The Forum and Ethical Culture Club Records documents the activities and history of the Ethical Culture Club and its successor, The Forum, spanning the early 20th century, primarily from 1908 to 1928. It includes the club's constitution, correspondence, programs, and program notes from 1919–1928. Also featured are a 1923 historical account of The Forum, records of Ethical Culture Club meetings (1908–1910), and minutes from The Forum meetings (1919–1928). These materials offer valuable insight into the discussions, values, and intellectual pursuits of these organizations, reflecting their evolution and impact on the community.
Ethical Culture Club (Brookings, S.D.)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.
Sexauer, Elmer, 1888-1986The South Dakota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (SDAFCS) collection is a key resource documenting the history and development of home economics and family and consumer sciences organizations. Focused on the National Association of Extension Home Economists, the South Dakota Home Economics Association, and the SDAFCS, the collection includes newsletters (1941–1999), meeting minutes, conference programs, awards documentation, scrapbooks, financial reports, and correspondence.
The newsletters cover events, scholarships, officer elections, honorary memberships, and sponsored programs. Meeting minutes and program materials document the associations' activities, including updates on by-law revisions and organizational changes. Notably, the collection contains correspondence from Eva Dawes, the first president of the South Dakota Home Economics Association, offering insight into the organization's early history. Additionally, it includes lists of officers, council and charter members, honorary members, and award recipients.
The collection also features policy revisions from 1971 to 1996 and a strategic plan for the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (1995–2000). This archive highlights the growth, governance, and influential figures within these associations, offering a comprehensive view of the evolution of family and consumer sciences in South Dakota and nationally.
The organization underwent several name changes over the years, and materials were arranged according to the organization's name at the time. As a result, the collection is organized into the following categories:
National Association of Extension Home Economists
National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
South Dakota Cooperative Extension Association
South Dakota Home Demonstration Agents Association
South Dakota Home Economics Association
South Dakota Association of Extension Home Economists
South Dakota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences