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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.

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.