlstrom’s national reputation as a leader in swine nutrition and his role in shaping scientific understanding of feed efficiency, dietary supplementation, and livestock management practices. The materials provide valuable documentation of SDSU’s contributions to agricultural research and demonstrate the integration of academic inquiry with practical applications in the livestock industry.

The Robert F. Kerr Papers represent a compilation of Kerr’s personal and professional materials, primarily dating from the 1880s to the 1930s. The collection is composed predominantly of correspondence, both personal and related to Kerr’s role at South Dakota State University (then Dakota Agricultural College). Notable within this correspondence are letters documenting Kerr’s dismissal from the university, offering insight into early administrative and academic tensions at the institution.

In addition to correspondence, the collection includes class records (1885–1892), diaries (1886–1888), and writings by Kerr on a variety of topics including Brookings County history, college history, and Jewish advocacy. A unique item is Kerr’s contribution to the History of SDSC: 1881–1931, which includes marginalia in Chapter 1 authored by Kerr. Additional materials include a certificate of public instruction, scrapbook, notes, ledger, traveling papers, and maps/manuals of South Dakota. A Christmas greeting composed by Kerr and multiple drafts of personal reflections, including an autobiographical sketch, further illustrate his personal beliefs and public engagement.

The collection documents Kerr’s broad intellectual interests, educational work, and his role in shaping the early academic life at South Dakota State University. The presence of early class materials and student-related documents adds to the understanding of instructional methods during the foundational years of the institution.

Robert F. Kerr was a foundational figure in the academic development of Dakota Agricultural College. His personal files provide critical documentation of institutional history, early university governance, and student instruction practices. The correspondence surrounding his departure adds to the narrative of university leadership and faculty relations in the institution’s formative years. His historical writings on South Dakota and Brookings County contribute to regional history.

The Robert T. Wagner Papers span the years 1971 to 1998 and document Wagner’s academic and administrative career in South Dakota higher education. The collection includes biographical information, professional correspondence, calendars, speeches, photographs, newspaper clippings, reports, certificates, newsletters, evaluations, and materials related to public events and institutional activities.

Early materials document Wagner’s service as a professor of rural sociology at South Dakota State University and include correspondence, calendars, programs related to speaking engagements, and greeting cards. A small amount of instructional material related to courses he taught is also present. Records from his service as Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs include correspondence, calendars, clippings, photographs, certificates, and related administrative materials.

The largest portion of the collection documents Wagner’s presidency at South Dakota State University from 1985 to 1997. These records include extensive correspondence, calendars and activity files, speeches, newspaper clippings, photographs, reports, and materials related to campus events, travel, and public appearances. Notable files document international travel, including a trip to Russia in 1990 and participation in the Oxford Round Table at Cambridge University in 1994. The collection concludes with materials related to Wagner’s retirement, including guest books, letters, and records from his designation as President Emeritus.

The Robert T. Wagner Papaers document the administration of South Dakota State University during a period of institutional transition and growth from the mid 1980s through the late 1990s. The records provide insight into university governance, presidential leadership, campus development, and public representation of the institution. The collection also contributes to the documentation of higher education administration in South Dakota and preserves evidence of Wagner’s earlier academic career in rural sociology.

The Robert V. Burns Papers document his professional service, teaching, and involvement in state and national commissions between the late 1960s and early 2000s. The collection includes material from the 2000 NAFTA Conference on Canadian–United States agricultural trade issues organized by Burns, with correspondence, government official communications, publicity, talking points, publications, proceedings, and Governor William Janklow’s keynote speech.

Extensive records relate to the South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization (1968–1973), including correspondence, staff documents, legislation, reports, research files, and recommendations from the Citizen’s Commission on Executive Reorganization. Burns’s work with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) is represented through agenda books, publications, and policy studies.

Additional materials reflect his participation in the National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education, the Constitutional Revision Commission, and the Governor’s Task Forces on education and wages. Files also include material on judicial elections, Brookings railroad safety, higher education assessment, civic service, and Burns’s 1980 State Representative campaign. The papers preserve a record of Burns’s role in shaping higher education policy, state governance, and civic engagement in South Dakota and beyond.

