Dakota History Conferences:

The first Dakota History Conference was held in February, 1969. Because of inclement weather, the conference was postponed for one week . Since that time, the conference is now held in either the first or second weekend of April.

The Dakota History Conference brings together professional historians and history buffs who focus on the heritage of the Upper Great Plains. The conferences have annually attracted 150 -200 people with the majority hailing from the Upper Midwest Region.

The Karl E. Mundt Historical and Educational Foundation, headed by Executive Director Robert L. McCaughey, provides funds for the publishing of papers presented at each conference as well as for the awarding of cash prizes for the most impressive and scholarly of the papers presented. The Foundation has selflessly provided these services since the 10th annual Dakota History Conference.

The first Dakota History Conference was held at Dakota State University.  The conferences are now held at Augustana College in Sioux Falls.

Two papers taken from the first nine Dakota History Conferences:

Third Annual Conference, 1971
“President Wilson’s Visit to Sioux Falls, 1919”
       by Ralph R. Tingley of Sioux Falls College

“Not all citizens can accept the president’s views on national and
international policies. But differences of opinion on such matters detract nothing from the personal warmth of the welcome which thousands of South Dakotans will give to their president.” With this hope for public harmony The Daily Argus-Leader of Sioux Falls noted an impending visit of President Woodrow Wilson and suggested that although South Dakota was “a hard-shell republican state” there would nevertheless be “an enthusiastic welcome to the president” who had been “chief executive during one of the most trying periods of the world’s history” and who was traveling “to talk things over with the American people.” read more

Fifth Annual Conference, 1973
“The Ku Klux Klan in South Dakota”
       by Kenneth R. Stewart from Pierre, SD

Today, America is facing internal disorder, strife, and acts of violence which have pitted man against man, and ethnic group against ethnic group. For a nation which has always prided itself on being a “peace-loving” nation, much of this country’s history has been built on violence, prejudice and rebellion. A prime example of this truth was the period following the Civil War during the Reconstruction Period of the 1860’s and 1870’s. read more
 

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Completed by Spring 2004 Class of English 401
Last updated Spring 2004