SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
& Hilton M. Briggs Library Special Collections

 
 


South Dakota Farmers Union records
 

Administrative Information | Search Terms | Background Note | Scope and Contents Note | Arrangement | PDF of Finding Aid
 

COLLECTION SUMMARY

Title:     South Dakota Farmers Union records

Dates:     1914-1999 (bulk 1935-1990)

Creator:     South Dakota Farmers Union

Physical Description:     5.08 linear feet—4 containers, 12 audio cassettes, 158 audio reels, 33 films, 6 wire recordings, 697 photographs, 36 negatives

Collection number:     MA 12

Language:     Collection material in English.

Repository:     South Dakota State University Archives, Hilton M. Briggs Library, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D.

Abstract:     Collection is composed of records consisting of correspondence, constitutions and by-laws, clippings, speeches, minutes, scrapbooks collected material, photographs, publications, audio visual material and local union information.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Provenance:     This collection was donated to the archives by Chuck Groth, Communications Director, on behalf of the South Dakota Farmers Union over a period of four years with the first donation arriving in April of 1999.

Access Restrictions:     This collection is open to research without restriction. Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Copyright Status:     Copyright 2008 by South Dakota State University and SDSU Archives. Please credit the SDSU Archives if you copy or reproduce material from this finding aid.

It is the responsibility of anyone reproducing material to determine the copyright holders and obtain permission from them if necessary. Archives staff will provide available copyright information on request. Please note that most collections, especially those received before 1997, may not have complete information on file. (Revised 15 SEP 2003)

Preferred Citation:     [Identification of item]. South Dakota Farmers Union records, MA 12, South Dakota State University Archives, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S. D.

Processing Information:    The material in the Local Unions series was extremely moldy when it arrived in the archives and was photocopied for preservation purposes and the originals discarded.

The photographs have been removed from the main collection and filed with the photograph collections for preservation purposes.  See the separation sheet in each file for their location and arrangement.

This collection was processed by Crystal J. Gamradt on 24 June 1998 with revisions on June 25, 2008 (cjg).

SELECTED SEARCH TERMS

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the subject guide. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.

Names:

  • Batcheller, J.W.

  • Everson, Edward.

  • Forsheim, Oscar.

  • Loriks, Emil.

  • Opsahl, Paul W.

  • Richards, S.W.

  • Skage, John.

Subjects:

  • Agriculture, Cooperative.

  • South Dakota Farmer’s Union.

BACKGROUND NOTE 

Newspaperman Isaac Newton Gresham founded the Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union at Point, Texas in 1902.  The Union was organized to protect and promote the interests of family farmers.  The Union became a national organization in 1905.

The Farmers Union came to South Dakota about 1914.  Former members of the Nebraska Farmers Union who moved to South Dakota to farm introduced the organization.  Farmers Union officials did much of the early work in organizing from Nebraska.

The Farmers Union of South Dakota was organized into a state unit at Mitchell on March 16, 1917.  This was the first state convention to be held in South Dakota.  There were fourteen counties represented at the convention by 268 delegates.  By this time, there were 134 locals in South Dakota.

The educational program of the South Dakota Farmers Union has been a vital part of the state organization.  The Union pioneered many activities in education that other state units adopted.  One of the important functions of the early Union was the collective purchasing of supplies such as flour, coal, twine, etc.

Related material:

Williams, Elizabeth E., Emil Loriks : builder of a new economic order, Sioux Falls, S.D., Center for Western Studies, 1987.  F651.L67 W54 1987

Williams, Elizabeth E., The inventional components of Emil Loriks' agrarian farmers union rhetoric, 1934-1938, Thesis (M.A.)—Speech Dept., South Dakota State University, 1983.  LB2385.W67 1983

SCOPE and CONTENTS NOTE

This collection is composed of records consisting of correspondence, constitutions and by-laws, clippings, speeches, minutes, scrapbooks collected material, photographs, publications, audio visual material and local union information.

ARRANGEMENT of the RECORDS

The South Dakota Farmers Union Records is arranged into six series:

SERIES I:     General, 1926-1999

This series is composed of correspondence, constitutions and by-laws, clippings, speeches, minutes advertising material and a scrapbook.  The minutes are from the 11th Annual Convention in 1926 to the 31st Annual Convention in 1946.  Financial statements can be found in nearly all of programs.  Also included is material dealing with a 1972 Supreme Court case that dealt with funding public schools with property tax funds.  This material consists of clippings, correspondence, exhibit evidence, interrogatories, and material dealing with other states.  Folders are arranged in alphabetical order.

Box 1.