This collection is a resource for understanding South Dakota’s political, educational, and policy development during the late 20th century. It provides insight into Burns’s leadership in higher education reform, state reorganization efforts, agricultural trade policy, and public service. His involvement with regional and national commissions underscores South Dakota’s participation in broader discussions on governance, education, and economic policy.

The collection is composed of materials related to Roberta K. Olson’s tenure as dean of the College of Nursing at South Dakota State University and her broader involvement in nursing education and professional practice. Included are reports, correspondence, curriculum materials, program proposals, strategic plans, grant documentation, presentations, writings, newspaper clippings, photographs, audiovisual media, and instructional materials. The records document the development and administration of undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, including nurse practitioner and neonatal nurse practitioner programs, as well as the establishment of doctoral level nursing education. Also represented are statewide and regional initiatives addressing nursing workforce planning, articulation and transfer pathways, academic partnerships, and collaborations between South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, healthcare systems, and professional organizations. The collection further documents legislative activity, accreditation issues, professional association involvement, ceremonies, awards, and public events related to nursing education in South Dakota.

This collection documents of the evolution of nursing education and professional practice in South Dakota during the late twentieth and early twenty first centuries. It offers evidence of institutional leadership, program development, and policy discussions that shaped nursing education, advanced practice roles, and interinstitutional collaboration within the South Dakota public university system. The records support research into higher education administration, health sciences education, workforce planning, and the history of nursing education at South Dakota State University and statewide.

The Ruth Ann Alexander Papers document the professional career, research, and public service of Dr. Ruth Ann Alexander, professor of English at South Dakota State University and the first woman to chair its English Department. The collection contains correspondence, course materials, speeches, manuscripts, grant files, and research notes reflecting her work as a teacher, scholar, and advocate for women’s rights. Included are files related to her service on the Brookings School Board, her leadership in developing women’s studies at SDSU, and her involvement in Chautauqua programs where she portrayed Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

The papers also include Alexander’s writings and public lectures on South Dakota women writers, pioneer women, feminism, sexism, and the history of women in the Episcopal Church. Draft manuscripts and published articles illustrate her research on figures such as Elaine Goodale Eastman and Kate Boyles Bingham. Records of her participation in the South Dakota Humanities Council, the South Dakota History Conference, and the Speakers Bureau highlight her contributions to public humanities programming.

Her service on the South Dakota Commission on the Status of Women is well documented through correspondence, reports, task force materials, policy statements, and legislative files, including those related to the Equal Rights Amendment and displaced homemakers legislation. Additional materials reflect her Episcopal Church history work, her writings on parenting and education, and her role as a public intellectual in South Dakota.

This collection is a ressource for understanding the development of women’s studies and feminist scholarship at South Dakota State University, the history of women’s rights and activism in South Dakota, and the broader cultural role of women in education, literature, and the Episcopal Church. It provides researchers with insight into Alexander’s pioneering work in introducing courses on women writers and multicultural literature, her leadership in the women’s movement at both local and statewide levels, and her engagement with public scholarship through Chautauqua, the South Dakota Humanities Council, and community service organizations.

This collection documents the professional career and public service of Sherwood O. Berg, with a substantial focus on his role as chairperson of the National Advisory Commission on Food and Fiber, established by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. The collection includes comprehensive documentation of the Commission’s activities, such as collected research materials, correspondence, policy drafts, technical papers, transcripts from public hearings, meeting notes, and the final published reports. Topics span international agriculture, rural development, population pressures, agricultural economics, cotton and fiber policy, nutrition, and global hunger.

The papers also include records from Berg’s international consulting and leadership roles with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Midwest Universities Consortium for International Activities (MUCIA), particularly in Indonesia, Morocco, Cameroon, and the Philippines, covering projects in agricultural education, institutional development, and economic policy.

Further materials document Berg’s service as President of South Dakota State University, including administrative notes, speeches, committee records, and press coverage. His involvement with numerous civic, professional, and international organizations—such as the Reserve Officers Association, Phi Kappa Phi, Nature Conservancy, Farm Foundation, and Rotary International—is also well represented. The collection includes biographical files, awards, military service records, photographs, and correspondence spanning from the 1940s through the early 2000s.

