The Robert Lincoln Slagle Papers contain five series: Correspondence, Manuscripts, Printed Materials, Subject Files and Typescripts.
The Correspondence is the largest series in the collection and concerns the day to day business of the University of South Dakota. Topics range from university catalog requests to campus administration. All correspondence has been organized chronologically. Correspondents with a large number of letters were separated out and placed in their own folder. The correspondents are arranged in alphabetical order.
The Manuscripts series includes Slagle’s Biennium Report from 1926-1928. A typed copy of this item is located in the Typescript series.
The Printed Materials series contains collegiate athletic handbooks, fine arts programs and invitations to President Slagle.
The Subject Files contains materials concerning various University related topics such as athletics, budget, equipment purchases, ROTC, and controversial issues such as educational clinics and athletics eligibility.
The Typescripts series contains several essays, the History of KUSD and Slagle’s Radio Addresses from 1928.
Also included is the Raleigh Baldwin addition which includes correspondence, news clippings, photographs and a watch once owned by Slagle. This material was collected by Slagle’s secretary Raleigh Baldwin and mostly concerns Slagle’s illnesses and death. The watch was given to Baldwin by Slagle’s sister after Slagle’s death.