Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1935-1978 (Creation)
Extent
6.53 linear feet (8 document cases, 2 oversize boxes)
Name of creator
Biographical history
Bert John Popowski was born in Grafton, North Dakota on February 15, 1904. He lived in Grafton throughout his elementary and high school years. He attended South Dakota State College in Brookings, South Dakota and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in printing in 1926. He married Harriet Seymour of Aberdeen, SD in 1930. They had two sons, John Seymour and Jerome Bert.
Bert John Popowski was born on February 15, 1904, in Grafton, North Dakota, where he spent his childhood and completed his elementary and high school education. He attended South Dakota State College in Brookings, graduating in 1926 with a Bachelor of Science degree in printing. In 1930, he married Harriet Seymour of Aberdeen, South Dakota, and they had two sons, John Seymour, and Jerome Bert.
Throughout his life, Bert lived in various parts of the United States and held a range of jobs, including high school principal and associate editor for Look magazine. From 1951 until his passing in 1982, he worked as a freelance writer, author, and contributing editor for numerous publications. Over the course of a prolific career spanning half a century, he authored more than 2,300 articles. His first feature story appeared in Outdoor Life in 1931. He served as a contributing editor for The American Rifleman, writing the "Dope Bag" column, and contributed columns such as "Hunting" for The Outdoorsman, "Guns and Ammunition" for Hunting & Fishing, and "The Shot Tower" for Guns and Hunting. He gained national recognition for his classic book Hunting Pronghorn Antelope and authored several other major works, some of which were translated into Spanish and Japanese. An award-winning photographer, Bert often illustrated his articles and books with his own images.
In his early years, Bert became known as an expert varmint hunter, and his books helped popularize this type of hunting. In 1932, he built a log cabin near the Narrows on French Creek in Custer State Park, where he weathered the Great Depression and focused on his writing. In 1949, he won the National Crow Shooting Championship, using crow calls of his own design to best 51 other contestants. Beyond hunting, Bert was deeply interested in natural history and wildlife management.
In 1979, Bert donated a collection of his books, original manuscripts, and photographs to his alma mater, South Dakota State University. He was honored at the Outdoor Writers Association of America convention in Rapid City when the State of South Dakota presented him with a special award as the "Dean of South Dakota Outdoor Writers." In the 1980s, Bert battled cancer and suffered a stroke that led to his hospitalization. He passed away on February 14, 1982, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a writer, photographer, and advocate for wildlife and outdoor pursuits.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This collection documents the career and work of Bert Popowski as an author and hunter, highlighting his contributions to the fields of hunting, wildlife, and conservation. The materials span from 1935 to 1978, with a significant portion consisting of articles authored by Popowski on topics ranging from big game and varmint hunting to conservation and safety. The research material series is the largest, containing published articles in various hunting and wildlife publications, including an autographed copy of The Outdoorsman (June 1947) featuring Popowski’s article “Off-Season Duck Hunting.”
The collection includes a wide range of manuscripts accompanied by correspondence with publishers and records of submissions, publication status, and payments received. Manuscripts cover diverse subjects such as hunting techniques, wildlife, firearms, and conservation. Also included are materials related to Popowski’s books, such as illustrations by Gordon Elliott for Crow Shooting (29 ink drawings) and photograph proofs for Hunting Pronghorn Antelope (37 pages). Additional artwork features a mat board drawing of a fireplace, believed to depict Popowski’s cabin, created by C. Greenidge.
The general materials include correspondence from 1942–1956, as well as photographs, illustrations, and a phonograph record titled Crow Calling, which features Popowski demonstrating crow calls. The photographs include black-and-white images of wildlife and hunting, negatives, and a set of 22 matted and signed photographs that won first prize at the Iowa State Fair.
Another unique feature of the collection is Popowski’s contributions to the Japanese magazine Modern Hunting (1968–1970), which includes translated articles and writings on hunting techniques. The phonograph record further illustrates Popowski’s expertise and contributions to hunting practices.
The collection provides a comprehensive look at Popowski’s career, offering insight into mid-20th-century hunting culture, techniques, and the conservation movement through his writings, photographs, and artistic collaborations.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
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:
Information request form: Ask Us! 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.
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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
Uploaded finding aid
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
- Calling All Game, Harrisburg, Pa., Stackpole Co., 1952. Call number: SD Collection: SK33.P6ca
- Calling All Varmints, Harrisburg, Pa., Stackpole Co., 1952. Call number: SD Collection: SK33.P6c
- Crow Shooting, New York: A.S. Barnes and Company, 1946. Call number: SD Collection: SK325.C7 P6
- Hunting Pronghorn Antelope, Harrisburg, Pa., Stackpole Co., 1959. Call number: SD Collection: SK305.A6 P6h
- Hunting Small Game, New York: Macmillian Co., 1948. Call number: SD Collection: SK36.P63
- Manual dil Cazador de Alimanas y Grajos (The varmint and crow hunter's bible. Spanish), Barcelona: Editorial Sintes, 1964, c 1962. Call number: SD Collection: SK33.P58718
- Olt's Hunting Handbook, Omaha? c1948. Call number: SD Collection: SK313.P6
- South Dakota Brags, Custer, S.D.: The Author, 1953. Call number: SD Collection: F651.5.P6
- The Hunter's Book of the Pronghorn Antelope, Tulsa, Okla., Winchester Press, c1982. Call number: SD Collection: SK305.P76 P66 1982
- The Redbook of Big Game Hunting, Skokie, Ill., Publishers Development Corp., 1961. Call number: SD Collection: SK33.P588
- The Varmint and Crow Hunter's Bible, Garden City, N. Y., Doubleday, 1962. Call number: SD Collection: SK33.P587
- Varmint Hunting, Paterson, N. J., Athletic Activities Pub. Co., 1971. Call number: SD Collection: SK336.P66
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)
ID
ID
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Popowski, Bert John, 1904-1982 (Subject)