This collection is a record of Sherwood O. Berg’s influence on U.S. agricultural policy, international development, and higher education leadership. It provides insight into federal food and fiber policy during the 1960s, particularly through the Commission’s efforts to guide agricultural decision-making at the national level. The records also reflect the growing emphasis on global collaboration in agricultural education and the modernization of institutions in developing countries. Berg’s presidency at SDSU is further documented through his administrative leadership and campus initiatives, especially those related to internationalization and faculty governance.

This collection contains addresses delivered by Sigurd Anderson during his service as Federal Trade Commissioner from 1957 to 1964, as well as speeches and related materials from his tenure as Governor of South Dakota between 1951 and 1955. The addresses, presented before national organizations, reflect Anderson’s involvement in federal regulatory and economic matters. Included is his inaugural address to the 33rd session of the South Dakota Legislature, which outlines his gubernatorial policies and priorities.

The collection also includes mid-20th-century speeches and reports on state and regional development issues, such as the Corps of Engineers’ contributions to South Dakota (1954), proceedings from the Missouri Basin Survey Commission (1952), and records from various conventions and public policy discussions. Appropriations records from 1951 to 1955 document South Dakota’s budgetary decisions during Anderson’s administration. A biographical piece titled Sigurd Anderson – From Immigrant Boy to Governor of South Dakota provides background on his personal and professional life.

The collection documents Sigurd Anderson’s contributions to state and federal governance, particularly in areas of economic policy, public administration, and regional development during the mid-twentieth century. It provides primary source material illustrating the relationship between South Dakota’s state leadership and national regulatory initiatives.

The Steve Marquardt Papers consists primarily of research files, reports, and correspondence relating to Cuba’s political system, human rights conditions, and restrictions on intellectual freedom. A substantial portion of the material focuses on independent libraries in Cuba and international responses to censorship, repression, and limitations on freedom of expression. Included are Amnesty International reports, Human Rights Watch publications, United States government accountability reports, United Nations documentation, and scholarly analyses addressing Cuban politics, diplomacy, migration, race, health care, and civil society. The collection also contains writings and interviews concerning Fulgencio Batista, Fidel Castro, and post revolutionary Cuba, as well as court and sentencing documents related to political trials. Additional material documents Marquardt’s involvement with human rights and reconciliation organizations in Brookings, South Dakota, and includes limited political campaign materials from the 2008 presidential campaign of Bill Richardson. Other files reflect related interests in libraries, librarianship, literacy, censorship, film, and professional and civic organizations.

The collection documents of international human rights advocacy and scholarly inquiry focused on Cuba during the late twentieth and early twenty first centuries. It offers primary and secondary source material useful for the study of censorship, independent libraries, political repression, and international monitoring of human rights, as well as insight into the activities of advocacy organizations and the role of information professionals in global human rights discourse.

This ledger discovered on a table at a rummage sale in Mobridge, South Dakota. A librarian from Northern State University found it, purchased it, and gave it to Phil Mulvaney, Dean of Libraries at NSU, who forwarded the ledger to Dean Marquardt at South Dakota State University. Dean Marquardt transferred it to SDSU Archives and Special Collections in 2002.

The ledger was maintained by an unknown student at South Dakota State College during World War II. The ledger contains a detailed list of student expenses.

This artificial collection consists of student research papers produced by graduate degree candidates between 1938 and 2004. These papers were not submitted as formal theses or dissertations for the completion of a degree. They were gathered for their unique, unusual, or illustrative content, and inclusion in the collection is not systematic. The papers vary in format, including professionally bound volumes, spiral-bound copies, and those placed in report folders.

Topics include scientific innovation, child psychology, social problems, educational practices, language development, and public policy. Examples include a 2004 study on nanostructures for emission detection, a 1994 analysis of homelessness in Sioux Falls, a 1993 examination of the psychological effects of having a hearing-impaired sibling, and a 1968 curriculum design for male homemaking students in Lake Norden High School.

The collection provides insight into the diverse interests and applied research efforts of graduate students at South Dakota State University over nearly seven decades. It offers perspectives on local and regional issues, educational methods, and public service initiatives, making it a valuable resource for understanding historical and social developments in South Dakota and the broader Midwest.

