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The Ben Reifel Papers document the career of Ben Reifel, the first Lakota Sioux to serve in the U.S. Congress, highlighting his work as a legislator, his tenure with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and his advocacy for Native American communities. The collection includes correspondence, photographs, audiovisual materials, memorabilia, and scrapbooks that provide insight into his contributions to public service and Native American affairs. As a pioneering Native American leader, Reifel played a key role in shaping policies related to education, healthcare, and economic development. This collection serves as a valuable resource for understanding his lasting impact on indigenous representation in government and South Dakota’s political landscape.
The activities series contains records of Reifel's involvement with various organizations and initiatives, including the Boy Scouts of America, the National Park Service, and the Dakota Territory Citizen Certificates project. It also covers his efforts in Native American affairs, congressional trips, and public events. The awards and honors section features certificates, plaques, medals, and other recognitions Reifel received throughout his career, including awards from the Boy Scouts of America, Sioux tribes, and South Dakota State University.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs materials include correspondence, newsletters, and newspaper clippings that document Reifel’s work in advancing Native American education, healthcare, and policy. The campaign series provides an in-depth look at his political career through financial records, advertisements, schedules, and materials related to the South Dakota Republican Party platforms.
Correspondence within the collection spans from Reifel’s tenure with the BIA through his congressional career, featuring letters exchanged with prominent political figures such as Barry Goldwater, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and George McGovern. The family history section contains biographical materials, educational records, military service documents, and personal writings that provide insight into his early life and career development.
Memorabilia in the collection includes campaign materials, presidential inauguration items, and personal artifacts such as a U.S. Annotated Code book with Reifel’s name embossed on the cover. The photographs offer a visual record of his political career, community interactions, travels, and personal life, particularly highlighting his work in Congress and his connections with Native American communities.
The audiovisual materials consist of campaign advertisements, legislative discussions, interviews, and speeches on healthcare, agriculture, and public service. These recordings also include public appearances and fundraising events. Scrapbooks primarily contain newspaper clippings and campaign materials that document Reifel’s public image and key political milestones.
Collected materials include books, periodicals, programs, and poetry reflecting Reifel’s diverse interests and professional pursuits. His speeches and writings consist of transcripts and drafts of addresses given at events such as Memorial Day ceremonies and commencement exercises.
Overall, the Ben Reifel Collection provides a comprehensive view of his contributions to public service, Native American advocacy, and South Dakota’s civic and political landscape. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers seeking to understand his legislative impact, community engagement, and personal legacy.

The Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve Papers document the literary career, research, and advo-cacy of the acclaimed Lakota writer, educator, and historian. Spanning from the 1960s to the 2020s, the collection includes manuscripts, correspondence, research materials, and pub-lished works that reflect her dedication to Native American storytelling and cultural preservation. It offers a comprehensive look at her contributions to literature, education, and Indige-nous representation.

The Creative Writing series contains fiction and non-fiction works, including Completing the Circle, The Medicine Bag, Dancing Teepees, Standing Bear of the Ponca, and Sioux Women. Each work is accompanied by manuscripts, clippings, correspondence, research notes, print-er’s galleys, proofs, reviews, and scripts. Many manuscripts include editorial annotations and suggested revisions. The correspondence primarily consists of letters between Sneve and publishers, as well as heartfelt messages from schoolchildren, some with drawings, thanking her for her books and school visits. Research materials include notes, collected documents, and recorded interviews. A video adaptation of High Elk’s Treasure is also part of the collection.

The General series includes awards, speaking engagements, clippings, interviews, journals, and research materials. Correspondence features exchanges with publishing houses, Sena-tor Larry Pressler, and fellow writers such as Bob Karolevitz and Audrae Visser. Notably, the series contains an audio reel of an interview Sneve conducted with Harold Shunk, a Bureau of Indian Affairs superintendent. Other items include a 1901 class photograph and various teaching aids.

The Other Writings series highlights Sneve’s contributions beyond creative literature, includ-ing published articles, scripts for a South Dakota Public Radio series, Christian education re-sources for the Episcopal Church Center, newspaper editorials, studies for the Flandreau In-dian School, and a contribution to On the Wings of Peace, a compilation benefiting world peace organizations.

This collection serves as a significant resource for researchers, scholars, and educators stud-ying Indigenous literature, storytelling, and cultural history. It offers a valuable perspective on Native identity, advocacy, and representation, highlighting Sneve’s enduring impact on Native American literary and educational landscapes.

