University of South Dakota Buildings

During the 1980s and 1990s, USD commencement programs often highlighted USD buildings.

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View of Vermillion from the Mabel Townsley papers

A photograph of the city of Vermillion, with Court Street running along the foreground, from the Mabel Townsley scrapbook in the Mabel Townsley papers, Richardson Collection.

Mabel Townsley started her scrapbook of photographs in 1903, which includes images from Vermillion, the University, and the Black Hills region. Read more about her scrapbook in a previous blog post and more about Mabel Townsley in the collection finding aid.

In this photograph one can see the First National Bank on the corner of Court and Main, as well as West Hall, Science Hall, University Hall (Old Main) and East Hall in the distance.

 

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University of South Dakota Buildings – East Hall

East Hall was built 130 years ago in 1877. It was the third building constructed on our campus.

 

 

This image and description of the East Hall appeared on the cover of the 1981 commencement program. During the 1980s and 1990s, USD commencement programs often highlighted USD buildings. The Archives and Specials has an almost complete set of commencement programs from 1889 to 2016.

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Welcome back students

I have been waiting.

Image from Catalogue of the University of South Dakota for the year 1892-3.

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“W.L. Dow, Architect” Advance Screening

The University of South Dakota Alumni Association, Department of History and University Libraries, along with the Clay County Historic Preservation Commission and the Clay County Historical Society, will host a screening of the documentary, “W. L. Dow, Architect” at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 3 at the Muenster University Center 216A on the USD campus.

“W. L. Dow, Architect” will air May 6 on South Dakota Public Broadcasting and highlights the work of Wallace Dow, who came to the prairie in the 1880s and left his mark on cities from Bismarck, N.D. to Vermillion. Old Main and East Hall, both Dow buildings and landmarks of the USD campus, are featured in the film. A question and answer session with the film’s creators and producers, Brad and Jennifer Dumke of Sioux Falls, S.D., will follow the screening at 3:30 p.m.

Old Main before 1893, photograph by Henry Butler

“We wanted to produce a historical documentary that brings history to life, is informative, and makes history interesting and enjoyable while providing a community service in preserving the past,” the Dumkes said in a statement.

Jim Wilson, chair of the Clay County Historical Society, stated that Dow was also responsible for several prominent buildings in Vermillion, including the First National Bank Building (now Red Steakhouse), the first Vermillion Public High School and the first Vermillion City Hall. “Dow was the most prolific and famous of the early architects in South Dakota and built in a variety of styles,” Wilson added.

“Dow seems to have done it all,” said USD Associate Professor of History Molly Rozum, Ph.D. “His buildings were varied in design and purpose, from Queen Anne to Gothic and from homes and schools to churches.”

The screening is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served. For more information about “W. L. Dow, Architect,” please call (605) 310-3844 or email jenniferdumke@msn.com.

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South Dakota snow and East Hall

USD Photograph Collection, Series 4 no. 21

East Hall as it appeared around 1888 on the prairie. Photograph taken by Henry Butler, Vermillion.

 

 

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