This collection consists of transcriptions of the diaries of Susan A. Jones, completed in March 2006 by her great-granddaughter, Virginia Vander Wal. The diaries, written between 1863 and 1870 while Jones resided in Massachusetts and Wisconsin, document her daily life, including social events, weather observations, work, and notable occasions such as funerals, religious milestones, and her engagement.

The 1863 diary, written prior to her marriage to Henry R. Jones, contains several references to the Civil War. The original materials vary in format, with some entries on fragile loose pages and others in small bound diaries with compact, often faded handwriting. Transcription challenges are noted in the text, including illegible sections marked with blanks and uncertain words placed in brackets. The original spelling has been preserved.

Virginia Vander Wal also contributed genealogical background, an account of the transcription process, and personal notes marked in boldface. Supplementary materials include a photocopy of Susan A. Jones’s portrait and Henry R. Jones’s military discharge papers. The diaries are incomplete, with gaps in daily or monthly entries across some years.

The Theodore W. Schultz Collection documents the extensive contributions of Schultz to economics, particularly in agricultural productivity, human capital, and economic development. The collection spans from 1932 to 1992, with the bulk consisting of Schultz's personal collection of articles, primarily offprints from journals, many bearing his signature. Included are a few articles authored by others that review Schultz's work or contain biographical material. This archive is a valuable resource for understanding Schultz's intellectual impact and the evolution of economic thought in these fields.

The general series includes correspondence (1975-1989) and a small number of collected works. Notably, the correspondence contains a letter from Schultz to Dr. Leon Raney, Dean of Libraries at South Dakota State University, discussing the creation of a bibliography of his works. His publications include books, reports, and reprinted articles on key economic themes such as foreign aid, agricultural development, investment in human capital, and educational policies. Prominent works include Agricultural Productivity in Low-Income Countries(1981), The Economics of Being Poor(1980), and Investing in People(1981).

The Dale Hoover Collection on Theodore Schultz consists of draft articles and conference papers, with some article reprints. Collected by Dale Hoover, a faculty member at North Carolina State University's Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, this material includes highlighted passages, annotations by Hoover, and correspondence from Schultz. Schultz sought Hoover's input on drafts before publication. Additionally, the Schultz Symposium materials (1980-1981) reflect continued discussions on his economic theories. This collection is significant for researchers studying economic policy, agricultural economics, and human capital investment, offering firsthand insights into Schultz's academic and professional influence.

In 1978, Daschle was elected to the United States House of Representatives, winning the race by a margin of 110 votes, following a recount, out of more than 129,000 votes cast. Daschle served four terms in the House of Representatives and quickly became a part of the Democratic leadership.

At the 1980 Democratic National Convention Congressman Daschle received 10 (0.30%) delegate votes for Vice President of the United States. Although he was not a candidate, Daschle (along with others) received votes against incumbent Walter Mondale, who was re-nominated easily.

he U.S. House of Representatives papers is composed of some campaign files and voting record information. Also included is "The Daschle Record" which contains 12 books compiled by his staff containing Daschle's voting record, sponsorships, and summaries of committee and subcommittee records from 1979 to 1986.

Due to the size and scope of the Daschle collection this collection was minimally processed. This means that material was placed in acid-free folders and containers, but processing at the item level was keep to a minimum. Only folders that had little or no description were looked into with more depth. Artifacts, such as plaques, framed items, textiles, art, and other three-dimensional items, were separated and placed in appropriate storage. Photographs were also separated and placed in proper storage containers.

Dates for each folder were chosen on what could be quickly ascertained. The dates are meant to give researchers a general idea of the dates of the material that is in each folder. These dates were selected on what could be quickly ascertained. If there was a range of dates covering material, then the earliest date was chosen.

The A.S. Harding Papers consist of materials compiled by A.S. Harding during his research on the history of South Dakota State University. The collection spans the years 1893 to 1949, with undated material also present, and is composed of correspondence, letters, obituaries, newspaper notes, bibliographic references, and a wide array of thematic research notes and writings.

Content includes Harding’s Master’s thesis on “Contested Elections in Great Britain,” along with multiple drafts and writings on SDSC history, political science, party allegiance, and student life. Harding drew heavily on the research of Robert F. Kerr and William H. Powers, integrating their notes into his own documentation. His collection also reflects extensive use of newspaper clippings, especially in his historical chronologies and fact-gathering on the institutional development of SDSU.

