Identifier

MA 13

Dates

1951-1964

Extent

0.42 linear feet (1 document case)

Abstract

Sigurd Anderson was the 19th Governor of South Dakota. Anderson, a Republican from Webster, South Dakota, served in that office from 1951 to 1955. This small collection is composed of addresses given by Sigurd Anderson while he served as Federal Trade Commissioner. Collected addresses cover topics of interest to Anderson while he was governor of South Dakota.

Historical Note

Sigurd Anderson, the 19th governor of South Dakota, was born on an island near of city of Arendal, Norway, on January 22, 1904. His parents were Karl and Bertha Anderson. His family came to America in 1908 and settled on a farm 10 miles southwest of Canton, in Lincoln County, South Dakota. Anderson attended Pleasant Ridge School, District No. 11 and graduated from the high school in 1925. That same year the Anderson family moved to a farm in Kingsbury County, near Bancroft, South Dakota. In the fall of 1925, Sigurd entered South Dakota State College. He was very active in public speaking, literary and journalistic activities. During this school year, he suffered from scarlet fever, which prevented his return to college the following fall. In order to secure funds to continue his education, he worked as a farm hand and taught rural school in Kingsbury County, SD. In 1928, Anderson enrolled at the University of South Dakota [USD], and graduated in 1931 with cum laude honors.

After his graduation, he taught high school history in Rapid City and Webster, South Dakota. In 1935, he returned to USD and graduated in 1937 with a degree in law. Prior to graduation from the university he married Vivian Walz of Vermillion, SD. They had one daughter, Kristin, who resides in Okemos, Michigan.

Anderson set up a law practice in Webster, SD in 1937 and was twice elected Day County state's attorney. In 1950, Anderson was elected governor of South Dakota after winning the GOP nomination in a five-way battle. His re-election in 1952 marked the only time a candidate for South Dakota governor has received more than 200,000 votes in a general election. It was during his administration that the Legislative Research Council was established. It was also during this time that the state had a debt free status--the first time in 40 years.

After Anderson's second term ended, he was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to serve on the Federal Trade Commission [FTC]. He was re-appointed in 1958 to a 7-year term, and resigned from the FTC in 1964 to return to Webster, where he resumed his law practice.

In 1964, Anderson once again announced his candidacy for governor, but lost the GOP gubernatorial primary to Nils Boe, who later became governor. Boe appointed Anderson to fill a vacancy as a circuit judge. Anderson retired as a circuit judge in 1975. Sigurd received dozens of professional and political honors and was a member of numerous organizations.

Sigurd Anderson died December 21, 1990.

Content Notes

This collection is composed of addresses given by Sigurd Anderson while he served as Federal Trade Commissioner and addresses collected by Anderson that cover topics of interest to him while he served as governor of South Dakota.

The addresses are mainly from Anderson’s service as Federal Trade Commissioner covering the years 1957-1964. These are speeches that were given to several associations and organizations throughout the United States. Also included is an inaugural address to the 33rd session of the South Dakota Legislature given by Anderson in 1953.

The collected addresses were collected by Anderson from the early to mid-1950's dealing with subjects of interest to him as governor of South Dakota.

The miscellaneous material is composed of appropriations lists for funds of the state of South Dakota and an article written about Anderson's early years in South Dakota and his becoming governor.

SDSU Archives and Special Collections

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Language

English

Publisher

South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

Rights

Copyright restrictions apply in different ways to different materials. Many of the documents and other historical materials in the Archives are in the public domain and may be reproduced and used in any way. There are other materials in the Archive carrying a copyright interest and must be used according to the provisions of Title 17 of the U.S. Code. The Archive issues a warning concerning copyright restrictions to every researcher who requests copies of documents. Although the copyright law is under constant redefinition in the courts, it is ultimately the responsibility of the researcher to properly use copyrighted material.

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