SDSU History
A Guide to Resources in the South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections
As a public university, South Dakota State University has generated numerous publications, reports and files. With the exception of certain ongoing publications and materials illustrating the historical development of the campus, only publications or writings that treat some aspect of the history of the institution are included in this guide.
Founding of the Dakota Agricultural College
On Feb. 21, 1881, Dakota Territory Governor Nehemiah George Ordway signed into law the establishment of the Dakota Agricultural College, which eventually became South Dakota State University.
Brookings County Delegate, John O'Brien Scobey, brought the idea for an agricultural college to the Dakota Territory Legislature and lobbied for its approval. The 1881 Act also established a Board of Trustees to oversee the operations of the college. However, it did not provide any funding for the building of the college. That did not come until the 1883 Legislative System.
The 1881 Act required that 80 acres of land near Brookings be obtained for the agricultural college within a year. The citizens of Brookings raised over $600 and purchased land that had belonged to Randi Petersen on October 10, 1881. The purchased land was located at N1/2 of SW1/4 of S24, T110, R50W, on the north side of Brookings.
Histories
Aldrich, Irwin D., comp. "College Cullings: South Dakota State College History.
"A scrapbook of college news published by the Brookings press in the years 1889, 1890 and 1891.
[Archives: S537.S6 A2315 1889-1891]
Dunkle, Amy with V.J. Smith. "The College on the Hill: A Sense of South Dakota State University History."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State University Alumni Association, c2003.
[Books, SD Collection: S537.S6 C86 2003]
Kramer, John Howard. "A Recent History of South Dakota State University, Beginning July 1, 1975." [1977?]
Typescript photocopied from the author's manuscript.
[Books, Archives: S537.S6 K7 1977]
Kramer, John Howard. "South Dakota State University, a History: 1884 to 1975."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State University, 1975.
[Books, Archives, Reference: S537.S6 K7]
Miller, John E. "South Dakota State University: A Pictorial History, 1881-2006."
Virginia Beach, Va.: Donning Co., c2005.
[Archives, Reference: S537.S6 M54 2005]
Powers, William Howard, ed. "A History of South Dakota State College."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, 1931.
[Books, Archives, Reference: S537.S6 P6h]
Sewrey, Charles Louis. "A History of South Dakota State College, 1884-1959."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State College, 1959.
[Books, Archives, Reference, SD Collection: S 537.s6 S4h]
"SDSU Centennial, 1881-1891. Vol. 1, nos. 1-3, 1981."
Tabloid newspaper.
[Archives: 378.789 So87.05]
South Dakota State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. "Anniversary Publication, 1881-1951."
Brookings, SD: The College, 1951?
[Books, Archives: S537.S6 S601a 1951]
"South Dakota State College: 70 Years, 1884-1954."
Brookings, SD: The College, 1955?
[Books, Archives: S537.S6 A22]
South Dakota State University. "Seventeen Years: A Report from South Dakota State University."
Brookings, SD: The University, 1975.
[Books, Archives, Reference: S537.S6 S6095]
"The Centennial of South Dakota State University, 1881-1981: Departmental Histories." 1982.
A bound volume of typescripts.
[Books, Archives: S537.S6 C46]
"History of SDSC." 1913-1930?
38 brief typewritten pamphlets mostly prepared for the fiftieth anniversary of the institution in conjunction with the William Powers history above.
[Books, Archives: S537.S6 H47]
Individual Academic Units and Programs
College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences
South Dakota State University, College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences. "Paying Our Way."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State University, 1975?
[Books, Archives: S537.S6 S62]
College of Engineering
"70 Years of Engineering. 1884-1854."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State College, 1954?
[Books, Archives: T74.S6 S6s]
Kodis, Katherine L. "The Rhetoric of the Engineering School Controversy in South Dakota from February 11, 1971, through March 19, 1971."
Master's thesis, South Dakota State University, 1971.
[Books, Archives: LB2385.K816]
Entomology - Zoology
Balsbaugh, Edward U., Jr. "History of Entomology-Zoology at South Dakota State University, 1884-1976."
Brookings, SD: s.n., 1976.
[Books, Archives: S537.S6 B35]
Nursing
Holter, Ilverine and Genevieve Johnson. "History of the College of Nursing, South Dakota State University."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State University, 1981.
[Books, Archives: S537.S6 H57 1981]
Plant Science
Derscheid, Lyle A. "Plant Science: Agronomy, Plant Pathology, Entomology at South Dakota State University: A Centennial Report."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State University Foundation Press, 1981.
[Archives: S537.S6 D481]
Pharmacy
Eidsmoe, Clark T. "A History of Pharmacy at South Dakota State University, 1887-1974."
Brookings, SD?: The Author, 1974.
[Books, Archives: S537.S3 E5]
Redman, Kenneth. "History of South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy, 1975-1982: A Chronology."
