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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.

Frank Denholm in line to board a plane at the Sioux Falls Regional Airport.

TIn 1978, Daschle was elected to the United States House of Representatives, winning the race by a margin of 110 votes, following a recount, out of more than 129,000 votes cast. Daschle served four terms in the House of Representatives and quickly became a part of the Democratic leadership.

At the 1980 Democratic National Convention Congressman Daschle received 10 (0.30%) delegate votes for Vice President of the United States. Although he was not a candidate, Daschle (along with others) received votes against incumbent Walter Mondale, who was re-nominated easily.

he U.S. House of Representatives papers is composed of some campaign files and voting record information. Also included is "The Daschle Record" which contains 12 books compiled by his staff containing Daschle's voting record, sponsorships, and summaries of committee and subcommittee records from 1979 to 1986.

Due to the size and scope of the Daschle collection this collection was minimally processed. This means that material was placed in acid-free folders and containers, but processing at the item level was keep to a minimum. Only folders that had little or no description were looked into with more depth. Artifacts, such as plaques, framed items, textiles, art, and other three-dimensional items, were separated and placed in appropriate storage. Photographs were also separated and placed in proper storage containers.

Dates for each folder were chosen on what could be quickly ascertained. The dates are meant to give researchers a general idea of the dates of the material that is in each folder. These dates were selected on what could be quickly ascertained. If there was a range of dates covering material, then the earliest date was chosen.

Frank Denholm sitting at his office at desk

Frank Denholm with Floyd R. and Katie Kuhns.

Frank Denholm and his wife, Millie, are riding in a convertible in a parade during his 1968 campaign for Congress.

Frank Denholm is handing a man wearing a cowboy hat a sandwich at a campaign event.

Frank Denholm with three senior citizens at a campaign event.

Frank Denholm with Floyd Rasmussen and Katie Kuhns at an event.

Frank Denholm with four men. They are standing in front of a white concrete block wall.

Frank Denholm with a group of men at a South Dakota Democratic Party campaign rally. They are standing in front of a McGovern sign. One man is holding a hat with McGovern printed on it.

Frank Denholm speaking at a campaign event in an auditorium. Richard Kneip is seated to Denholm's right. There is a man with an accordian sitting on the stage behind Denholm.

Frank Denholm with Floyd R. and Katie Kuhns.

Frank Denholm with Mrs. Donald Jenten and Ilene Griffin at an event.

Supporters carrying signs and wearing hats in support of Frank Denholm for Congress during a rally.

Frank Denholm with supporters while on the campaign trail. The group is from Chamberlain, South Dakota. They are wearing Denholm and McGovern hats.

Frank Denholm and his wife, Millie, are riding in a convertible in a parade during his 1968 campaign for Congress.

Frank Dehnolm greeting a young supporter at a campaign event. A young man stands behind them.

Little boy standing on a street with a Denholm sign in one hand and a toy trumpet in the other hand.

Frank Denholm is on the campaign trail. He is in a barn with child. They are standing next to cow.

Frank Denholm is shaking hands with a man at a campaign event. A woman is standing to the left. Another man has his hand on Denholm's shoulder.

Frank Deholm with Fay and Gene VanHove.

Frank Denholm with Dr. Ike Tieszen.

Millie Denholm at an International Association of Machinists event. Frank Denholm is seated to her right.

Frank Denholm visiting a retail business while campaigning in 1968. He is shaking hands with the business owner. A young boy is in the background.

Neon Holiday Inn sign welcoming Frank Denholm and John Ryan for an event.

Frank Denholm is with constituents on the tarmac of an airport. They are standing in front of an airplane.

Frank Denholm at a campaign event in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Two women are standing by a table with pies on it. There is a McGovern U.S. Senator hanging on the wall.

Frank Denholm and his wife, Millie, are in a parade riding in the back of a convertible.

Millie Denholm at a campaign event. She is smiling while people around her at applauding.

Frank Denholm standing at a podium during a campaign event.

Woman playing a guitar at a podium during a campaign event for Frank Denholm.

Frank Denholm with two constituents at a campaign event.

George Mcgovern and Frank Denholm greeting people at a campaign event.

Frank Denholm in a room with three men.

Frank Denholm is speaking to a Rotary Interational gathering. Richard Kneip is seated at the table to the left of Kneip.

Frank Denholm speaking at a campaign event in an auditorium. Richard Kneip is seated to Denholm's right. There is a man with an accordian sitting on the stage behind Denholm.

Frank and Millie Denholm riding in a red convertible, waving at spectators in the Augustana College Viking Days parade in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Frank Denholm at a campaign event. He is holding a ham while the audience is seated on chairs around him.

Frank Denholm speaking to a group people seated at a tables at a campaign event.

Frank Denholm speaking at a campaign event in an auditorium. Millie Denholm is seat at the table to his left.

Frank Denholm speaking at a podium during his birthday party. A man is standing to the left.

Frank Denholm greeting a man at an event. Millie Denholm is standing to the left of him greeting people.

Frank Denholm at a campaign event in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He is holding a pie in his right hand that he is auctioning to the highest bidder. A woman is in the foreground.