Also included is correspondence from 1893 to 1949, materials related to the Forum (1906), various handwritten and compiled notes on SDSC facts, finances, student activities, and faculty lists. Box 2 includes general notes on history and newspapers, offering insights into the university's foundational era.

Together, these papers serve as a rich resource for understanding SDSU’s institutional memory, particularly through Harding’s synthesis of primary and secondary sources, preparatory research, and historical narrative development.

This collection provides documentation of the early institutional history of South Dakota State University, including rare internal notes, correspondence, and biographical data. It is particularly useful for researchers tracing the origins of campus governance, academic evolution, and student culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The inclusion of unpublished research and working drafts enhances its importance as a record of historiographical methodology and university heritage documentation.

The Vera Way Marghab Papers is a comprehensive archive documenting the life and work of a woman who played a significant role in the luxury textile industry. The collection offers insight into her personal journey, from her early years in South Dakota to her time as a piano student in New York City, as well as her relationship with Emile Marghab through extensive correspondence. While much of the material is centered on her personal life, the collection also reflects her role in the linen industry as the driving force behind Marghab, Ltd. and Emile Marghab, Inc. The records highlight her meticulous nature, as she preserved extensive documentation on both her personal and professional endeavors. Given the interwoven nature of her life and career, the materials are arranged into distinct series that provide a structured approach to understanding her legacy.

The Business Series encompasses all aspects of the Marghab enterprises, both in New York and Madeira. It includes materials on the founding of the company, capturing the vision and strategy behind Emile and Vera's business model, as well as its eventual dissolution. Correspondence reflects their relationships with artisans, business partners, and shop managers, while records on design illustrate Vera's influence in maintaining the highest standards of quality. Trademark and copyright documents, including coded correspondence aimed at protecting proprietary designs, shed light on the competitive nature of the textile industry. One of the aspects of this series is the material related to the Mayflower cloth, a specially designed tablecloth for the 1957 Mayflower II voyage, which later became an exhibition piece at the World's Fair in Australia. Administrative records from the New York and Madeira operations provide insight into the governance and structure of the business, including shareholder meetings, factory logistics, and high-profile engagements with diplomats and the U.S. Navy. Employee records detail the hiring process, disputes, and pension plans, while financial records illustrate the company's fiscal health, including instances of embezzlement and tax matters. The marketing strategy developed by Vera is well-documented, with strict guidelines for Marghab Shops, controlled advertising, and policies that set the company apart from competitors. Records on the shops provide a glimpse into Vera's selective approach, including her direct correspondence with store managers and evaluations of potential retail locations.

The Personal Series reflects Vera's multifaceted life beyond her business endeavors. Materials include portraits and fabric samples that visually represent her legacy. Her commitment to philanthropy is evident in records of charitable donations and correspondence with organizations she supported. A large portion of the series consists of clippings and collected materials, which demonstrate her curiosity and engagement with various subjects. Personal correspondence includes letters to and from family, friends, and colleagues, some of which intersect with business matters. Financial records cover her personal wealth management, including investments, estate planning, and legal affairs. The series also includes materials on her life in Madeira, providing additional context to her time spent there beyond the confines of business. The establishment of the Marghab Gallery at the South Dakota Art Museum is well-documented, capturing her dedication to preserving the artistry of Marghab linens. Music played an important role in Vera's early life, and materials on her musical education and performances offer insight into this passion. Personal writings, including reflections and philosophical musings, provide a more intimate look at her character and outlook on life.

Significant figures in Vera's life are highlighted through correspondence and clippings, most notably her husband, Emile, and her immediate family. Her engagement with politics is documented through materials on political figures and organizations of interest to her. Rare book records illustrate her scholarly interests and her contributions to South Dakota State University's library. Recognition for her contributions to the textile industry and beyond is captured in awards, articles, and documentation of a Marghab video project. Social engagements and affiliations with arts organizations further reflect her cultural involvement. Her extensive travels, both domestic and international, are documented in travel records, revealing her connections to a broader global network. Her deep ties to Watertown, South Dakota, are evident in materials related to her home, Wayland, and her properties on Lake Kampeska, as well as documentation on community events and restoration projects.

