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This collection documents the activities and governance of the American Association of University Women, Brookings Branch, offering valuable insight into the organization's role in promoting education, women's rights, and community engagement. It includes reports, minutes, newsletters, programs, bylaws, and correspondence, though no series is complete.

The collection provides documents related to the branch's administrative functions, including annual reports, bylaws, financial and fundraising activities, and meeting minutes from both regular and executive board sessions. These records highlight the decision-making processes, organizational priorities, and project initiatives undertaken by members. Membership lists and reports on various projects further illustrate the group's impact on local and national issues.

Of particular significance is the documentation on accreditation efforts, project initiatives, and study groups, which reflect the branch's commitment to education and social advocacy. The history of the Brookings Branch contains valuable narratives on its founding and key figures, including Vivian Volstorff, who played a crucial role in the branch's accreditation, and Gertrude Stickney Young, its first president. The collection also includes correspondence, news clippings, and a scrapbook that was dismantled for preservation purposes, offering researchers insight into the branch's evolving role in civic engagement.

Newsletters and event programs further illustrate the organization's outreach efforts and evolving priorities over time. Fundraising records, member surveys, and policy documents provide context for the branch's financial and strategic decision-making. Photographs, brochures, and promotional materials add a visual dimension to the collection, offering a deeper understanding of the group's public presence.

This collection is a valuable resource for researchers studying women's organizations, grassroots activism, and local history. It sheds light on the Brookings Branch's contributions to educational initiatives, legislative advocacy, and broader societal issues, making it an essential reference for those examining the intersection of gender, education, and civic engagement.

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.