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Finding Aid
Audrae Visser Collection
SDSU-Archives MA 052 · Collection · 1938-2002

The materials in this collection were collected and donated by Dr. Charles Woodard of the South Dakota State University English Department. The collection is primarily composed of correspondence between Audrae Visser and Dr. Woodard, much of which documents her literary development and academic work. Included are many of Visser’s writings created to fulfill class assignments, such as book reports, instructional texts, and a Pioneer Humor Project undertaken for the Heritage of the Prairies Institute at Southwest State University in Marshall, Minnesota.

In addition to extensive correspondence, the collection contains clippings, photographs, and a wide range of poetic and prose writings by Visser. These include autobiographical sketches, children's stories, fiction, speeches, and both published and unpublished poetry. Notable published works represented are Country Cousin, Honyocker Stories, Pheasant Flights, and Prairie Poetry. Also included are materials related to her awards, honors, and organizational memberships, as well as written accounts of her travel experiences and photographs she took on various trips, including one to Mexico. Writings by other authors and anonymous works are also present.

Visser, Audrae 1919-2001
SDSU-Archives MA 072 · Records · 1926-2015

This collection documents the activities and literary contributions of the South Dakota State Poetry Society (SDSPS). Materials include foundational records such as articles of incorporation, bylaws, board meeting minutes, and correspondence, including letters from board member Deb Gangloff. Additional content consists of newsletters, flyers, photographs, and poetry writing tips by Audrae Visser and Susan Chambers.

The collection features publications by the SDSPS, including multiple editions of Four Quarters to a Section, Prairie Poets, Voices of South Dakota, and indexes such as the Sixty-Year Comprehensive Index of Pasque Petals. Numerous works by South Dakota poets are represented, including chapbooks, anthologies, and contest-winning pieces. A substantial portion comprises issues of Pasque Petals, the society’s official journal. Also included is the 2015 Poet Laureate nomination for Lee Ann Roripaugh.

The records reflect the evolution of poetry and literary engagement in South Dakota, highlighting the society’s role in fostering a statewide community of poets. Through its extensive publications and support of local voices, the SDSPS has served as a cornerstone of the region’s literary culture.

South Dakota State Poetry Society