Brookings, SD: The Author, 1983.
[Books, Archives: RS111.S8 R43 1983]
Physical Education
Emmerich, Jim. "History of the Physical Education Program at South Dakota State University."
Brookings, SD?: The Author, 1972?
[Archives: S537.S6 E66]
School of agriculture
Stallbaum, Herman. "The Changing Role of the School of Agriculture and South Dakota State College."
Master's thesis, South Dakota State College, 1940.
[Books, Archives: LB2385.St18]
Wiseman, Clinton Raymond. "Report to Rufus W. Stimson: Story of courses in agriculture of
less than college grade at South Dakota State College."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State College, 1940.
Typewritten.
[Archives: S531.W5s]
Speech
Sladek, Lyle Virgl. "The History of Speech, Education at South Dakota State College, 1884-1948."
Master's thesis, University of South Dakota, 1949.
[Microfilm: S537.S6 S52 1949]
Teacher Training
Wiseman, Clinton Raymond. "History and Development of Teacher Training in Agriculture at South Dakota State College."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State College, 1958.
Typewritten manuscript.
[Archives: S537.S6 W57 1959]
Theatre
Arndt, Xavia Diane. "A History of Theatre at South Dakota State University 1892 through summer 1972"
Master's thesis, South Dakota State University, 1972.
[Books, Archives: LB2385.Ar61]
Library
Brown, Phillip L. "South Dakota State University's Library: A History."
Brookings, SD: H.M. Briggs Library, South Dakota State University, 1987.
[Books, Archives: S537.S6 S6081 1987]
Coolidge, Calvin, Pres. U.S. "Address of President Coolidge Dedicating the Lincoln Memorial Library at the South Dakota State College, Brookings, S. Dak., Saturday, September 10, 1927."
Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1927.
[Archives: S537.S6 S60805 1927]
Hilton M. Briggs Library. " South Dakota State University Library Biennial Report."
Brookings, SD: The Library, 1900-.
[Books, Archives: Z733.S729 A3r]
South Dakota State University, Lincoln Memorial Library. "Administrative memorandum."
Brookings, SD: The Library, 1974-.
Contains annual reports from each department. Some issues also include library building reports, state of the library reports, North Central evaluation reports, minutes from the library committee and statements on departmental libraries.
[Books: Z733.S72 A32]
Office of the President
South Dakota State University. "SDSU President's Faculty Committee: Two-year Report."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State University, Office of the President, 2000-.
[Books, Archives: S537.S6 S60166]
South Dakota State University. "The President's Annual Report."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State University, 1966-.[Books, Archives: S537.S6 A29]
South Dakota State University. "The President of South Dakota State University, Brookings Reports to the People of South Dakota."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State University, 19-- - 1965.
[Books, Archives: S537.S6 A29]
South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station
South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. "Better Agriculture Through Research in South Dakota, 1887-1956."
Brookings, SD: Agricultural Experiment Station, South Dakota State College, 1956.
[Periodicals: 630.7 So87.17, no. 123]
South Dakota cooperative Extension Service
Marten, James. "The Road was Rough and Rocky: the AAA's effect on the South Dakota Extension Service, 1933-34."
Master's thesis, University of South Dakota, 1981.
[SD Collection: S544.5.S8 M37]
Sckerl, Otto F. "South Dakota County Agents in Retrospect."
1970?
Typescript: history with much biographical detail.
[Archives: S534.S8 S34]
South Dakota State University, Cooperative Extension Service. "History of Extension."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service, 1973?
[Archives: S537.S6 S6092 1973]
Cecil, Chuck. "The sky's the limit: South Dakota State University's Coughlin campanile and the man who made it possible."
Sioux Falls, S.D. : Pine Hill Press, 2009.
[SD Collection: S537.S6 C43 2009]
Harrison and Rippel Site Planning Consultants. "South Dakota State University: Summary Statement, Long Range Master Plan."
Ames, Iowa: Harrison and Rippel, 1965.
[Archives: S537.S6 S60181 1965]
Hengeweld, Derek W. "Comparison of the Performance of the H.M. Briggs Library's Cooling System with Manufacturer's rated Performance and a Common Mathematical Model."
Master's thesis, South Dakota State University, 1998.
[Books, Archives: LB2385.H3674]
Oleson, Doug. “Campus Evolution Map.”.
Powers, William H. "New Library Building at State College."
South Dakota Library Bulletin 12 (1926): 57-59.
[Periodicals: 020.623 So87.12, no. 12]
Raney, Leon and Dave Martin. "South Dakota State University, H.M. Briggs Library."
Brookings, SD: The Library, 1977?
A booklet about the new building issued shortly after occupancy.
[Archives: S537.S6 S6082 1977]
Raney, Leon. "South Dakota State University Library Building program."