  1. Advertising, 1932-1999

  2. Agricultural Needs meeting, 1985 Aug. 22

  3. Cartoons, [n.d.]

  4. Chuck Groth speeches, 1980-1997

  5. Clippings, 1944, 1953

  6. Constitution & by-laws, 1940-1996

  7. Correspondence, 1947-1999

  8. John Holum columns, 1963-1965

  9. Minutes—11th-15th Annual Convention, 1926-1930

  10. Minutes—16th-20th Annual Convention, 1931-1935

  11. Minutes—23rd-26th Annual Convention, 1938-1941

  12. Minutes—27th-31st Annual Convention, 1942-1946

  13. National Farmers Union publications—brochures, etc., 1948-1949

  14. Printers plates (3) for political cartoons, [n.d.]

  15. Supreme Court case—Answers to Request for Admissions, 1972

  16. Supreme Court case—Associated School Boards of SD, 1972

  17. Supreme Court case—Clippings, 1972

  18. Supreme Court case—Complaint, 1972

  19. Supreme Court case—Correspondence, 1972

  20. Supreme Court case—Exhibit evidence, 1972

  21. Supreme Court case—Impact of California Supreme Court decision on SD school finance, circa 1972

  22. Supreme Court case—Interrogatories, 1972

  23. Supreme Court case—Other States, 1971-1972

  24. Scrapbook—Tripp County Farmers Co-op Oil Association Tour, 1950

  25. Young Farmers Program scrapbook, 1974

SERIES II:     Collected Material, 1935-1989

This series is composed mainly of National Farmers Union publications as well as publications from various state Farmers Unions organizations.  Folders are arranged in alphabetical order.

Box 1.

  1. Agriculture in the service of mankind, 1946

  2. The Challenge: Permanent Camp Site Committee, [n.d.]

  3. The Cooperative League Yearbook, 1936

  4. Farmers Union…Coming of Age, 1989

  5. Farmers Union National Convention, 1946 March 3-5

  6. Fuel Ethanol Briefing Material—Congressional Alcohol Fuels Caucus, circa 1986

  7. How to put traction in Farmers Union action, 1947 November

  8. I’m—Mr. Average Man—Budget Fund Party, [n.d.]

  9. Introducing…Kagawa, 1935

  10. Million Member Drive—Special Bulletin, 1950

  11. Monopoly in Action!—Mandan Farmers Cooperative Elevator Co. pamphlet, circa 1947

  12. One World—All States Annual, 1948

  13. Public Power for SD from the Missouri River, 1949

  14. Some facts and some questions on the different farm programs, circa 1949

  15. The Story of Toad Lane—The Cooperative League, [n.d.]

  16. What will the 60% of Parity Law do to you?, circa 1950

SERIES III:     Local Unions, 1914-1992

This series is composed of charter records for local unions throughout the state of South Dakota with some material pertaining to more specific local unions such as Clarno Local #875, Headquarters Local #1047 and Preston Local #677.  Material in these files consist of attendance records, minutes, and correspondence with some accompanied by photographs.  The material pertaining to Long Lake Local #277 of Jerauld County was extremely moldy when it arrived in the archives and was, therefore, photocopied for preservation purposes and the originals discarded.  Folders are arranged in alphabetical order.

Box 1.

  1. Charter Records—County Local Unions, 1915-1957

  2. Charter Records—Local Union #1-99, 1914-1916

  3. Charter Records—Local Union #100-200, 1916-1917, 1928, 1935

  4. Charter Records—Local Union #201-300, 1917, 1918, 1920

  5. Charter Records—Local Union #301-400, 1920-1923, 192?, 1945

Box 2.

  1. Charter Records—Local Union #401-500, 1923-1925

  2. Charter Records—Local Union #501-600, 1925-1928

  3. Charter Records—Local Union #601-700, 1928-1931

  4. Charter Records—Local Union #701-800, 1931-1935

  5. Charter Records—Local Union #801-899, 1935-1944

  6. Charter Records—Local Union #900-999, 1944-1946

  7. Charter Records—Local Union #1000-1100, 1946-1949

  8. Charter Records—Local Union #1101-1209, 1949-1958

  9. Clarno Local #875—Lake County, 1944-1961

  10. DeGrey Local #578—Hughes County, 1948-1962

  11. District #3, 1938-1950

  12. Dry Run Local #574—Hughes County, 1927-1967

  13. Farmer’s Service Local #447—Sanborn County, 1924-1934

  14. Headquarters Local #1047, 1956-1961

  15. Locals—County and District, 1985, 1989, 1992

  16. Long Lake Local #277—Jerauld County, 1947-1953

  17. Preston Local #677—Brookings County, 1940-1956

  18. Sinai Local #680—Brookings County, 1931-1968

SERIES IV:     Photographs, 1952-1990

This series is composed of many miscellaneous photographs and negatives of the South Dakota Farmers Unions with a majority of them dealing with the youth program, conventions, picnics, tours, and dedications.  The photographs have been removed from the main collection and filed with the photograph collections for preservation purposes.  See the separation sheet in each file for their location and arrangement.