This collection is of exceptional significance, offering researchers a rich narrative of a woman who was both a cultural tastemaker and a shrewd business leader. It captures the evolution of a company that set new standards in luxury linens, the meticulous approach that defined its success, and the challenges it faced in an ever-changing economic and political landscape. Equally important, it provides a deeply personal portrait of Vera Way Marghab, allowing scholars to explore the intersections of entrepreneurship, artistry, and personal ambition. The collection stands as a valuable resource for those interested in business history, women's history, textile design, and the legacy of craftsmanship that Marghab linens represent.

This collection consists of a tribute titled Voices in the Air: The Story of South Dakota Broadcaster Verl Thomson, authored by Virginia J. Thomson. It documents the life and career of Verl Thomson, highlighting his contributions to radio broadcasting in South Dakota. The material serves as both a memorial and biographical account, offering insights into Thomson’s professional achievements and personal legacy within the regional media landscape.

This collection is composed of local, national, and international records documenting Vincent Joseph McAuliffe’s extensive involvement in 4-H youth development programs. Materials reflect his work in South Dakota, across the United States, and abroad, including consulting roles in Jamaica and Romania. The collection includes newsletters, flyers, invitations, photographs, personal documents, newspaper articles and clippings, correspondence, notes, and pamphlets.

Topics represented include McAuliffe’s leadership roles, retirement, honors and awards, participation in national fairs, professional workshops, and 4-H programs such as the South Dakota International Farm Youth Exchange, Performing Arts, Wildlife and Fisheries, and Teens As Teachers. Also present are items commemorating his career, such as certificates of appreciation, strategic planning documents, and promotional materials like a “100 Years of 4-H” t-shirt. Together, these materials illustrate McAuliffe’s impact on 4-H programming and youth leadership at multiple levels.

The Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve Papers document the literary career, research, and advocacy of the acclaimed Lakota writer, educator, and historian. Spanning from the 1960s to the 2020s, the collection includes manuscripts, correspondence, research materials, and published works that reflect her dedication to Native American storytelling and cultural preservation. It offers a comprehensive look at her contributions to literature, education, and Indigenous representation.

The Creative Writings series contains an extensive range of works, including Completing the Circle, The Medicine Bag, Dancing Teepees, Standing Bear of the Ponca, Sioux Women, and other significant titles. Each work is accompanied by manuscripts, clippings, correspondence, research notes, printer's galleys, proofs, reviews, and scripts. Many manuscripts include editorial annotations and suggested revisions, highlighting the development process of her works. Correspondence primarily consists of letters between Sneve and her publishers, as well as heartfelt messages from schoolchildren, some with drawings, thanking her for her books and school visits. Research materials within the series include notes, collected documents, and recorded interviews. The collection also includes a video adaptation of High Elk's Treasure.

The General series encompasses a broad spectrum of materials, including documentation of Sneve's various activities, honors, and awards, speaking engagements, clippings, interviews, journals, and diverse research materials. Her involvement in numerous boards, commissions, and cultural organizations is well documented, along with numerous honors such as the National Humanities Medal, Spirit of Crazy Horse Award, and recognition from educational and arts organizations across South Dakota and nationally. The speaking engagements reflect her role as a prominent public voice on Native American literature, history, and culture, featuring presentations at conferences, universities, museums, and festivals across the United States and internationally.

The Correspondence series features exchanges with publishing houses, fellow writers such as Bob Karolevitz and Audrae Visser, and political figures including Senator Larry Pressler. Of particular note is an audio reel of an interview Sneve conducted with Harold Shunk, a Bureau of Indian Affairs superintendent. The series also contains various teaching aids and historical photographs, including a 1901 class photo, adding depth to the collection's educational value.

The Other Writings series highlights Sneve's contributions beyond creative literature. This includes published articles, scripts for a South Dakota Public Radio series, Christian education resources produced for the Episcopal Church Center, newspaper editorials, studies related to the Flandreau Indian School, and her contribution to On the Wings of Peace, a compilation benefiting world peace organizations. These materials showcase her engagement with broader educational and social issues within and beyond Native communities.

This collection serves as a significant resource for researchers, scholars, and educators studying Indigenous literature, storytelling, and cultural history. It offers insights into Native identity, advocacy, and representation, highlighting Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve's enduring impact on Native American literary and educational landscapes.

