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

 
 

Administration
David F. Pearson papers
 

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

COLLECTION SUMMARY

Title:     Administration, David F. Pearson papers

Dates:     1886-1982 (bulk 1976-1981)

Creator:     Vice President for Administration, South Dakota State University

Physical description:     6.84 linear feet—8 containers

Collection number:     UA 3.1

Language:     Collection material in English.

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

Abstract:     Collection contains files from the office of David F. Pearson during his tenure as Vice President for Administration and consists mainly of correspondence and files dealing with the F.O. Butler Foundation, the engineering controversy of the early 1970s, and the celebration of the United States Bicentennial on the campus of South Dakota State University in 1976.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Provenance: This collection was found in the Lincoln Music Hall closed stacks in 2002. There is no indication of where the records came from or how they came to be here.

Access Restrictions: This collection is open to research without restriction.

Copyright Status: Copyright 2007 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]. Administration, David F. Pearson papers, UA 3.1, South Dakota State University Archives, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S. D.

Processing information: This collection was processed by Krystal Maras & Crystal J. Gamradt on 7 July 2004.

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:

  • Pearson, David F.

Subjects:

  • Administration—South Dakota State University.

  • Administration, Vice President for—South Dakota State University.

  • Bicentennial celebrations (U.S.)—South Dakota State University.

  • College administrators.

  • Engineering controversy—South Dakota State University.

  • F. O. Butler Foundation—South Dakota State University.

  • University administrators.

BACKGROUND NOTE 

The Executive Vice President for Administration provides leadership and supervision for the support, service, and administrative units on campus. Overall responsibilities include financial management, personnel services, buildings and grounds, student services, legal affairs, public relations, policy development, campus planning, and support for alumni and foundation affairs.

David Pearson received a law degree from the University of South Dakota and returned to South Dakota State University in 1957 serving as an Assistant Professor of Economics.  In 1959, President Briggs appointed him Special Assistant to the President.  He retained his teaching position, attaining Professor status in July, 1965.  In 1973, President Briggs named him to the newly created position of Vice President for Administration.  In reality, many of the duties Pearson was assigned from 1959 to 1973, were essentially the same as those formally given to him after 1973.  In addition, he headed the Greater State Fund, which has grown into what we now know as the SDSU Foundation.  David Pearson retired in August, 1980.  He died July 10, 1990.

David Pearson's career at SDSU:

  • September 1957 Assistant Professor of Economics,

  • May 1959 Assistant Professor of Economics, Special Assistant to President Briggs,

  • July 1961 Associate Professor of Economics,

  • July 1965 Professor of Economics,

  • July 1973 (effective date) Resigned as Assistant to President Briggs,

  • February 1973 Vice President for Administration, Professor of Economics,

  • August 1980 Retired from VP of Administration, Professor of Economics, Emeritus Status.

Related Material:

Miscellaneous Units/Administrative Council Records, South Dakota State University Archives, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D. UA 50.6

SCOPE AND CONTENTS NOTE

The David F. Pearson papers is composed of files from the office of David F. Pearson while serving as Vice President for Administration.  Folders consist mainly of correspondence and files dealing with the F. O. Butler Foundation, the engineering controversy of the early 1970s, and material dealing with the celebration of the United States Bicentennial celebration on the campus of South Dakota State University.

ARRANGEMENT of the RECORDS

This collection is arranged into four series:  Correspondence, F.O. Butler Foundation files, Engineering controversy files, and Bicentennial celebration files.

SERIES I:     CORRESPONDENCE, 1976-1981

This series is composed of correspondence sent and received by David F. Pearson while service was Vice President for Administration.  Folders are arranged in chronological order.

Box 1.

  1. 1979 March 16-31

  2. 1976 November

  3. 1976 December

  4. 1977 January

  5. 1977 February

  6. 1977 March

  7. 1977 April

  8. 1977 May

  9. 1977 June

  10. 1977 July

  11. 1977 August

  12. 1977 September

  13. 1977 October

  14. 1977 November

  15. 1977 December

  16. 1978 January

  17. 1978 February

  18. 1978 March

  19. 1978 April

  20. 1978 May

  21. 1978 June

  22. 1978 July

  23. 1978 August

  24. 1978 September

  25. 1978 October

  26. 1978 November

  27. 1978 December

  28. 1979 January

  29. 1979 February

  30. 1979 March 1-15

Box 2.

  1. 1979 April 16-30

  2. 1979 July 18-30

  3. 1979 September 18-30

  4. 1979 November 15-30

  5. 1980 January 15-31

  6. 1980 March 19-31

  7. 1979 May 11-31

  8. 1979 August 21-31

  9. 1979 October 23-31

  10. 1979 December 13-31

  11. 1979 June

  12. 1979 October 1-9

  13. 1979 May 1-10

  14. 1979 December 1-12

  15. 1979 April 1-13

  16. 1980 January 2-14

  17. 1980 February 1-14

  18. 1979 November 1-14

  19. 1979 July 1-17

  20. 1979 September 1-17

  21. 1980 March 1-18

  22. 1979 August 1-20

  23. 1979 October 10-22

  24. 1980 February 15-28

Box 3.