The Vera Way Marghab Papers is a comprehensive archive documenting the life and work of a woman who played a significant role in the luxury textile industry. The collection offers insight into her personal journey, from her early years in South Dakota to her time as a piano student in New York City, as well as her relationship with Emile Marghab through extensive correspondence. While much of the material is centered on her personal life, the collection also reflects her role in the linen industry as the driving force behind Marghab, Ltd. and Emile Marghab, Inc. The records highlight her meticulous nature, as she preserved extensive documentation on both her personal and professional endeavors. Given the interwoven nature of her life and career, the materials are arranged into distinct series that provide a structured approach to understanding her legacy.

The Business Series encompasses all aspects of the Marghab enterprises, both in New York and Madeira. It includes materials on the founding of the company, capturing the vision and strategy behind Emile and Vera’s business model, as well as its eventual dissolution. Correspondence reflects their relationships with artisans, business partners, and shop managers, while records on design illustrate Vera’s influence in maintaining the highest standards of quality. Trademark and copyright documents, including coded correspondence aimed at protecting proprietary designs, shed light on the competitive nature of the textile industry. One of the aspects of this series is the material related to the Mayflower cloth, a specially designed tablecloth for the 1957 Mayflower II voyage, which later became an exhibition piece at the World’s Fair in Australia. Administrative records from the New York and Madeira operations provide insight into the governance and structure of the business, including shareholder meetings, factory logistics, and high-profile engagements with diplomats and the U.S. Navy. Employee records detail the hiring process, disputes, and pension plans, while financial records illustrate the company’s fiscal health, including instances of embezzlement and tax matters. The marketing strategy developed by Vera is well-documented, with strict guidelines for Marghab Shops, controlled advertising, and policies that set the company apart from competitors. Records on the shops provide a glimpse into Vera’s selective approach, including her direct correspondence with store managers and evaluations of potential retail locations.

The Personal Series reflects Vera’s multifaceted life beyond her business endeavors. Materials include portraits and fabric samples that visually represent her legacy. Her commitment to philanthropy is evident in records of charitable donations and correspondence with organizations she supported. A large portion of the series consists of clippings and collected materials, which demonstrate her curiosity and engagement with various subjects. Personal correspondence includes letters to and from family, friends, and colleagues, some of which intersect with business matters. Financial records cover her personal wealth management, including investments, estate planning, and legal affairs. The series also includes materials on her life in Madeira, providing additional context to her time spent there beyond the confines of business. The establishment of the Marghab Gallery at the South Dakota Art Museum is well-documented, capturing her dedication to preserving the artistry of Marghab linens. Music played an important role in Vera’s early life, and materials on her musical education and performances offer insight into this passion. Personal writings, including reflections and philosophical musings, provide a more intimate look at her character and outlook on life.

Significant figures in Vera’s life are highlighted through correspondence and clippings, most notably her husband, Emile, and her immediate family. Her engagement with politics is documented through materials on political figures and organizations of interest to her. Rare book records illustrate her scholarly interests and her contributions to South Dakota State University’s library. Recognition for her contributions to the textile industry and beyond is captured in awards, articles, and documentation of a Marghab video project. Social engagements and affiliations with arts organizations further reflect her cultural involvement. Her extensive travels, both domestic and international, are documented in travel records, revealing her connections to a broader global network. Her deep ties to Watertown, South Dakota, are evident in materials related to her home, Wayland, and her properties on Lake Kampeska, as well as documentation on community events and restoration projects.

This collection is of exceptional significance, offering researchers a rich narrative of a woman who was both a cultural tastemaker and a shrewd business leader. It captures the evolution of a company that set new standards in luxury linens, the meticulous approach that defined its success, and the challenges it faced in an ever-changing economic and political landscape. Equally important, it provides a deeply personal portrait of Vera Way Marghab, allowing scholars to explore the intersections of entrepreneurship, artistry, and personal ambition. The collection stands as a valuable resource for those interested in business history, women’s history, textile design, and the legacy of craftsmanship that Marghab linens represent.

