Finding Aid
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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
| Box | Folder | Description | Date(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Certificate - Dept. of Public Instruction | 1899 |
| 1 | 2 | Christmas greeting (poem by Kerr) | 1919 |
| 1 | 3 | Class records | 1885-1886 |
| 1 | 4 | Class records | 1886-1887 |
| 1 | 5 | Class records | 1887-1888 |
| 1 | 6 | Class records | 1891-1892 |
| 1 | 8 | Correspondence | 1881-1885 |
| 1 | 9 | Correspondence | 1886-1889 |
| 1 | 10 | Correspondence | 1890-1891 |
| 1 | 11 | Correspondence | 1892 |
| 1 | 12 | Correspondence | 1893 |
| 1 | 13 | Correspondence | 1894, 1905 |
| 1 | 7 | Correspondence | undated |
| 1 | 14 | Correspondence - from A.S. Harding to Kerr re: Chalmers | 1906 |
| 1 | 15 | Correspondence - from I.D. Aldrich re: university presidents | 1916 |
| 1 | 16 | D.A.C. Cadets | undated |
| 1 | 17 | Diary | 1886 |
| 1 | 19 | Diary | 1887 |
| 1 | 18 | Diary | 1886-1888 |
| 1 | 20 | History of SDSC: 1881-1931 (Chapter 1 by Kerr, Marginalia) | 1931 |
| 2 | 1 | Kerr's Block Map and Manual of South Dakota | 1906, 1913 |
| 2 | 2 | Ledger | 1888 |
| 2 | 3 | Notes | 1893-1894 |
| 2 | 4 | Scrapbook | 1885-1888 |
| 2 | 5 | Traveling papers | undated |
| 2 | 6 | Writings - A Few words in favor of the Jews | undated |
| 2 | 7 | Writings - Autobiographical sketch | 1887 |
| 2 | 8 | Writings - College history | undated |
| 2 | 9 | Writings - Early history of Brookings County | 1897 circa |
| 2 | 10 | Writings - History of Brookings County | undated |
| 2 | 11 | Writings - Trip to Europe | 1891 |
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.