Box 2.

  1. Dedication pictures, [n.d.]

  2. Miscellaneous, 1952-1972

  3. Negatives, [n.d.]

  4. Youth Program, 1951-1953

SERIES V:     Publications, 1938-1994

This series is composed of programs, action programs, handbooks, and brochures from South Dakota Farmers Union and a dedication program.

The programs are from conventions dating from 1938 to 1983.  These include an agenda for the conventions and advertising.  The action programs include program and policy statements of the South Dakota Farmers Union as adopted by delegates at annual conventions.  These action programs date from 1954-1988.  The handbooks include proceedings of the annual conventions and bylaws of the Union.  The dedication program includes a brief summary of the South Dakota Farmers Union.

Box 3.

  1. 75 Years of Building 1902-1977, 1977

  2. Action Programs—39th-44th Annual Convention, 1954/55-1959/60

  3. Action Programs—47th-50th Annual Convention, 1962/63-1965/66

  4. Action Programs—51st-53rd Annual Convention, 1966/67-1968/69

  5. Action Programs—57th-60th Annual Convention, 1972/73-1975/76

  6. Action Programs—61st-65th Annual Convention, 1976/77-1980/81

  7. Action Programs—69th-72nd Annual Convention, 1984/85-1987/88

  8. Annual Convention Programs—23rd-30th, 1938-1945

  9. Annual Convention Programs—31st-35th, 1946-1950

  10. Annual Convention Programs—36th-40th, 1951-1955

  11. Annual Convention Programs—41st-45th, 1956-1960

  12. Annual Convention Programs—46th-50th, 1961-1965

  13. Annual Convention Programs—51st-55th, 1966-1970

  14. Annual Convention Programs—56th-60th, 1971-1975

  15. Annual Convention Programs—61st-65th, 1976-1980

  16. Annual Convention Programs—66th-70th, 1981-1985

  17. Annual Convention Programs—71st-72nd, 1986-1987

  18. Convention Staff Reports, 1967-1968

  19. Cooperatives: A vital part of the American Free Enterprise System, [n.d.]

  20. Dakota Panorama Youth Pageant, 1970

  21. Defending the Family Farm—brochure, circa 1986

  22. Farmers Union Coop. Assn. Silver Anniversary Mitchell, S.D., 1961

  23. General Election in SD: An Analysis, 1976

  24. Guide to Farmers Unions State Issues, 1969, 1971-73, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, [n.d.]

  25. Handbook—By-laws and proceedings—33rd-38th Annual Convention, 1949-1953

  26. Leadership Handbook, [n.d.]

  27. Legislative Action Conference, 1980-1986

  28. Mid-Winter Conference, 1968, 1973

  29. Parity & Full Employment—brochure, circa 1982

  30. Rural Lobbyist—newsletter, 1986-1987, 1992-1994

  31. SD Farmers Union Activities, 1949

  32. SD Farmers Union Building—Dedication Program, 1952

  33. A South Dakota Story (timeline)—brochure, circa 1989

  34. You and SDFU and/or FUSA—brochure, circa 1968

Box 4.

  1. A Farmers Union Album—Special Section—Printers layout sheets, 1990 July-August

  2. Printers layout sheets, [n.d.]

  3. Structure of a cooperative, [n.d.]

SERIES VI:     Audio-Visual, 1948-1992

This series is composed of audio cassettes, audio reels, films, and wire recordings.  A description of the items may be found in each file in this series, but the researcher should keep in mind   that the staff in the archives has been unable to review the items in this series because of their large numbers.  Some of the items were marked with descriptions but many are vague or non-existent.  From a preliminary review it appears that the films consist of state camp activities, tours, picnics, and parades.  An item of note is a film titled “From the Good Harvest” produced by Bill Snyder Films.  It is the story of how people working together built a great marketing service and supply cooperative to serve farmers in the Upper Midwest.  The audio cassettes and reels appear to be recordings of both state and national conventions and radio spots for Agriculture in Review and advertisements for Co-op month.  There are some politically related recording for both senatorial and gubernatorial races in South Dakota with some featuring George McGovern and Hubert Humphrey.  The wire recordings appear to be interviews in Washington, D.C. with one interview with Hubert Humphrey.  Researchers should ask staff for assistance material in this series.

Box 3.

  1. Audio Cassettes, 1972-1981

  2. Audio Reels, 1948-1992

  3. Films, 1948-1957

  4. Wire Recordings, [n.d.]

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Updated 23 June 2008 by cjg

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Copyright 2008 by South Dakota State University and SDSU Archives.
Please credit the SDSU Archives if you copy or reproduce material from this page.