Incredible Gladys Pyle Collection

Identity elements

Reference code

SDSU-Archives MA 020

Level of description

Collection

Title

Incredible Gladys Pyle Collection

Date(s)

  • 1918-1987 (Creation)

Extent

0.42 linear feet (1 document case), 13 audiocassettes

Name of creator

Biographical history

Gladys Pyle (1890–1989) was a South Dakota politician and the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate without prior appointment. She was also the first female Republican senator, the first female senator from South Dakota, and the first to serve without marrying.

A graduate of Huron College (1911), Pyle taught high school from 1912 to 1918 before entering politics. She became the first woman elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives (1923–1927), later serving as Secretary of State (1927–1931). In 1930, she ran for governor but lost after multiple recounts. She also served on the State Securities Commission (1931–1933) and worked in life insurance.

Pyle and her family were active in the women's suffrage movement, frequently hosting meetings at their home. In 1938, she was elected to the U.S. Senate to complete Peter Norbeck’s term, serving briefly from November 9, 1938, to January 3, 1939.

In 1981, Jeanette Kinyon and Jean Walz began researching Pyle’s life for a biography, gathering materials from interviews, manuscripts, letters, and news reports. This collection represents a selection of their research.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

The Incredible Gladys Pyle Collection comprises clippings, correspondence, financial records, manuscripts, research materials, transcripts, and audiocassettes, documenting the life and contributions of Gladys Pyle, a trailblazing political figure in South Dakota.

The clippings include advertisements for the book The Incredible Gladys Pyle and news articles marking Pyle’s 96th birthday. Correspondence features letters discussing the book’s pub-lication, including corrections suggested by Pyle and a handwritten letter from Governor Sig-urd Anderson commending her political contributions. Financial records are minimal, consisting of itemized expense lists.

Two manuscripts of the book are included - one with the published title The Incredible Gladys Pyle and another under the alternative title Gladys Pyle: Always a Pioneer. Research materi-als span from 1918 to 1984, providing historical context. The collection also includes transcripts of interviews with Pyle, some accompanied by notebooks containing interview questions.

The audiocassettes document Pyle’s reflections on her career, including her tenure in Pierre, involvement in the ERA committee, and business endeavors. Additional recordings capture her 90th birthday recollections, childhood memories, and insights into Huron College. Other tapes contain travel logs from unidentified individuals recounting experiences in Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, China, and Japan, as well as Radio Issues Forum broadcasts from 1976. A re-cording of guitar music is also included, though its significance is unclear.

This collection provides insight into Pyle’s legacy as a pioneering woman in politics, preserving firsthand accounts of her experiences and historical contributions through written and audio materials.

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

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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. .sdstate.edu/sdsu-archives-and-special-collections/researcher-registration-form)

The collection is open for research, but please note that the materials in the Archives do not circulate and can only be used In the SDSU Archives and Special Collections Reading Room.

Please contact us in advance so we can prepare for your visit.

If you cannot visit the Archives in person, please reach out to us. We will do our best to help you find the information you need.

In most cases, the materials in this collection have not been digitized and are not available online.

South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections supports access to the materials in its collections. However, access to some items may be restricted due to their fragile condition, donor agreements, or other considerations.

If you would like to know more about the contents of the collection, please contact the SDSU Archives at: Telephone: 605-688-5094 Email: arcrefs@sdstate.edu

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.
  • Copyright: Users are responsible for complying with copyright laws and securing any necessary permissions from copyright holders.
  • Fragile Materials: Some items may not be reproduced due to their fragile condition.
  • Charges: Reproduction charges may apply, and users will be informed of any costs in advance.
  • Acknowledgment: Any reproduced material must include proper acknowledgment of the South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections as the source.

    For more information or to request permission, please contact the SDSU Archives.

Languages of the material

  • English

Scripts of the material

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    Related archival materials

    The incredible Gladys Pyle, by Jeanette Kinyon and Jean Walz
    Vermillion, S.D. : Dakota Press, 1985.
    Call number: E656.P9 K56 1985

    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.

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