Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1923-1981 (Creation)
Extent
27.44 linear feet (19 oversize boxes, 1 document case, 1 card file box)
Name of creator
Biographical history
Rhea Beryl DeHaven Stewart (1899– ) was an educator, writer, and active member of South Dakota’s literary and educational communities. Born on September 2, 1899, in Linden, Iowa, she moved with her family to homestead near Capa, South Dakota, in 1907 and later to Wessington, South Dakota, in 1915.
Stewart began teaching at a rural school while still in high school. She completed her high school education at Northern States Teachers’ College in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education, followed by a Master of Arts in English Literature from the State University of Iowa in 1932. She held teaching positions at Roosevelt and Simmons Junior High Schools and became Director of the English Department at Central High School in Aberdeen, where she also advised the Drama Club and initiated the student publication Word Craft.
On January 24, 1943, she married Chase David Stewart and became a farm homemaker near Wessington. Stewart was a prolific poet and writer, contributing to numerous publications and receiving awards in national competitions and state literature contests. She was a member of the South Dakota Press Women and the National League of American Pen Women, serving as state president of the latter.
Stewart remained active in education through service on the South Dakota Board of Education (1947–1959) and participation in President Eisenhower’s Conference on Education in 1955. Her achievements are recognized in Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who in South Dakota, and International Who’s Who in Poetry.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This collection is comprised of manuscripts, published works, and personal archives of Beryl Stewart, reflecting her contributions to literature and education. It includes newspaper clippings referencing Stewart, a book mentioning her, and multiple issues of Word Craft, a publication from Aberdeen Central High School where she served as an adviser. Her correspondence (1923-1942) contains reference letters and exchanges with publishers, offering insight into her professional relationships.
Stewart's manuscripts consist of essays, poems, and short stories, including entries for the South Dakota State Fair literature contests, some with critiques and awarded ribbons. Her published works appeared in various literary and rural publications, demonstrating her influence in both creative writing and regional literature. The scrapbooks, spanning multiple decades, preserve correspondence, publication clippings, and personal reflections, highlighting the breadth of her literary career and the reception of her work. This collection serves as a resource for understanding Stewart's impact on South Dakota's literary and educational landscape.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
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Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use. .sdstate.edu/sdsu-archives-and-special-collections/researcher-registration-form)
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Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Reproduction of materials from the collection is subject to the following conditions:
- Permission: Written permission must be obtained from the SDSU Archives for any reproduction, publication, or quotation of materials.
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Languages of the material
English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Related descriptions
Notes element
General note
Copyright and Use Statement
In Copyright This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use.
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Stewart, Beryl DeHaven, 1899-1961 (Subject)