Students studying in the ID weeks library.

Archives & Special Collections

Resource

Discover rare books and manuscripts and unique archival collections you won't find anywhere else.

Contact Us

I.D. Weeks Library, Room 321
414 E. Clark St.
Vermillion SD 57069

Office Hours

Monday – Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Reading Room Hours
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Up-to-date Hours

605-658-3363

[email protected]

website

The Archives & Special Collections is the rare books, manuscripts and archives department of the University Libraries. We offer a number of core collections based on their content and subject. Each collection contains multiple individual collections that can be further explored using the links below.

Our Collections

Text that says who will take their places at the polls? The Mabel K. Richardson Collection is made up of distinct manuscript collections focusing primarily on South Dakota and the surrounding region. These papers include correspondence, photographs, journals, scrapbooks, maps, and other manuscript materials. The Richardson Collection covers a wide variety of subjects but concentrates on the people, places, and events in South Dakota's cultural, political, and economic history.

The papers of many South Dakota elected officials are found in the collection, including governors, state legislators, U.S. Representatives, and U.S. Senators. Highlights include the papers of Governor Richard F. Kneip (1971-1978), Governor Peter Norbeck (1917-1936), Dakota Territorial Legislator and U. S. Senator Horace J. Austin (1865-1867, 1891-1891), U.S. Representative William Williamson (1921-1933), and U.S. Senator James Abourezk (1971-1979).

Explore the Collection

Newspaper text on a tan background. The Herman P. Chilson Collection includes books, journals, maps, pamphlets, and print materials relating to local histories, South Dakota history, Native American cultures, and United States western expansion. Rare books by national and international authors are held in the Chilson Collection as well. Among the items in the Chilson Collection are books in the Norwegian language, Lakota and Dakota dictionaries, and one of the first translations of the Bible into the Dakota language by Stephen Return Riggs. Included are first edition works by South Dakota authors such as Ole Rolvaag, Native American authors such as Vine Deloria, Jr. and regional authors such as Willa Cather and John G. Neihardt. There are extensive materials on General George Custer and the Battle of Little Bighorn as well as both historical events at Wounded Knee.

Explore the Collection

Two men standing together in an old timey photo. The USD Photograph Collection comprises negatives, prints, postcards, and slides. Works by student photographers, Coyote yearbook photographers, Volante photographers, News Bureau photographers, official campus photographers, as well as professional photographers hired on a special project or temporary basis are included in the collection. Alumni and others have donated materials to the collection.

Major subjects are academics, alumni, athletics, buildings and campus views, events, offices and programs, organizations and activities, South Dakota, staff, students, and Vermillion.

Explore the Collection

Charlie coyote with text that says what is the university? The USD Archives holds the records of the academic and administrative departments of USD as well as materials relating to the history of USD and the activities of its students, faculty, and alumni. The primary purpose of the USD Archives is to collect and preserve records pertaining to the origin and history of the University of South Dakota. The collection materials date back as far as the 1862 founding of the University.

Explore the USD Archives

A group of students standing around archival books. Holding more than 4,800 books, periodicals, pamphlets, and ephemera, the Mahoney Music Collection is one of the most complete collections in the United States pertaining to stringed instruments, particularly the violin family of instruments. The collection not only provides a wealth of research and teaching opportunities for faculty and students, but also offers a chance for outside researchers to access a large range of rare materials in one location.

Explore the Collection

The Lommen Health Sciences Rare Books is a small collection of rare medical texts, objects, and films. Materials in this collection range from 1735-1980 and cover a variety of health and medical sciences topics including human anatomy, pharmacopeia, and virology.

Explore the Collection

Text that says nothing to make a shadow with a picture of a young woman. The Health Sciences Archives holds the administrative records and history of the USD School of Medicine.

Explore the Collection

Special Collections Books houses monographs and bound volumes that have been selected for preservation for having historical and cultural significance. Items in this collection include titles from the University Libraries’ general collections, books donated with manuscript collections, and publications from university faculty and alumni.

Explore the Collection

Documents and publications issued by South Dakota state agencies are retained permanently for the purpose of historical research.

Explore Government Publications

Get the latest information

We feature stories and updates about our activities on a regular basis. Find both the latest and archived stories on collections, exhibits, acquisitions and other items of interest for our research community.

Read our Blog

Terms & Procedures

Archives & Special Collections Terms of Use

The Archives and Special Collections of the University Libraries supports the teaching, learning, research, and service mission of the University of South Dakota; and strives to provide students, the public, faculty, and scholars access to its collections.

Access to and use of some Archives and Special Collections materials may be governed by copyright and/or donor restrictions. Archives and Special Collections does not own the literary rights to materials in the collections unless such rights have been specifically granted by the author, the author’s heirs, or assigns. Furthermore, the University Libraries reserves the right to restrict the use of unprocessed collections, collections originating from Tribes (U.S.) and First Nations (Canada), and materials that are exceptionally fragile. The Archives and Special Collections reserves the right to restrict the use of the information held within the Archives and Special Collections. Use of some materials may require approval of the dean of the University Libraries or designee.

Individuals seeking to reproduce or disseminate materials, in any form or manner, from the Archives and Special Collections are responsible for obtaining permission to publish from the Archives and, if applicable, the donor or copyright holder. Permission to publish is granted for a one-time, non-exclusive use. In granting permission to publish materials held in the Archives and Special Collections, the University of South Dakota does not surrender its own right to thereafter publish materials or grant others permission to publish them.