Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1992-2005 (Creation)
Extent
0.42 linear feet (1 document case)
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Vigil in South Dakota was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1992 by Mary Perpich and Norman Gambill. The organization focused on issues of censorship in South Dakota, particularly surrounding the broadcast of The Portrait of a Marriage by South Dakota Educational Telecommunications.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The Vigil in South Dakota Records document the organization’s mission, goals, and advocacy related to issues of censorship in South Dakota, particularly involving public broadcasting. Materials in Box 1 include internal documents such as mission statements, strategic plans, and board meeting minutes for Educational Telecommunications. The collection also contains correspondence and newspaper articles concerning the censorship of the television program Portrait of a Marriage and broader controversies in South Dakota Public Broadcasting. Included are responses and publications from allied organizations—such as People for the American Way, Friends of Public Broadcasting, and the Sioux Empire Gay/Lesbian Coalition—highlighting community and organizational perspectives on free speech, the arts, and representation in media. Legal and administrative records, including nonprofit reports and incorporation documents, provide insight into the group’s structure and advocacy efforts.
This collection is valuable for researchers studying freedom of expression, LGBTQ+ representation in media, and grassroots activism in South Dakota during periods of public debate over censorship. It documents both local and national responses to broadcast content controversies and highlights the advocacy strategies employed by organizations working to defend civil liberties in public media.
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.
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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.
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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
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
- Perpich, Mary J. (Subject)
- Vigil of South Dakota (Subject)
- Gambill, Norman (Subject)