View from our new Archives and Special Collections rooms

Come visit us and check out the view from our new space in the library at the University of South Dakota.

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University of South Dakota Buildings

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

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Betty Turner Asher- South Dakota’s First Woman University President

Betty Turner Asher was the first woman president of any public higher education system in South Dakota. She served at USD from 1989-1996, resigning after seven years of service. At the time, her tenure was tied with two other presidents for the fourth longest term of any president at USD. Asher was previously the Vice President of Student Affairs for Arizona State University, and held three degrees: a bachelor’s in history, a master’s in counseling, and a doctorate in education.

Asher’s accomplishments while at USD are many, and some are listed here. Under President Asher:

-USD approved and began additions to the I.D. Weeks library

-Renovation was approved for the oldest building on campus, Old Main

-Construction was completed on the Health Sciences Center in Sioux Falls

-Funds were dedicated to expand the Lommen Health Sciences Library

-Enrollment hit a record high of 7,739 in 1989

-A record 1,118 degrees were conferred in May 1995

-USD Law rose to the top half of rankings in accredited institutions by the American Bar Association

-USD ranked in the top 5% of the nation’s colleges and universities, as reported by US News and World Report

-Psychology, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Administrative Studies, Counseling, Physician’s Assistant are just some of the programs that were added or experienced growth under her leadership

Asher was known to students and faculty for her open door policy, and made leaps and bounds in improving diversity at USD. In an interview with the South Dakotan in July 1996, she states: “But I am happy that our gay and lesbian students are comfortable enough to meet openly as a group…I have received all kinds of letters and notes from the Native American community. I have been deeply touched by their response.” Asher goes on to speak about how the students and faculty make USD a success, and that she appreciated the close relationships she had with USD and its faculty and students. She recalled students coming up to her home and inviting her to join them downtown, and said that USD is where she never woke up in the morning and did not want to go to work.

Asher is the first in a short list of female leadership at South Dakota public universities. Only seven women have served as university presidents in South Dakota since Asher’s term. They are:

Peggy Gordon-Miller, South Dakota State University, 1998-2006

Kay Schallenkamp, Black Hills State University, 2006-2015

Laurie S. Nichols (interim), Northern State University, 2008-2009

Heather Ann Wilson, South Dakota School of Mines, 2013-2017

Maria Ramos (interim), Dakota State University, 2014-2015

Jose-Marie Griffiths, Dakota State University, 2015-Present

Sheila K. Gestring, University of South Dakota, 2018-Present

Betty Turner Asher’s papers are held at the Archives and Special Collections at USD.

Betty Turner Asher, from USD’s Past President’s website, sourced below

Sources:

South Dakotan, July 1996 Issue

Karl Mundt Library, Dakota State University

https://www.sdstate.edu/about-us/hall-presidents

http://www.northern.edu/pastpresidents

https://www.bhsu.edu/About-BHSU/President-Jackson/Past-Presidents

https://www.usd.edu/about-usd/past-usd-presidents

https://www.sdsmt.edu/About/History/History-of-the-Presidency/

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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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Farber Hall

View of what is now Farber Hall in Old Main. Photograph from 1895-1896 University of South Dakota Catalog.

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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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