Fruit tree on the campus of South Dakota State College was part of N.E. Hansen's research on fruit

Fruit tree on the campus of South Dakota State College was part of N.E. Hansen's research on fruit

The Gamma Sigma Delta Records, South Dakota State University Chapter, document the establishment, development, and activities of the Honor Society of Agriculture at SDSU from its founding in 1958 through the late 20th century. The collection encompasses constitutions, handbooks, membership lists, banquet and conclave programs, newsletters, financial and account records, and detailed histories of the chapter and national society. Significant materials include records of national and international conclaves held at SDSU, banquet planning and programs, award documentation including the International Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award received by Dr. Oscar E. Olson, and memorabilia such as society jewelry and photographs. The collection also contains audiovisual materials, including a VHS tape highlighting the society.

These records are for research on professional agricultural fraternities, student leadership, agricultural education, and community-building in higher education. They provide insights into the recognition of academic and professional achievement in agriculture, the evolution of student organizations, and the broader role of Gamma Sigma Delta in promoting agricultural excellence.

Ornamental plantings in a park in Harbin, China; written in pencil on the back: Garden at Harbin 1924

Ornamental plantings in a garden in Harbin, China; written in pencil on the back: Garden at Harbin 1924

clippings

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs of South Dakota (GFWC of SD) Records document the organizational, civic, and cultural activities of the state’s women’s club movement from the early 20th century through the late 20th century. The collection provides insight into statewide club administration, local club initiatives, civic improvement efforts, and the promotion of public service, education, arts, and women’s leadership.

The records include administrative materials such as constitutions and by-laws, directories, newsletters (The South Dakota Clubwoman), handbooks, program suggestions, publications from GFWC departments, legislative alerts, project guidelines, and conference materials. District V records are particularly robust, containing minutes, correspondence, club reports from various South Dakota communities, and membership data.

A substantial portion of the collection pertains to GFWC Brookings and the Brookings Civic League, including minutes, reports, scrapbooks, photographs, and documentation of programs such as the FREE Enterprise Program and Youth Improvement initiatives. These materials reflect community-based projects, public health and education support, and civic engagement.

The records also extensively document the Memorial Art Center Campaign, including architectural plans, correspondence, fundraising and financial records, publicity materials, and historical background. This segment captures the GFWC’s central role in establishing what became the South Dakota Art Museum on the campus of South Dakota State University.

Photographic materials span nearly 1,300 images and depict club events, members, and sponsored activities. The collection as a whole illustrates the GFWC of SD’s lasting impact on civic life, education, and cultural development across South Dakota.

This collection documents a grassroots civic organization, women’s leadership, and public service in South Dakota. It offers valuable source material for researchers studying women’s voluntary associations, local history, civic improvement movements, and the evolution of cultural institutions in the state.

Man in General Ma Zhanshan Gardens in Harbin, China; written in pencil on the back: In General Ma's Garden, Harbin, China, 1924

• Granholm delivering a lecture on Antarctica - 1971 - 3 black-and-white photographs
• Granholm working at his desk - 1988 - 1 color photograph
• Biology Department phoneathon - 1989 - 1 color photograph
• Granholm dressed as hippie for Hobo Day - 2001 - 2 color photographs
• Legacy of Dale Reeves - 2001 - 1 black-and-white contact sheet - negatives
• Two students standing by a Powder River sign - 3 color photographs
• Photos taken for East Dakota Conservancy Sub-District Brochure - 1974 - black-and-white negatives
• Bethany Bog - 1970 -1971 - black-and-white negatives
• Taken in Insect Lab EM Facility - 1971 = black-and-white negatives
• Electron microscope pictures - 32 black-and-white Photographs
• 8 black-and-white photographs of various things
• 2 black-and-white contact sheets
• 2 black-and-white negatives

Granholm in office

The Photograph collection is composed of images of Brookings, South Dakota. There is also a considerable amount of images related to towns in Brookings County, South Dakota; Sinai, Elkton, White, Arlington, Bruce. Images of South Dakota State University, ranging in topic from Hobo days to images of campus, can also be found in the collection. Most of the images are negatives, 35mm and 4 x 5. There are also photographs ranging in size and several sheets of slides. These images are arranged numerically by identification number.

See staff for assistance in researching material in this collection.

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.