The Frank E. Denholm Papers consist mostly of materials generated during the time he served as the representative to South Dakota’s First Congressional District, from 1971 to 1975. These materials document his work for rural America, particularly his effort to reinstate the Rural Electrification Act and numerous legislation regarding agriculture, rural water, and rural development. Press releases and newspaper clippings about his activities in Congress can be found in the papers. The collection also includes scrapbooks and memorabilia about his campaigns for Congress. In addition, there are several files of correspondence, some of which was with members of Congress and other notable people such as George McGovern and Richard Kneip. The collection includes nearly 1,500 photographs and slides, most of which relate to his campaigns for Congress. There are reel-to-reel audio recordings and video recordings on 2-inch quad video tape that consist of campaign advertisements and his work in Congress. The collection also documents Denholm’s career as a sheriff, auctioneer, F.B.I. agent, and lawyer.

The papers also contain documents relating to Frank Denholm’s wife, Mildred Niehaus Denholm. Mrs. Denholm was born May 9, 1927 to Frank F. and Elizabeth C. (Schuring) Niehaus from Andover, South Dakota. She married Frank Denholm on June 12, 1950 in Webster, South Dakota. She attended Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, SD and taught in rural schools. Mrs. Denholm also went to the Aberdeen School of Business, the Strayer Business College in Washington, D.C., and the University of Utah where she studied music. She worked as a medical and legal secretary. Mrs. Denholm actively campaigned for her husband. She was involved in the Congressional Women’s Club while Denholm was in office. Mrs. Denholm passed away August 14, 2014. The collection includes correspondence between Frank and Mildred Denholm and her activities with the Congressional Women’s Club.

This collection is composed of materials related to dance and the teaching of dance at South Dakota State University. Slides, photographs, videos, posters and scrapbooks document the formal entrance of dance into the university curriculum.

The awards and plaques are composed of various awards and plaques presented to Marilyn Richardson over the years.

The general papers is composed of programs, newsletters, Dance Club material, dance camp and workshop material, concert choreography, and clippings from newspapers and other publications. Also included is the Dance Minor proposal and history at SDSU, information on Nellie G. Kendall, Barbara Kohn, and Terry Larvie, and biographical data of Marilyn Richardson.

The publicity material is composed of posters used for publicity for dance concerts given at SDSU by students, faculty and guest artists and companies. Some of the posters include collages of photographs which may duplicate photographs in the Photographs, Slides and Videocassettes series.

The photographs, slides and video cassettes include images of students and faculty, dance concerts, rehearsals, camps, workshops, the Motion Machine and guest artist and companies. The videos are of concerts, the Motion Machine, student projects, student solos, dance camps, rehearsals, and experimental dance.

The scrapbooks were created for the Dance Club and the Modern Dance Club and include photographs, programs, and clippings.

This collection is composed of material from Volstorff's personal and professional life. Folders includes personal records retained during her tenure as Dean of Women, records from her work with campus organizations, planning documents, and personal information and correspondence. Also included are Volstorff's many speeches and writings, including research and drafts for her book, Winds of Change.

The John E. Miller papers are composed of materials collected by Dr. Miller during his career. Included is course material, interviews, talks, writings, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and friends and colleagues. The bulk of the material is Laura Ingalls Wilder and research for his many other writings.

GENERAL MATERIAL
The general material consists of files related to Dr. Miller’s personal life outside of teaching and writing. He was involved with many organizations, such as the South Dakota Humanities Council, the South Dakota State Historical Society, Phi Kappa Phi, and history conferences, such as the Midwestern History Association and the Dakota History Conference. Included are correspondence, photographs, awards, articles about Miller, SDSU material, and family files.

COURSE MATERIALS.
Dr. Miller taught many courses during his tenure as a faculty member of the History Department at South Dakota State University. Courses include U.S. History, South Dakota history, American economic history, and methods and philosophy of history. After his retirement he taught Osher Lifetime Learning Institute [OLLI] courses on many topics such as the great depression, U.S. president and legislators, and democracy. Included are course notes, exams, and other material related to teaching history.

FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES
This material is composed of material gathered on friends and colleagues. Included is correspondence, articles, clippings, and photographs.

INTERVIEWS.
Dr. Miller conducted many oral history interviews during the course of his career. The recordings include many important historical figures, such as George McGovern and John Wooden, as well as prominent members of the South Dakota State University community, and SDSU faculty, staff, and administrators. His early interviews were recorded on audiocassettes, and eventually upgraded to digital recorders. There are some transcripts and permission forms for these recordings, but not all.
See the audiovisual and electronic media series for the recordings.