The Vivian Volstorff Papers span from 1904 to 2002 and document the personal life, professional career, scholarly output, and civic contributions of Dr. Vivian Virginia Volstorff, who served as Dean of Women, Director of Student Activities, and professor of history at South Dakota State University. The collection reflects her influential leadership on campus and her broader involvement in academic, civic, and professional organizations.

Materials include extensive documentation from her tenure as Dean of Women, such as reports, staff meeting notes, housing committee records, and correspondence related to student affairs and women’s organizations. Personal items include biographical records, letters, greeting cards, photographs, and memorabilia. Numerous folders contain speeches and public addresses, delivered across decades on themes ranging from international relations to higher education for women, student ethics, and civic values.

The collection also includes manuscripts and published writings, notably drafts and materials related to her historical monograph Winds of Change. Additional writings include her dissertations and theses on William Charles Cole Claiborne, James Wilkinson, and Pliny the Younger. A substantial portion of the material documents her affiliations with local and national organizations such as the American Association of University Women, Mortar Board, Delta Zeta, and others.

Collected material and subject files compiled by Volstorff provide insight into her research interests in education, morality, manners, youth culture, Soviet relations, and American identity. Her research on SDSU is especially comprehensive, including histories of campus buildings, student traditions, presidential administrations, and faculty organizations, as well as early publications such as Industrial Collegian and the Alumni Association Bulletin.

This collection offers documentation of mid-20th century women’s leadership in higher education, student life and governance, and South Dakota State University history. It will be particularly useful for researchers studying women in academic administration, 20th-century higher education reform, student housing and campus activism, and the cultural history of SDSU.

The W. Carter Johnson Papers document ecological research and related professional activities from the 1960s through 2017, with most material dating from the 1970s through the 2000s. The collection is organized into subject and project groupings that reflect Johnson’s research program, including blue jay seed dispersal and nut caching studies, forest and tree ecology, prairie wetland ecology, and riparian vegetation research on major river systems. Records include field notes, data sets, statistical analyses, research proposals and prospectuses, conference materials, correspondence, photographs, slides, maps, and related publications and reprints.

A substantial portion of the collection focuses on blue jay mediated dispersal of acorns and beech nuts, including field notes dating from 1976 to 1989, data sets from Wisconsin, Virginia, and Iowa, banding records, artificial cache and germination data, and analyses of dietary responses to tannins and weevil infestation. Forest and tree ecology files address forest dynamics, succession modeling, regeneration and recruitment, biomass and carbon storage, and restoration case studies, with coverage of pine oak systems, disturbances such as ice storms, and seed dispersal in fragmented landscapes. Prairie wetland materials document long term study of prairie pothole wetlands, including hydrology, vegetation sampling, seed bank composition, and simulation modeling related to climate variability and climate change, with extensive site level data and photographs from locations such as the Deuel semipermanent wetland and the Severson Waterfowl Production Area.

Riparian and river focused research is represented through extensive Platte River documentation that includes multiyear monitoring and demographic studies of cottonwood and willow, GIS products, graphs, maps, field notes, reports, and large sequences of labeled slides spanning the mid 1980s through the early 2000s. Complementary river research files address the Snake River in Idaho, including Swan Falls related vegetation studies, sampling methods, progress reports, maps, photographs, and slides. Additional series document work on the Missouri River and other rivers and lakes, as well as international scientific exchange and translated materials concerning Soviet and Russian ecology. The collection also includes documentation of the Mortensen Ranch restoration work in South Dakota, including correspondence, interviews, project notes, awards, photographs, and guides related to rangeland and wooded draw restoration.

The W. Carter Johnson Papers documents ecological research methods and findings across multiple ecosystems, with notable depth in long term field data, modeling, and applied studies of seed dispersal, forest succession, wetland dynamics, and riparian vegetation response to regulated river flows. The collection supports research into late twentieth and early twenty first century ecological science, including the development and use of data sets, statistical procedures, GIS products, monitoring protocols, and longitudinal photographic documentation. These records also provide evidence of professional collaboration and scientific communication through proposals, conference participation, correspondence, and exchange activities, offering context for how ecological research informed management and restoration efforts in prairie, wetland, and riverine environments.

