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

 
 


Faculty Papers
R. F. Kerr papers
 

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

COLLECTION SUMMARY

Title:     Faculty Papers, R. F. Kerr papers

Dates:     1881-1906, 1913, 1916, 1919, 1931 (bulk 1885-1891)

Creator:     R. F. (Robert Floyd) Kerr

Physical description:      0.84 linear feet—2 containers

Collection number:     UA 53.6

Language:     Collection material is in English.

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

Abstract:     Collection is composed 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.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Provenance:     The library has long held the Kerr papers, but their provenance is sketchy at best.  It is believed that William H. Powers, when writing his history of South Dakota State University [SDSU], used many of Kerr’s papers in doing so.  Albert S. Harding, who also attempted to write a history of SDSU, appears to have used them as well.  It is highly recommended that both the Powers and Harding papers be consulted along with the Kerr papers.

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]. Faculty Papers, R. F. Kerr papers, UA 53.6, South Dakota State University Archives, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D.

Processing information:     This collection was processed by Elizabeth B. Scott on May 5, 1998 with revisions on December 8, 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.

Persons:

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

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

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

 Subjects:

  • Ethical Culture Club (Brookings, S.D.)

  • History—South Dakota State University.

  • Libraries—South Dakota State University.

  • Presidents—South Dakota State University.

  • World Disarmament Committee (Brookings, S.D.)

BACKGROUND 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.

Bibliography:

Robinson, Doane, revised by R. F. Kerr, A history of South Dakota: from earliest times, Mitchell, S.D., The Educator School Supply Co., 1907. [SD Collection: F656.R652]

Kerr, Robert F., Kerr’s block map and manual of South Dakota, Pierre, S.D., The Capital Supply Co., 1913. [SD Collection: G4180.K4b]

Kerr, Robert Floyd, Some interesting reminiscences of the early days in Brookings County, Brookings, S.D., s.n., 1972. [SD Collection: F657.B75 K4 oversize]

Kerr, Robert Floyd, The voyage of Groseilliers and Radisson, 1652 to 1684, Pierre, S.D., South Dakota State Historical Society, 1902. [SD Collection: F646.S6 v.1 1902]

Related material:

Lindell, Lisa, “Collegiate Life from Both Sides of the Desk: South Dakota State University in the 1880s.” South Dakota History v. 30 no. 2 (Summer 2000): pp.167-199.

Otto, Kathryn, “Dakota Resources: The Robert F. Kerr Papers at the South Dakota Historical Resource Center.” South Dakota History v.9 no. 3 (Summer 1979): pp. 248-251.

 

SCOPE AND 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.

ARRANGEMENT of the RECORDS

Folders are arranged in alphabetical order.

Box 1.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

Certificate - Dept. of Public Instruction     click to view

1899

2

Christmas greeting (poem by Kerr)

1919

3

Class records

1885-1886

4

Class records

1886-1887

5

Class records

1887-1888

6

Class records

1891-1892

7

Correspondence

[n.d.]

8

Correspondence     click to view

1881-1885

9

Correspondence

1886-1889

10

Correspondence

1890-1891

11

Correspondence

1892

12

Correspondence

1893

13

Correspondence

1894, 1905

14

Correspondence - from A.S. Harding to Kerr re: Chalmers

1906

15

Correspondence - from I.D. Aldrich re: university presidents

1916

16

D.A.C. Cadets

[n.d.]

17

Diary

1886 January-October

18

Diary

1886 October-1888 January

19

Diary

1887 January-April

20

A History of SDSC: 1881-1931 (Chapter 1 by Kerr, Marginalia)

1931

Box 2.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

Kerr's Block Map and Manual of South Dakota

1906, 1913

2

Ledger

1888 Fall

3

Notes

1893-1894

4

Scrapbook     click to view

1885-1888

5

Traveling papers     click to view 1 2

[n.d.]

6

Writings - A Few words in favor of the Jews     click to view 1 2 3 4

[n.d.]

7

Writings - Autobiographical sketch     click to view

1887

8

Writings - College history     click to view 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

[n.d.]

9

Writings - Early history of Brookings County     click to view

1897 circa

10

Writings - History of Brookings County

[n.d.]

11

Writings - Trip to Europe     click to view

1891

Top

Updated January 30, 2009 by cjg

Email questions or comments to: arcrefs@sdstate.edu

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