TALKS, PRESENTATIONS, ETC.
This series consists of many talks, presentations, and workshops given by Dr. Miller throughout his career. He also served on panels at conferences, including the Dakota History Conference and Laurapalooza. Included are notes used articles, journals, books, and research material.

LAURA INGALLS WILDER
Dr. Miller is one of America's leading authorities on Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane, having written many books and articles on the Wilder’s. Material consists of 16 boxes of research on books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder and her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, the Ingalls-Wilder family, places where Wilder lived, notebooks of handwritten notes, critiques of other authors works on Wilder, articles and clippings on related to Wilder, research gathered from manuscript collections related to Wilder, other authors works, and Dr. Miller’s writings.

WRITINGS
Dr. Miller wrote many articles, books, and reviews during his career. He also wrote book chapters, collaborated with other authors, and encyclopedia entries. He was a very prolific writer and it is difficult to know whether everything he ever wrote is included in the collection. Included are manuscripts, books, articles, book proposals, notes, and correspondence with other authors and publishers.

RESEARCH
The research material is composed of material collected by Dr. Miller for various projects. Researchers will find material on topics such as politics, elections, democracy, U.S. and South Dakota history, sports, small towns, and creativity; and historical figures such as Johnny Carson, Lawrence Welk, Sam Walton, John Wooden, Walt Disney, George McGovern, Karl Mundt, Alvin Hanson and many others too numerous to list. This material was used in his writings and in teaching his courses at SDSU.

Included are 40 boxes of articles and clippings from newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals, books, and online research gathered during his many trips to archives, historical societies and libraries. The material consists of notebooks and handwritten notes, writings, publications, books, and photographs. The majority of the material is photocopies, but some books, magazines, and journals are also included.

The Brookings County research is composed of research gathered by John E. Miller from the Donald D. Parker Collection held at the Center for Western Studies, Augustana College, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Donald D. Parker was Head of the History Department at South Dakota State University from 1943-1965. Folders consist mainly of research on early Brookings County, South Dakota and covers the years from circa 1870-1930.

The Hubert B. Mathews and Hubert Jean Mathieu Hubert B. Mathews attended Dakota Agricultural College in Brookings in 1888 and accepted a position on the college staff in 1893. He became head of the physics Department, and was the first acting dean of the Division of Engineering. He was Vice President at South Dakota State College. H.B. Mathews coordinated much of the building work on the campus during the first half of the 20th century. Mathews Hall, a dormitory on campus, is named in his honor. Professor Mathews served twice as the Mayor of Brookings from 1907-1910 and again from 1915-1917. Hubert Jean Mathieu, son of Hubert B. Mathews, graduated from South Dakota State College in 1919. He then studied painting under Harvey Dunn. He is known for his Our Democracy editorial cartoons that appeared in such magazines as the Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, Ladies Home Journal, McCall’s and Cosmopolitan in the 1940s. He changed the spelling of the family name back to the original French spelling of Mathieu, supposedly for art reasons. He used the name "Mat" as his signature on many of his works.

Because of their relationship as father and son and their similar names, researchers should look at each folder carefully to ensure the correct information is gathered as material for both men is interfiled. Included are drawing of the campus of South Dakota State University by Hubert J. Mathieu as well as several of the Our Democracy editorial cartoons. The notes file was compiled by Dr. Miller and includes a notebook and several homemade note cards. The photograph file consists only of one photocopied page of three photographs of both Hubert B. and Hubert J.

The Brookings County Democratic Party records are composed of material given to John E. Miller by Ruby Mershon. Her father, Paul, was county chairman of the Brookings Democratic Party during the 1950s. Folders contain clippings, campaign material, newsletters, financial material, programs, and sample ballots. Some items of note include an official program and souvenir banner commemorating the visit of President John F. Kennedy to St. Cloud, Minnesota in 1962.

The South Dakota State University: A pictorial history, 1881-2006 research consists mainly of photocopies of clippings, articles, and yearbooks etc. Researchers will find material related to all areas of the history of South Dakota State University, from activities, athletics and administration to buildings, Hobo Day, and alumni, students and faculty.

The Looking for History of Highway 14 series is composed of research gathered by John E. Miller for this book. The book highlights fifteen towns and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Folders consist of research gathered while compiling chapters for this book and include newspapers, county history books, photographs, and notes by Miller.

AUDIOVISUAL AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA
This series consists of 231 audiocassettes, 10 digital recorders, 17 CDs, 1 DVD, 18 USB flash drives, 24 SD Cards as well as some born digital material.