  1. 1980 April 15-30

  2. 1980 June 10-30

  3. 1980 May

  4. 1980 July

  5. 1980 August

  6. 1980 September

  7. 1980 October

  8. 1980 November

  9.  1980 December

  10. 1981 January

  11. 1981 February

  12. 1981 March

  13. 1981 April

  14. 1981 May

  15. 1981 June

  16. 1981 July

  17. 1981 August

  18. 1981 September

  19. 1981 October

  20. 1981 November

  21. 1981 December

  22. 1982 January

  23. 1980 June 1-9

  24. 1980 April 1-14

Box 8. oversize material

  1. 1979 April

  2. 1979 June

  3. 1979 September

  4. 1979 November

  5. 1979 December

  6. 1980 January

  7. 1980 February

  8. 1980 March

  9. 1980 April

  10. 1981 January

  11. 1981 April

SERIES II:     F. O. BUTLER FOUNDATION FILES, 1932-1979

This series is composed of material dealing with the organization of the F. O. Butler Foundation at South Dakota State University.  Folders contain approved requests, Articles of Incorporation, campus enrichment, and correspondence files.  Folders are arranged in alphabetical order.

Box 3.

  1. Annual Meeting, 1945-1964

  2. Annual Meeting, 1965-1970

  3. Approval Requests, 1975-1976

  4. Approval Requests, 1977

  5. Articles of Incorporation, [n.d.]

  6. Campus Enrichment, 1969-1970

  7. Campus Enrichment, 1971 January-July

  8. Campus Enrichment, 1971 August-December

  9. Campus Enrichment, 1972

  10. Campus Enrichment, 1973 January-May

Box 4.

  1. Campus Enrichment, 1973 June-December

  2. Campus Enrichment, 1974

  3. Campus Enrichment, 1975

  4. Campus Enrichment, 1976

  5. Campus Enrichment-Approved Requests, 1977

  6. Campus Enrichment-Approved Requests, 1978

  7. Campus Enrichment-West River Seminar, 1973-1977

  8. Contingency funds, 1976-1977

  9. Correspondence, 1942

  10. Correspondence, 1943

  11. Correspondence, 1944

  12. Correspondence, 1945

  13. Correspondence, 1946

  14. Correspondence, 1947

  15. Correspondence, 1948

  16. Correspondence, 1949

  17. Correspondence, 1950

  18. Correspondence, 1952

  19. Correspondence, 1953

  20. Correspondence, 1954

  21. Correspondence, 1955

  22. Correspondence, 1956

  23. Correspondence, 1957

  24. Correspondence, 1958

  25. Correspondence, 1959

  26. Correspondence, 1960

  27. Correspondence, 1961

  28. Correspondence, 1962

  29. Correspondence, 1963

  30. Correspondence, 1964

  31. Correspondence, 1965

  32. Correspondence, 1966

  33. Correspondence, 1967

  34. Correspondence, 1968

  35. Correspondence, 1969 June-September

  36. Correspondence, 1969 October-December

  37. Correspondence, 1970 January-June

  38. Correspondence, 1970 July-December

  39. Correspondence, 1971

  40. Correspondence, 1972

  41. Correspondence, 1974

  42. Correspondence, 1975

  43. Correspondence, 1973

  44. Correspondence, 1976

Box 5.

