Showing 3 results

This collection comprises the administrative, instructional, research, and outreach records of the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences at South Dakota State University. Materials primarily originate from the Office of the Dean and include correspondence, newsletters, planning documents, annual reports, promotional brochures, conference materials, curriculum outlines, and extensive budget and salary records. Of particular note are salary lists for individual departments, financial reports for the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative State Research Service, and documentation of cooperative agreements with international institutions.

The collection also includes strategic planning reports, departmental reviews, and publications such as Ag Bio Newsletter, Growing South Dakota, and South Dakota Farm and Home Research, which highlight the college’s communication efforts and research dissemination. Visual materials include photographs of faculty, students, research farms, laboratories, and outreach events. The records reflect the college’s central role in shaping agricultural and biological sciences education, conducting applied research, supporting statewide extension services, and fostering economic and rural development in South Dakota and the region.

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 Writings include published and unpublished scientific and popular articles, speeches, and autobiographical pieces.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 South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station Records document the research, administration, and outreach activities of the Experiment Station and affiliated departments at South Dakota State University from its founding under the Hatch Act of 1887 through the early 21st century. The collection includes administrative files, financial records, correspondence, agreements, committee materials, research reports, institutional reviews, terminated project files, and publications. Research documentation reflects work conducted at field stations across the state and includes studies in crop and livestock improvement, soil fertility, pest management, biotechnology, climate adaptation, environmental quality, and rural development.

Institutional reviews and terminated project files—compiled as part of the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) review process—evaluate departmental performance and summarize completed or discontinued research efforts. Publications such as bulletins, circulars, and pamphlets synthesize findings for dissemination to farmers, scientists, and the public.

These records provide a view of the development of agricultural research in South Dakota, illustrating how land-grant research evolved in response to scientific, economic, and environmental challenges. They document the Experiment Station’s role in advancing agricultural productivity, sustainability, and public policy at the state, regional, and national levels. The collection is valuable for studying institutional accountability, research planning, and the broad impact of public science in the Northern Great Plains.