George McGovern in Cuba with bottles of Havana Club rum visible in the background

George McGovern speaking into microphones in a crowd Cuba

View of Havana Bay

Painting of San Cristobal in an altar in Havana Cathedral, Cuba

Chandelier hanging in the dome of a Havana Cathedral, Cuba

Interior of rooms with chandeliers in Cuba

Interior view of nave and doors of a cathedral in Cuba

Photograph from the nave of chandelier in dome, fresco, altar in Havana Cathedral, Cuba

Altar, dome and crucifix in a cathedral in Cuba

Crucifix under a dome in interior of a Havana Cathedral, Cuba

Interior of a Havana Cathedral, Cuba

This collection consists of photographs, albums, certificates, scrapbooks, printed materials, and personal memorabilia documenting the Hawley and Lothrop families, along with related individuals and organizations connected to Brookings and Huron, South Dakota, from 1879 to 2002. Materials include family photographs and portrait albums, such as two Hawley family photograph albums containing studio portraits and individual images, as well as loose family photographs and a written Hawley family history by Jean Lothrop. Additional family-related materials include a baby book for Lucille Lothrop with photographs, a scrapbook documenting the death of Lucille Lothrop containing condolence and sympathy cards, and personal correspondence addressed to Jean and Eugene.

The collection also contains items reflecting educational, civic, and social activities in South Dakota. These include certificates and memorabilia associated with South Dakota Agricultural College, such as a commencement invitation from 1897, a transcript issued to William H. Walters in 1900, a reunion button, and anniversary and reunion certificates. Other materials include a municipal reform paper written by William H. Walters, a postcard album containing photographic postcards, and a scrapbook documenting the activities of the International Organization of Odd Fellows through newspaper clippings and photographs. Additional photographs depict individuals including E. and M. Hawley and locations such as the ruins of the Royal Hotel in Huron, South Dakota.

The materials provide insight into family life, education, civic engagement, and social organizations in South Dakota from the late nineteenth through the twentieth centuries. Family photographs, albums, and written histories document genealogical connections and domestic life, while items associated with South Dakota Agricultural College and local schools illustrate the educational experiences of early students and alumni. Scrapbooks and organizational materials, including those of the International Organization of Odd Fellows, reflect the role of fraternal and community organizations in regional social life. Collectively, the collection contributes to the study of local history, family networks, and community institutions in South Dakota across multiple generations.

The Hilton M. Briggs Library Records document the administration, operations, and development of the library at South Dakota State University. The collection includes administrative files, cataloging records, collection development files, committee minutes, financial documents, library serials records, off-campus relations, reports, publications, newsletters, photographs, policies, and materials related to circulation, interlibrary loan, reserves, acquisitions, bindery, and special events. Committee records cover groups such as the Social Committee, Publicity Committee, Collections and Connections Committee, Exhibits and Arts Committee, Staff Development Committee, University Library Committee, and Faculty and Staff Library Committees. Materials span library services, staffing, budgeting, technology initiatives, outreach, strategic planning, and special collections management.

This collection odocuments the growth and transformation of Hilton M. Briggs Library from its dedication in 1977 through subsequent decades. It reflects the library’s evolving role in supporting academic programs, research, outreach, and technology integration. The records illustrate the library’s response to campus needs, statewide collaborations, and national trends in academic librarianship, making it a valuable resource for understanding the development of higher education libraries, library administration, and information services in South Dakota.

Henry N. Abild from Wakonda, South Dakota was honored in 1947 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Earl P. Acheson from Chester, South Dakota was honored in 1980 as Eminent Farmer by South Dakota State University and the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Mildred Acheson, wife of Earl Acheson from Lake County, South Dakota, was honored in 1984 as Eminent Homemaker by South Dakota State University and the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Frank Agnew from Kingsbury County, South Dakota was honored in 1939 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Charles H. Ahrens from Wagner, South Dakota was honored in 1956 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Carl A. Anderson from Dupree, South Dakota was honored in 1964 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Harold D. Anderson from Highmore, South Dakota was honored in 1989 as Eminent Farmer by South Dakota State University and the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Selmer J. Anderson from Clear Lake, South Dakota was honored in 1986 as Eminent Farmer by South Dakota State University and the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Virginia Anderson from Oral, South Dakota was honored in 1991 as Eminent Homemaker by South Dakota State University and the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Mrs. Earl L. Arne from Clark, South Dakota was honored in 1961 as Eminent Homemaker by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.

Thornton N. Babcock from Watertown, South Dakota was honored in 1931 as Eminent Farmer by the Eminent Farmer and Homemaker Club at South Dakota State College.