  1. Correspondence, 1977

  2. Correspondence, 1978

  3. Correspondence Financial, 1960-1976

  4. Correspondence Financial, 1975-1977

  5. Correspondence Financial, 1944-1959

  6. F.O. Butler Plaza, 1970-1976

  7. F.O. Butler projects, 1970-1978

  8. F.O. Butler Ranch, Inc. 7-11 Ranch, 1969

  9. F.O. Butler Story, 1975-1977

  10. Financial report, 1953-1962

  11. Financial report, 1958-1977

  12. Financial report, 1964-1968

  13. Historical, 1945

  14. Income & expenses, 1947

  15. In-House Fellowship, 1970-1978

  16. Investment company, 1955

  17. Investments, 1972-1977

  18. Legal descriptions, 1969

  19. Legal documents, 1947-1949, 1959

  20. Meeting minutes, agendas, 1948-1977

  21. News releases, 1944, [n.d.]

  22. Power of Attorney, 1963

  23. Public relations, 1974

  24. Restated Articles of Incorporation, 1977

  25. Scholarship, 1948-1979

  26. Scholarship Recognition Day, 1959-1960

  27. Tax information, 1948-1967

  28. Trust Agreement, 1948-1959

  29. Villa Theresa, 1956-1959

Box 8. oversize material

  1. Approved Requests, 1977

  2. Articles of Incorporation, 1932

  3. Campus Enrichment, 1971

  4. Campus Enrichment, 1975

  5. Correspondence, 1948

  6. Correspondence, 1949

  7. Correspondence, 1952

  8. Correspondence, 1955

  9. Correspondence, 1959

  10. Correspondence, 1963

  11. Correspondence, 1964

  12. Correspondence, 1965

  13. Correspondence, 1966

  14. Correspondence, 1967

  15. Correspondence, 1968

  16. Correspondence, 1969

  17. Correspondence, 1970

  18. Correspondence Financial, 1969

  19. Correspondence Financial, 1970

  20. Correspondence, [n.d.]

  21. In-House Fellowship, 1971-1973

  22. Investments, 1972, 1976

  23. Legal Documents, 1932-1969

  24. Tax Information, 1959-1965

  25. Trust Agreement, 1968

  26. Villa Theresa, 1956

SERIES III:     ENGINEERING CONTROVERSY FILES, 1986-1978

This series is composed of material dealing with the controversy surrounding the possible removal of the College of Engineering from South Dakota State University in the early 1970s.  Folders contain correspondence, analysis, departmental actions, clippings, and master plan material.  Folders are arranged in alphabetical order.

Box 5.

  1. Articles, 1971-1972

  2. Academic programs and roles for each institution, November 5, 1970

  3. Alumni publications, 1971

  4. Correspondence, 1969

  5. Correspondence, 1970

  6. Correspondence, 1971

  7. Correspondence, 1972

Box 6. 

  1. Cost analyses, 1968-1972

  2. Departmental action, 1971

  3. Enrollment, 1960-1972

  4. Graduates, 1961-1966

  5. Legislative Activity, 1971-1976

  6. Master Plan-Board of Regents special meeting, March 5, 1971

  7. Master Plan-College of Engineering House journal, February15-March 19, 1971

  8. Master Plan-College of Engineering Senate journal, March 11-19, 1971

  9. Master Plan-Costs/enrollment, 1969-1971

  10. Master Plan-Editorials & credibility/historical, 1969-1971

  11. Master Plan-Effects on other areas/EROS/Agriculture, 1970-1971

  12. Master Plan-General information, 1969-1970

  13. Master Plan-Industrial Development/Previous studies, 1953-1969

  14. Master Plan-Legal, 1886-1891, [n.d.]

  15. Master Plan-Miscellaneous, 1966-1978

  16. Master Plan-News clippings, [n.d.]

  17. Master Plan-News clippings, 1969

  18. Master Plan-News clippings, 1970

  19. Master Plan-News clippings, 1971 January-February

  20. Master Plan-News clippings, 1971 March-December

  21. Master Plan-News clippings, 1972

  22. Master Plan-News clippings, 1973

  23. Master Plan-Pearson's Notes, 1971

  24. Master Plan-Pugsley compilation of the land grant colleges, [n.d.]

  25. Meeting the post-secondary education needs of SD, 1974

  26. Prospectus in bioengineering, 1964-1968

  27. Report on Committee D of the Academic Master Plan for the State of South Dakota, 1970

  28. Research, 1970

  29. Scholarships and financial aid, 1970-1972

  30. SDSU Engineering Alumnus look at his college and finds…, [n.d.]

  31. Student Association handouts, [n.d.]

  32. TV News script, 1971

  33. USD-Springfield curriculum, 1971

Box 8. oversize material

  1. Legislative Activity, [n.d.]

SERIES IV:     BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION FILES, 1973-1977

This series is composed of material dealing with the celebration of the United States Bicentennial on the campus of South Dakota State University.  Folders consist of budget and proposal material, committee minutes, calendar of events, and correspondence.  Folders are arranged in alphabetical order.

Box 6.

  1. Budget proposal, 1973-1974

  2. Calendar outreach speakers-tips, 1975-1977

  3. Commemoration book, 1976

  4. Committee meeting, 1973-1974

  5. Committee meeting, 1974-1975

  6. Committee meeting minutes, 1973-1976

  7. Copies of Bicentennial proposal lists, 1974

  8. Correspondence, 1974-1976

  9. Correspondence, 1975

  10. Daniel Boorstin, 1974-1975

  11. Finances, including grant proposals, 1973-1975

  12. Financial, 1975-1976

  13. General correspondence, 1974

  14. Logo & ideas for use & slogans, 1973-1974

  15. Outreach proposal grant application, 1976-1977

Box 7.

  1. Projects, 1974-1976

  2. Projects for which funding not been requested, 1973-1974

  3. Projects requiring funding, 1973-1974

  4. Proposal, 1973

  5. Proposal, 1973-1974

  6. Proposal, 1973-1975

  7. Proposal, [n.d.]

  8. Sculpture contest, 1974

  9. SDSU College of Nursing, [n.d.]

  10. State Bicentennial Commission-Correspondence, 1973-1975

  11. Suggested Events, 1976

Box 8. oversize material

  1. Correspondence, 1975

  2. Tips, Fife & Drummer, & News Releases, 1975

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Updated 21 July 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.