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Dakota Agricultural College Board of Regents Ledger

Finding Aid

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Collection Summary

Identifier

UA 52.3

Title

Dakota Agricultural College Board of Regents Ledger

Creator

Dakota Agricultural College Board of Regents

Dates

1884-1895

Extent

1.38 linear feet (1 oversize box)

Language

English

Repository

South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

Access note

This collection is open to researchers without restrictions. The materials in the Archives do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Preferred Citation

Name of item . Dakota Agricultural College Board of Regents Ledger. UA 52.3. South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M .Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

Abstract

The Dakota Agricultural College Board of Regents was formed to establish and organize the Dakota Agricultural College. This collection is composed of the original ledger of minutes of the Board of Regents for the Dakota Agricultural College from 1884-1895. Also included is a petition, signed by many students of Dakota Agricultural College requesting that the English/History professor be removed from his post.

Historical Note

An agricultural college for the Territory of Dakota was established February 21, 1881. At the Fifteenth Legislative Assembly, provision was made for a Board of Regents of six members, exclusive of the governor of the Territory, who was the ex-officio President of the Board. A board was selected with three members serving terms of three years and three members serving terms of four years. This board was formed to establish and organize the Dakota Agricultural College.

In 1887, the Legislative Assembly of Dakota Territory established a method of government for the Dakota Agricultural College. This method established a governing board made up of five appointees, the governor and one member of the Territorial Board. The Territorial Legislature approved the appointees biennially, while the Territorial Board member served a one-year term. An elected president and treasurer ran the board, and the president of the college served as a non-voting secretary. The board held up to six meetings, totaling no more than 24 days, each year, and board members received compensation for attendance.

For two years, this Board of Regents governed the Dakota Agricultural College [D.A.C]. In 1889, in anticipation of statehood, the legislative assembly dissolved the Board of Regents and established a five-member Board of Trustees to govern the institution through the transition period.

Contents Note

This collection is composed of the original ledger of minutes of the Board of Regents for the Dakota Agricultural College from 1884-1895. Included in the minutes is information that details the organization of the college from the selection of the first president to the formation of committees to oversee the finances, course of study, farm, buildings and college lands, admission requirements, and budgets of the college. Some of the later minutes include reports from the president of the college. A notation appears at the end of the ledger indicating a second volume, which we do not have in our custody and its whereabouts is unknown. The second item in the collection is a petition, signed by many students of Dakota Agricultural College. It requests that the English/History professor be removed from his post.

Key Words

Agricultural colleges -- Dakota Territory -- Administration

Dakota Agricultural College Board of Regents

Education -- Dakota Territory

Container List

View container list on Open Prairie

Dakota Agricultural College Board of Regents Ledger Container List. UA 52.3

BoxFolderDescriptionDate(s)
12Ledger: Minutes1884-1895
11Petition1887

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers without restrictions. The materials in the Archives do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Researchers conducting extensive research are asked to make an advance appointment to access archival material. Please call or e-mail prior to visiting the collection and indicate as much detail as possible about a particular topic and intended use.

South Dakota State University supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted as a result of their fragile condition or by contractual agreements with donors.

Copyright note

Copyright restrictions apply in different ways to different materials. Many of the documents and other historical materials in the Archives are in the public domain and may be reproduced and used in any way. There are other materials in the Archive carrying a copyright interest and must be used according to the provisions of Title 17 of the U.S. Code. The Archive issues a warning concerning copyright restrictions to every researcher who requests copies of documents. Although the copyright law is under constant redefinition in the courts, it is ultimately the responsibility of the researcher to properly use copyrighted material.

Arranged and Described by

Crystal J. Gamradt, 1999 January 14.