Frank Denholm is holding a McGovern campaign hat while Evelyn Lord, Bob Chamberlain, Donna Kuhfeld look at it at a campaign event in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

State Senator Allen Sperry and Richard Kneip during the 1970 campaign in Aberdeen, South Dakota

Frank Denholm (right) with four other men standing on a dock at a lake.

Frank Denholm on a International Farmall tractor plowing a field plowing during his 1970 campaign.

Richard and Nancy Kneip sitting at a table with other people at a luncheon during his 1970 campaign.

Frank Denholm standing at a podium during a campaign event.

Frank Denholm greeting people at a campaign event.

George McGovern at a campaign event for Frank Denholm.

Frank Denholm at a podium during a campaign event. He is holding what looks like a flat bicycle intertube with writing on it.

Man playing a guitar at a podium during a campaign event for Frank Denholm. Frank is seated to his left Millie Denholm is seated on the far left.

Frank Denholm being interview by Mr. Overturf.

Frank Denholm and campaign volunteers are blowing up balloons for an event.

William Dougherty, Richard Kneip's running mate in the 1970 election, isstanding next to a podium holding a framed picture of John Kennedy at a campaign event. The podium has a sign attached to the front saying Vote Dougherty Lt. Governor.

Richard Kneip is speaking to a Rotary Interational gathering. Frank Denholm is seated at the table to the left of Kneip.

Frank Denholm speaking to group of people at a campaign event. There are pinball machines in the background.

Richard Kneip at a podium speaking to a group at a campaign event. Frank Denholm ia seated behind him.

Millie Denholm is working with campaign volunteers. There are balloons on a table Elect Frank Denholm for U.S. Congress.

Frank and Millie Denholm riding in a red convertible, waving at spectators in the Augustana College Viking Days parade in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Frank Denholm speaking at a podium during a event. A man (standing) is handing another man (seated) a dollar bill in the foreground.

South Dakota State University president Hilton Briggs and Frank Denholm at an event.

Frank Denholm at the 9th Annual Auctioneer's Convention.

Frank and Millie Denholm are with a woman at an event. There is a framed photographs of George McGovern on the wall behind them.

Frank Denholm at a campaign event in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He is holding a white frosted cake in his hand and appears to be auctioning the cake to the highest bidder.

Frank Denholm at the South Dakota Democratic Party convention in Huron, South Dakota. He is holding his coat jacket under his arm and talking with Peder Ecker and another man.

Frank Denholm (left) with another man grilling steaks on a house boat on a lake.

Richard and Nancy Kneip sitting at a table with other people at a luncheon during his 1970 campaign.

Frank Denholm (left) and Richard Kneip (right) with a man and woman at a campaign event.

Man at podium speaking at a campaign event. Frank and Millie Denholm are seated to his left.

Frank Denholm at a campaign dinner. His is sitting with four other men.

Frank and Millie Denholm riding in a red convertible in the Augustana College Viking Days parade in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Frank is waving to parade spectators. There is a young girl standing in the back seat next to Frank.

Frank Denholm at a podium talking in a room full of people at a campaign event.

Richard Kneip is dancing with a woman at a campaign event.

Frank Denholm demonstrating his auctioning skills at a sale.

Frank Denholm at a campaign event. He is holding a bowl while the audience is seated on chairs around him.

Frank Denholm speaking at a campaign event.

Frank and Millie Denholm dancing at a celebration in his honor for winning the Senate race in 1970 and celebrating his birthday

Frank Denholm greeting a man at an event. Millie Denholm is standing to the left of him greeting people.

Frank Denholm is standing at a podium speaking at an event.

Wayne Hauschild, South Dakota State University president Hilton Briggs, Frank Denholm, and two other men at an event.

Frank Denholm (left) is with Dr. Lie, Dr. James Chalmers (Acting Chief of Staff), Colin Parkes (Contact Officer), Ralph Heidbrink (Staff Assistant to Director), and Wayne Gass (Center Director) while touring a medical facility.

Frank Denholm at an event for South Dakota Senator George McGovern

Frank Denholm and his wife, Millie, are in a parade riding in the back of a convertible.

Frank Denholm and Bill Hauck at the 1970 State Democratic Convention in Mitchell, South Dakota.

Frank Denholm (right) with two other men relaxing on house boat on a lake.

Frank Denholm steering a house boat on a lake.

Richard Kneip speaking during his 1970 campaign. A woman in a green dress standing in the background.

Frank Denholm and a farmer standing next to an International Farmall tractor during Denholm's 1970 campaign.

Frank Denholm relaxing on a houseboat on a lake or river.

Frank and Millie Denholm at a luncheon during the 1970 campaign. Frank is talking to a woman to his left.

Millie Denholm and another woman standing in front of Democratic campaign headquarters.

Frank Denholm introducing the speaker at a campaign event.

Frank and Millie Denholm with a group of people at a campaign event.

Frank Denholm and Richard Kneip at a campaign event

Frank and Millie dancing at a campaign event.

Frank Denholm talking with men surrounding him at a table during a campaign event. Millie Denholm is smiling.

Frank Denholm at the Democratic Party booth at the fari in Turner County, South Dakota. Mrs. Milton Jorgenson, Mrs. Don Jenter, Bill D. and Dick Koneig.