Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve Papers

24.27 linear feet (26 document cases, 3 oversize boxes)

The Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve Papers document the literary career, research, and advocacy of the acclaimed Lakota writer, educator, and historian. Spanning from the 1960s to the 2020s, the collection includes manuscripts, correspondence, research materials, and published works that reflect her dedication to Native American storytelling and cultural preservation. It offers a comprehensive look at her contributions to literature, education, and Indigenous representation.

The Creative Writings series contains an extensive range of works, including Completing the Circle, The Medicine Bag, Dancing Teepees, Standing Bear of the Ponca, Sioux Women, and other significant titles. Each work is accompanied by manuscripts, clippings, correspondence, research notes, printer's galleys, proofs, reviews, and scripts. Many manuscripts include editorial annotations and suggested revisions, highlighting the development process of her works. Correspondence primarily consists of letters between Sneve and her publishers, as well as heartfelt messages from schoolchildren, some with drawings, thanking her for her books and school visits. Research materials within the series include notes, collected documents, and recorded interviews. The collection also includes a video adaptation of High Elk's Treasure.

The General series encompasses a broad spectrum of materials, including documentation of Sneve's various activities, honors, and awards, speaking engagements, clippings, interviews, journals, and diverse research materials. Her involvement in numerous boards, commissions, and cultural organizations is well documented, along with numerous honors such as the National Humanities Medal, Spirit of Crazy Horse Award, and recognition from educational and arts organizations across South Dakota and nationally. The speaking engagements reflect her role as a prominent public voice on Native American literature, history, and culture, featuring presentations at conferences, universities, museums, and festivals across the United States and internationally.

The Correspondence series features exchanges with publishing houses, fellow writers such as Bob Karolevitz and Audrae Visser, and political figures including Senator Larry Pressler. Of particular note is an audio reel of an interview Sneve conducted with Harold Shunk, a Bureau of Indian Affairs superintendent. The series also contains various teaching aids and historical photographs, including a 1901 class photo, adding depth to the collection's educational value.

The Other Writings series highlights Sneve's contributions beyond creative literature. This includes published articles, scripts for a South Dakota Public Radio series, Christian education resources produced for the Episcopal Church Center, newspaper editorials, studies related to the Flandreau Indian School, and her contribution to On the Wings of Peace, a compilation benefiting world peace organizations. These materials showcase her engagement with broader educational and social issues within and beyond Native communities.

This collection serves as a significant resource for researchers, scholars, and educators studying Indigenous literature, storytelling, and cultural history. It offers insights into Native identity, advocacy, and representation, highlighting Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve's enduring impact on Native American literary and educational landscapes.

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Bibliography
Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk.

• High Elk's Treasure. Holiday House, 1972.
• Jimmy Yellow Hawk. Holiday House, 1972.
• Dakota' s Heritage: A Compilation of Indian Place Names in South Dakota. Brevet Press, 1973.
• South Dakota Geographic Names. Brevet Press, 1973.
• Betrayed. Holiday House, 1974.
• When Thunders Spoke. Holiday House, 1974.
• They Led a Nation: Biographical & Pictorial of 20 Dakota Leaders. Brevet Press, 1975.
• That They May Have Life: The Episcopal Church in South Dakota, 1859-1976. Seabury Press, 1977.
• The Twelve Moons. Houghton Mifflin, 1977
• The Time of the Horse and the Tribe of the Burnt Thigh. Houghton Mifflin, 1981
• Dancing Teepees: Poems of American Indian Youth. Holiday House, 1989.
• The Chichi Hoohoo Bogeyman. University of Nebraska Press, 1993
• The Navajos. Holiday House, 1993
• The Sioux. Holiday House, 1993.
• When Thunders Spoke. University of Nebraska Press, 1993.
• The Nez Perce. Holiday House, 1994.
  -The Seminoles. Holiday House, 1994.
• Completing the Circle. University of Nebraska Press, 1995.
• The Hopis. Holiday House, 19955 The Iroquois. Holiday House, 1995.
• The Cherokees. Holiday House, 1996.
• The Cheyenne. Holiday House, 1996
• The Apache. Holiday House, 1997.
• The Trickster and the Troll. University of Nebraska Press, 1997.
• Grandpa Was a Cowboy & an Indian and Other Stories. University of Nebraska Press, 2000.
• Enduring Wisdom: Sayings from Native Americans. Holiday House, 2003.
• Bad River Boys: A Meeting of the Lakota Sioux with Lewis and Clark. Holiday House, 2005.
• Lana's Lakota Moons. University of Nebraska Press, 2007.
• The Christmas Coat: Memories of My Sioux Childhood. Holiday House, 2011.
• Standing Bear of the Ponca. University of Nebraska Press, 2013.
• Sioux Women: Traditionally Sacred. South Dakota Historical Society Press, 2016.
• With Respect and Honor [video recording]. American Indian History Conference (10th: 2002: South Dakota State University), 2002.
• Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, Reviews and Advertising. [S.l.: s.n.], 1976?.

Copyright and Use Statement

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve retains the literary rights, including copyright, to this material. Patrons wishing to publish from this material must obtain permission directly from Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve. For further information, consult with the staff.

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.