1973. Typescript.
[Archives: S537.S6 R36 1973]
South Dakota Dept. of Finance. "A Building Survey of South Dakota Institutions Under the Direction of the Regents of Education."
Pierre, SD: 1950.
[Books, SD Collection: LB3223.4.S63 S6]
"South Dakota State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Brookings, South Dakota Building Survey, 1949-1959."
Brookings, SD: The College, 1949?
[Archives: S537.S6 S60911 1949]
"South Dakota State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts Building Survey."
Brookings, SD: The College, 1955.
[Archives: S537.S6 S60911 1955]
South Dakota State University, Office of University Relations. "Woodbine Cottage."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State University, Office of University Relations, 2006.
[Books, Archives, SD Collection: S537.S6 W66 2006]
Digital Archives
South Dakota State University Buildings and Landmarks available at the Digital Library of South Dakota.
Intercollegiate Athletics
Zahorsky, Arthur Peter. "A History of Intercollegiate Athletics at South Dakota State College."
Master's thesis, South Dakota State University. 1959.
[Books, Archives: LB2385.Z13]
Baseball
Bozied, Robert Tanios. "A History of Intercollegiate Baseball at South Dakota State University."
Master's thesis, South Dakota State University, 1971.
[Books, Archives: LB2385.B716]
Men's Basketball
Schoolmeester, Vernon L. "A History of Intercollegiate Basketball at South Dakota State University."
Master's thesis, South Dakota State University, 1969.
[Books, Archives: LB2385.Sch637]
Football
Vacura, James L. "A History of Intercollegiate Football at South Dakota State University."
Master's thesis, South Dakota State University, 1968.
[Books, Archives: LB2385.V139]
Track and Field
Schlender, James Elmer. "A Historical Analysis of the Development of Track and Field at South Dakota State College, 1889-1958."
Master's thesis, South Dakota State University. 1958.
[Books, Archives: LB2385.Sch37]
Schmeichel, Russel Lee. "The Historical Development of Intercollegiate Track and Field Athletics at South Dakota State University."
Master's thesis, South Dakota State University, 1971.
[Books, Archives: LB2385.Sch44]
Digital Archives
Jackrabbit Athletics available at the Digital Library of South Dakota
Intramural Athletics
Williamson, Warren E. "Intramural Sports History, South Dakota State University."
Brookings, SD?: Williamson, 1978.
[Archives: GV710.S56]
Hoogestraat, Diana. "Entertainment in the 50's at SDSC."
14th Dakota History Conference, April 2 and 3, 1982: papers. pp. 746-764.
Madison, SD: Dakota State College, 1983.
[Books, SD Collection: F646.D35 1982]
Digital Archives
Hobo Day digital collection
Hilton M. Briggs
Hilton M. Briggs Library. "SDSU, the Briggs Years, 1958-1975."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State University, 2002,.
Videorecording.
[SD Collection, Audio Visual: S537.S6 S60954 2002 Video]
South Dakota State University. "Dr. Hilton M. Briggs Memorial Service: November 28, 2001."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State University, 2001.
Videorecording.
[SD Collection, Audio Visual: S537.S6 S60953 2001 Video]
Peggy Gordon Elliott Miller
South Dakota State University. "The Inaugural Celebration of Dr. Peggy Gordon Elliott."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State University, 1998.
Videorecording.
[SD Collection: S537.S6 S60935 1998 Video]
Charles W. Pugsley
South Dakota Board of Regents. "An Appreciation of the Services of Dr. Charles W. Pugsley as President of South Dakota State College."
South Dakota: Board of Regents?, 1940
.[Archives: S537.S6 P77 1940]
Publications
Course Catalogs and Bulletins
South Dakota State College of Agriculture Mechanic Arts. Bulletin., 1885-1964]
South Dakota State University. Catalog., 1964 - .
[Archives (1885- ongoing): 378.783 So87.1]
Bulletins: 1886-1926 available on Open PRAIRIE Bulletins.
Catalogs: 1976-2016 available on Open PRAIRIE Course Catalogs.
Collegian
Brookings, SD: Student Association, 1885-.
Variant titles: College Sheaves, Dakota Collegian, South Dakota Collegian, SDSU Collegian, Industrial Collegian, South Dakota State University Collegian.
[Microfilm: 378.783 So8.43]
Collegian Index: 1970-
[Archives, Periodicals: 378.783 So8.43 Index]
"Class Souvenir."
Brookings, SD: The College, 1989.
[Books, Archives: S537.S6 A519]
"The Quirt."
Brookings, SD: Junior Class, South Dakota Agricultural College, 1904.
[Books, Archives: S537.S6 A52]
"Jack Rabbit."
Brookings, SD: South Dakota State University, 1907-2001.
[Books, Archives: S537.S6 A52]