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R.F. Kerr Papers

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Manuscript Archives- Personal Papers


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Collection Summary

Identifier

UA 53.6

Title

R.F. Kerr Papers

Creator

R. F. (Robert Floyd) Kerr

Dates

1881-1931

Extent

0.84 linear feet (2 document cases)

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 . R.F. Kerr Papers. UA 53.6. South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M .Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

Abstract

R.F. Kerr was librarian at South Dakota State College beginning in 1885. This collection consists primarily of correspondence, diaries, and other writings from Kerr’s life in South Dakota and elsewhere. Also includes items from his teaching career, including class records and items collected during his Japanese teaching experience. The bulk of material is correspondence.

Historical Note

Robert Floyd Kerr was born April 12, 1850 at Sugar Grove, Indiana. He attended Wabash College and later DePauw University, where he graduated in 1877. After teaching in Indiana for 2 years, he taught English and Mathematics at Hirosaki, Japan in 1879. Upon his return to the United States in 1880, Kerr taught again throughout the Midwest, settling finally in Brookings in 1885, where he was professor of political economy and Principal of the Preparatory Department. In 1892, he was ousted from the college and went to Illinois to work but he returned to Brookings in 1898, this time as Librarian and Principal of the Preparatory Department.

In addition to these roles, he also served as steward and manager of a boarding club, ran the men's dormitory and acted as advisor to the Dakota Agricultural Cadets, the military organization on campus. In addition to his work on the SDSU campus, Kerr was also active in Brookings. He was instrumental in founding the Forum, a men's association in town, and he was active with the Masons. In 1905, Kerr accepted a position as private Secretary to Governor Elrod. In 1911 and 1913, he served on the South Dakota legislature. In his later years, he lived in Brookings, edited a farm paper and remained active in many community organizations. He died October 16, 1921.

Contents Note

This collection represents what can only be a portion of items from Kerr's personal files. They consist mainly of correspondence, but also include some diaries and writings, ledgers, class records and even Kerr's 1879 traveling papers for his stay in Japan. The bulk of the material is correspondence, which is both personal and related to his work at the university. Some of the letters chronicle his dismissal from the university, which is an integral part of the early history of South Dakota State University.

Key Words

Ethical Culture Club (Brookings, S.D.)

Harding, A. S. (Albert Spencer), 1867-1952

Kerr, R. F. (Robert Floyd), 1850-1921

Powers, W. H. (William Howard), 1868-1936

South Dakota State University -- History

South Dakota State University -- Libraries

South Dakota State University -- Presidents

World Disarmament Committee (Brookings, S.D.)

Container List

View container list on Open Prairie

R.F. Kerr Papers Container List. UA 53.6

BoxFolderDescriptionDate(s)
11Certificate - Dept. of Public Instruction1899
12Christmas greeting (poem by Kerr)1919
13Class records1885-1886
14Class records1886-1887
15Class records1887-1888
16Class records1891-1892
18Correspondence1881-1885
19Correspondence1886-1889
110Correspondence1890-1891
111Correspondence1892
112Correspondence1893
113Correspondence1894, 1905
17Correspondenceundated
114Correspondence - from A.S. Harding to Kerr re: Chalmers1906
115Correspondence - from I.D. Aldrich re: university presidents1916
116D.A.C. Cadetsundated
117Diary1886
119Diary1887
118Diary1886-1888
120History of SDSC: 1881-1931 (Chapter 1 by Kerr, Marginalia)1931
21Kerr's Block Map and Manual of South Dakota1906, 1913
22Ledger1888
23Notes1893-1894
24Scrapbook1885-1888
25Traveling papersundated
26Writings - A Few words in favor of the Jewsundated
27Writings - Autobiographical sketch1887
28Writings - College historyundated
29Writings - Early history of Brookings County1897 circa
210Writings - History of Brookings Countyundated
211Writings - Trip to Europe1891

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

Elizabeth B. Scott, University Archivist, 1998 May 5.