The collection is composed primarily of color slides and black and white photographs documenting Wayne Scott Gardner’s research and teaching in plant pathology, dating from 1952 to 1987, with the strongest coverage from the 1960s through the mid 1980s. The materials focus on virus diseases of plants, particularly wheat streak mosaic virus, along with tobacco mosaic virus, barley stripe mosaic virus, maize dwarf mosaic virus, and other viral infections affecting wheat, corn, barley, tobacco, and related crops. Visual documentation includes field symptoms, laboratory preparations, ultrastructural studies, and comparative analyses of disease development across crop varieties and environmental conditions.

In addition to plant viruses, the collection contains extensive visual records of fungal and physiological plant diseases, including rusts, powdery mildews, charcoal rot, septoria, and other pathogens. Environmental and abiotic crop injuries are well represented through slides illustrating the effects of air pollution, sulfur dioxide, ozone, smog, frost, heat, drought, wind, hail, sleet, and winter stress on agricultural crops. Teaching slide sets, seminar materials, and student research components are included, as well as scientific reprints, correspondence, and literature that document Gardner’s research activities, instructional use of electron microscopy, and contributions to plant disease education and agricultural research at South Dakota State University.

This collection documents evidence of mid twentieth century research and instruction in plant virology and plant pathology at South Dakota State University. The extensive documentation of wheat streak mosaic virus and related cereal crop diseases supports historical research into disease management, crop response to environmental stress, and the development of microscopy based plant pathology. The materials also contribute to the study of agricultural conditions in the northern Great Plains and the impact of air pollution and climate related factors on crop health.

The collection documents research conducted by William Ray Gibbons on the development of renewable fuels and related products derived from agricultural biomass. Materials date primarily from the late 1970s through the 2010s and focus on ethanol production using feedstocks such as fodder beets, corn, sweet sorghum, and agricultural byproducts. The collection includes scholarly articles, technical reports, economic feasibility studies, energy analyses, draft manuscripts, correspondence, and supporting data related to small scale, farm scale, and commercial scale fuel alcohol production.

Also included are draft and final versions of Gibbons’ master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation addressing the technology and economics of ethanol production from fodder beets, along with supplementary research data, tables, and figures. Visual materials such as photographs, slides, transparencies, posters, and charts document experimental procedures, fermentation systems, distillation equipment, and pilot plant operations. Conference papers, seminar materials, and presentations illustrate the dissemination of research findings within academic, agricultural, and industry settings.

The collection further contains newspaper and magazine clippings reflecting public and policy discourse on ethanol and renewable energy over several decades, as well as draft legislative testimony, notes, and briefing materials related to ethanol tax incentives and renewable fuel policy. Additional subject areas include mushroom cultivation using agricultural waste products, energy balance studies, and economic impact analyses of ethanol production in regional and national contexts.

This collection is significant for documenting South Dakota State University’s long term research contributions to renewable energy, applied microbiology, and agricultural biotechnology. It provides detailed evidence of early and sustained investigations into ethanol production technologies, economic feasibility, and energy efficiency at small and community scales. The materials support research into the historical development of the ethanol industry, agricultural innovation in the Upper Midwest, and the role of land grant universities in advancing alternative energy research and informing public policy.

The William H. Powers Papers consist primarily of handwritten and draft materials authored by Powers concerning the institutional history of South Dakota State College. The collection also includes general correspondence, correspondence with entomologist J.M. Aldrich, and documents specifically focused on the founding and development of the Brookings Public Library. Additional writings by Powers reflect his historical interests and biographical sketches, including materials related to figures such as Robert F. Kerr and Pamelia Phillips Banks-Warriner, and topics like the McLouth administration and the Upheaval of 1893. A small number of items pertain to unrelated activities, including World War I-era materials from the World Disarmament Committee and a 1917 anti-conscription petition signed by faculty. The collection also contains a certificate of membership in the South Dakota Academy of Science.

These papers document William H. Powers' historical research on South Dakota State College and his civic involvement in Brookings, South Dakota. His notes and correspondence offer insight into early 20th-century library development, academic perspectives on military conscription during World War I, and efforts to preserve institutional memory. The collection is particularly valuable for understanding early initiatives related to the Brookings Public Library and faculty engagement in national and local issues.