The David Allan Evans Papers document the professional activities, literary output, and public recognition of David Allan Evans, South Dakota’s first Poet Laureate and a prominent writer-educator at South Dakota State University. The collection spans the late 20th and early 21st centuries and reflects Evans’s influential role in shaping the state’s literary culture and advancing public appreciation of poetry and creative writing.
Included are materials related to lectures, workshops, conferences, literary festivals, and Writers-in-the-Schools programs, as well as his service as Poet Laureate from 2001 to 2015. Newspaper clippings and press coverage highlight Evans’s public appearances, readings, residencies, publications, and achievements. These are arranged chronologically by year, with article titles noted in the folder descriptions.
The collection contains reviews and critical responses to Evans’s poetry and prose, published in newspapers, literary magazines, and peer-reviewed journals. Books authored or co-authored by Evans are also present, accompanied by published copies, promotional materials, and related correspondence. His literary works appear in numerous anthologies, textbooks, and periodicals, with folder descriptions noting title and page references.
A significant portion of the papers focuses on Evans’s Fulbright Scholar appointments and literary teaching trips to China. These include correspondence, diaries, research notes, and writings developed during or inspired by his time abroad, illustrating his role as a cultural ambassador and his engagement in international literary exchange.
Additional materials reflect Evans’s broader intellectual interests and include collected items such as poetry books, journals, business cards, and documents related to Sioux City, Iowa, South Dakota State University, and the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. Personal and professional correspondence includes acceptance letters, fan mail, letters from colleagues and friends, and letters of recommendation. Biographical files document Evans’s college years, honors and awards, alumni reunions, and the establishment of a creative writing scholarship in his name at SDSU.
The collection also includes manuscripts of poems, essays, short stories, and other writings by Evans, many annotated and in multiple versions. These materials reveal a distinct poetic voice rooted in themes of athleticism, rural life, and Midwestern identity. His correspondence and teaching files demonstrate his contributions as a mentor to emerging writers and an advocate for literary arts in both academic and public settings.
Together, the David Allan Evans Papers offer valuable insight into regional literature, poetic form and voice, creative writing pedagogy, and the evolving role of the poet in public life. The collection serves as a rich resource for researchers studying American literature, Midwestern cultural history, and literary engagement across local and international communities.
