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

COLLECTION SUMMARY

Title:     College of Arts and Science, Military Science Department records

Dates:     1888-2007, [n.d.] (bulk 1888-1930, 1958, 1962-2007)

Creator:     Military Science Department, College of Arts and Science, South Dakota State University

Physical description:   2.84 linear feet 4 containers, 1,117 photographs, 9 negatives, 3 artifacts

Collection number:     UA 6.7

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 of the Military Science Department, ROTC records and scrapbooks for the Pershings Rifles and the Pershingettes. Material is composed primarily of newsletters, programs, clippings, and photographs.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION 

Provenance: Part of this collection was found in the Archives in 1997. There is no indication of where they came from or how they came to be here.

Lt. Col. Keith Corbett of ROTC transferred the military scrapbook to the Archives in the fall of 2002.

Lt. Dan Klimish of Air Force ROTC transferred the material found in the ROTC records in August 2003.

This is an on-going collection with material arriving through departmental records transfers, the university campus mail, or random donation by various individuals.

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]. College of Arts and Science, Military Science Department records, UA 6.7, South Dakota State University Archives, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D.

Processing information: This collection was processed by Crystal J. Gamradt on March 2, 1999 with revisions on August 13, 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

• Bradley, Omar N. (Omar Nelson), 1893-1981.

• Corbett, Keith W.

Subjects:

• Air Force ROTC—Change of Command—South Dakota State University.

• Air Force ROTC—South Dakota State University.

• Camp Adventure.

• Dakota Agricultural College—Military.

• Field Training.

• Flags—United States.

• Governor's Day—South Dakota State University.

• Hobo Day—Parade—South Dakota State University.

• Military Field Day—South Dakota State University.

• Military Science Department—Awards—South Dakota State University.

• Military Science Department—Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)—South Dakota State University

• Military Science Department—Commissioning exercises—South Dakota State University.

• Military Science Department—Courses—South Dakota State University.

• Military Science Department—Dining-In—South Dakota State University.

• Military Science Department—Internships—South Dakota State University.

• Military Science Department—Military balls—South Dakota State University.

• Military Science Department—Newsletters—South Dakota State University.

• Military Science Department—Pershing Rifles. Company K, 2nd Regiment—South Dakota State University.

• Military Science Department—Pershingettes. Company K, 2nd Regiment—South Dakota State University.

• Military Science Department—Pinning ceremony—South Dakota State University.

• Military Science Department—Recognition—South Dakota State University.

• Military Science Department—Recruitment—South Dakota State University.

• Military Science Department—ROTC Days—South Dakota State University.

• Military Science Department—South Dakota State College.

• Military Science Department—South Dakota State University.

• Military Science Department—Veterans—South Dakota State University.

• Ranger Challenge.

• United States. Air Force. Reserve Officer’s Training Corps.

• United States. Army. Reserve Officer’s Training Corps.

• United States. Reserve Officer’s Training Corps.

BACKGROUND NOTE 

Military instruction has always been a part of life at South Dakota State University.  The Morrill Act of 1862, which established the land grant colleges, required the colleges to provide instruction in "military tactics."  At South Dakota State University, formal military classes began in September 1884 under the leadership of Professor Robert F. Kerr.  Lectures, recitations and regular drills formed this instruction.  Until 1918, the college fulfilled the military requirements with mandatory drill work and coursework led by civilian instructors.  With the passage of the National Defense Act in 1916, the Reserve Officers Training Corps, known at ROTC, came into being and replaced the less formal military training at all land grant colleges, including South Dakota State University.  The headquarters of the ROTC were at the local land grant colleges, and the training curriculum was set by the War Department.  The colleges were given personnel and equipment to carry out the curriculum.

ROTC required all underclassmen to participate in basic military training for their first two years.  Selected upperclassmen were allowed to participate in advanced work on a voluntary basis.  At first, training was provided in a number of different service branches.  By 1942, when the DePuy Military Hall was constructed, training at the university was limited to Army and Air Force ROTC.  At South Dakota State University, the Army and Air Force ROTC continued to provide compulsory training for all freshmen and sophomore men until 1969, when the Board of Regents made ROTC voluntary.  Although the numbers decreased, students continued to participate in the program, and do so still.

Today, the Department of Military Sciences offers instruction and practical experience in a number of areas.  Leadership, military skills, role of the army, law and ethics are among the areas covered.  Students may participate in formal two-, three- or four-year programs, or may minor in military science.  Classes are offered free of charge, and qualified students may compete for ROTC scholarships, which require a commitment to the U.S. Army.  The Air Force ROTC offers similar training through the Department of Aerospace Studies.

SCOPE AND CONTENTS NOTE

This collection is composed of records of the Military Science Department, ROTC records and scrapbooks for the Pershings Rifles and the Pershingettes. Material in composed primarily of newsletters, programs, clippings, and photographs. Some items of note include a 48-star flags used by the SDSU ROTC color guard, two early cadet hats, and a file of clippings surrounding the death of Omar Bradley who was once stationed at South Dakota State College.

The Departmental records are composed of material from the Military Science Department at South Dakota State University that does not necessarily deal directly with ROTC (Army or Air Force) on the campus.  Included are programs, clippings, a course catalog, a scrapbook, books and artifacts.  Some items of note include a file of clippings dealing with the death of Omar Bradley and registers of graduates and former cadets of the United States Military Academy from 1802-1978.  Other interesting items consist of dance cards for military balls held in 1912 and 1913. The artifacts consist of two hats used by cadets around 1888 and 1927.

Folders are arranged in alphabetical order.

The ROTC records are composed of material produced by the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs on the campus of South Dakota State University including Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC.  Folders contain programs, newsletters, pamphlets, posters, announcements, invitations, photographs and an artifact.  Topics covered include Governor’s Day, awards, military balls, recruitment, and commissioning exercises. The artifact in this series is a 48-star United States flag that was used by the ROTC color guard prior to 1958.  The photographs consist mainly of Army ROTC photographs of field training at various locations (Palisades State Park near Garretson, South Dakota; Oak Lake near White, South Dakota), Camp Adventure Training, awards banquets, Dining-In, Commissioning ceremonies, ROTC Days, Governor’s Day, and Hobo Day parade float entries.

Folders are arranged in alphabetical order.

The Military organization scrapbooks are composed of scrapbooks created by the Pershing Rifles, Company K, 2^nd Regiment and their sister organization, the Pershingettes, Company K-2 between 1964 and 1978.  These scrapbooks consist of photographs, clippings, and notations.

Scrapbooks are arranged in chronological order by organization.

ARRANGEMENT of the RECORDS 

This collection is composed three series: Departmental records, ROTC records, and Military organization scrapbooks.

SERIES I:       Departmental records

Box 1.

Box 2.

SERIES 2:      ROTC records

Box 3.

SERIES 3:      Military organization scrapbooks

Box 4.

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Updated 13 August 2008 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.