I’m a public historian in South Dakota and I’m fascinated by all the stories this place holds. This blog is my way to share those stories from trips into the field, into the archives, and across the web. The posts are selectively informal. Let me know about SD history in the news and in local events, and tell me what you want to hear more about!
Disclaimer: I have an admitted bias towards historic preservation, cultural resources, environmental history, and women’s history. All photographs are those of the author unless otherwise stated — I try my best to refrain from using photographs not yet in the public domain without express permission. Additionally, this is a personal blog of the author and does not represent my employer or any particular organization.
Thanks for visiting,
Liz Almlie
History in South Dakota 
Hi I’m doing a research paper on American Indian Culture for my Class at BHSU. I was wondering if this is the best way to get ahold of you?
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This is as good a way as any – what’s your question? 🙂
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Most of the Helen Magee collection is now digitized http://www.hotspringspubliclibrary.com scroll down to the green view the collectoin here and it will take you to the Helen Magee collection, no library card necessary.
I sgned up to receive your posts but they don’t come through, I have to search them out. Am I on your list to receive them? Thanks.
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I do have the Hot Springs collection featured in my latest Digital Resources post. I checked my list and it says you signed up on the 15th and I haven’t posted anything new since the 11th. Hopefully it’ll work when I do.
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Hello, I am writing an article on Hattie Phillips and would love to correspond with you. Could you please email me as soon as you possibly can? I would like to ask you a couple questions. Thanks.
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I’m particularly intrigued with millinery and I appreciate your posts on professional women.
Most of my interest in local history comes from following family stories. Gradually, I’m posting at thingsmomsaved.com, and on Facebook in the “you know you’re from Sioux Falls…” group.
Some friends and I recently discussed the #tubsofthepast that we have in our basements, as we have inherited the “family stuff.”
Romy Klessen
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I’m looking for information about Maggie Mellette.
She was, after all, our first First Lady.
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Mellette is certainly one of the big names in state history, but I haven’t done any research on Maggie Mellette at this point.
You may have found these already, but… I know the Mellette House museum in Watertown has a website with a little on the family (the museum is still on my SD travel wish list). There is a Codington County Historical Society as well that I would assume has some material on the Mellettes. I see online that the museum put out a book in 1983 of her Civil War diary edited by Joanita Kant. And she has a page on Findagrave.com: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30594250/margaret-mellette . Also came across this online about her and Wylie family via Indiana University Libraries: http://collections.libraries.indiana.edu/wyliehouse/exhibits/show/threewyliewomen/boysroom
I hope this is helpful.
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Mathilda Joslyn Gage had significant time and influence in Aberdeen as we have learned.
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My family at one time owned and operated the Waldorf Hotel in Andover. My father was born in the round room on the 2nd floor. I recall my grandmother (Regina Dineen Seeley, – born 1896 -her mother was an O’Connor) telling me of her childhood there and of the farm they also owned, which was lost during the depression due to the local banker taking it for $3,000 ; he had known my family his whole life. I am 68 so this was a long time ago… wish I could have visited it in the 70s w my family but I was working at the time. They brought back a few mementos like glass door handles. They told me someone had bought it and was gutting it, selling the beautiful bar from Europe. I am sad…I have pictures of my aunt and others standing on the front porch that must have been way before WW1. I have a commemorative plate with the Waldorf and other historic buildings such as the churches and school.
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This project is AWESOME! Keep up the great work! (Just found this)
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Just stumbling on the information re: Emma Smith DeVoe — because I live in DeVoe Township …thanks for the work you’re doing.
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Hello there!
I’m a college freshman in Indiana. I’m doing a research project about pre-18th Amendment prohibition in South Dakota between the years of 1889 and 1897. I was wondering if you could direct me to a post on your blog that covers this topic or, if no such post exists, if I could get in contact with you some other way and you can give me whatever info you have directly.
This blog is amazing and really informative, by the way! You’ve clearly put a lot of work into it, and I’m so happy there’s someone covering this small but significant part of American history!
-Sam.
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I don’t have a synthesis for prohibition on the blog, no. I know there are discussions of the issue for the period in Kingsbury’s History of Dakota Territory, found it in Ch. 19 Vol. 3: I believe that there’s some in Bailey’s History of Minnehaha County too – also on Google Books – because there was so much legal work on breweries in Sioux Falls and the book was published so soon afterwards. Both are pretty early sources – so they’re good for detail of the big players, but they have their shortcomings as sources too. I don’t recall reading anything more recent that’s a broader look… I suspect it’s covered at least in brief in Harry S. Thompson’s “History of South Dakota” (from early 2000s), but I don’t have access to a copy at the moment to check. The SDHS Press has also done a few volumes of “Plains Political Tradition,” which are collections on lots of different topics on politics in SD. One of those might have something if there are options to get those through your library…
Kingsbury (1915):
https://www.google.com/books/edition/History_of_Dakota_Territory/A1gWAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=history+of+early+prohibition+in+%22south+dakota%22&pg=PA735&printsec=frontcover
Bailey (1899):
https://www.google.com/books/edition/History_of_Minnehaha_County_South_Dakota/zw0wAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=prohibition
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Hello – I am recording a video of an organ piece by Christopher Uehlein, who was a monk at Blue Cloud Abbey. I was hoping I could obtain permission to use several photos of the Abbey from your site. I will give credit and the video will not be for commercial use.
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Do you know what the voting age was when women’s suffrage was approved in SD?
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I seem to remember hearing that South Dakota resisted lowering voting age to 18,, presumably from 21, but the potential withholding of federal highways money brought pressure. I think it ended up at the US Supreme Court… I’d have to look to check all this though.
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I just finished your article on Katharine Powell. Thank you. She is my great-great grandmother and you deepened my understanding of her.
The article suggests that there is some confusion in the historical record as to whether she was divorced. The family story is that she was divorced and she changed her and the kids’ surnames to her maiden name because of that. My understanding is that her husband left her and eventually returned to live and eventually die in England, and that she didn’t want to keep his name after he left. I am glad she did and am honored to carry her maiden surname as mine. I keep a picture of her on my office wall and have her cross.
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Liz, I’m working on a book about two women in Dakota Territory that you’ve mentioned in past posts. Would like to ask more specific questions in a private PM. I’ll leave my contact information below. Chuck Raasch, Alexandria Va.
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Liz,
I’m so impressed with your blog. So impressed with the source information. It’s incredibly accurate. Not sloppy at all.
I’m researching apples in South Dakota which lead me to your blog.
Trying to track down any known orchards from Yankton area. One apple variety that intrigues me is bon homme which originated in the county. I’ve only seen it mentioned in an ne Hansen publication.
Gave you when about him yet?
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Yes, I got to research the House of Gurney in Yankton for work 10 yrs ago or so and Charles W. Gurney worked with Hansen on several things. I will check my notes tomorrow and see what I have.
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There is a family story that grandparents housed Black sports players in Brookings SD in the 1900s (likely 1940s to 60s). I know about the Green Books, but they were more for businesses. Any such documentation for private households?
Thanks!
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I can’t think of any compiled sources or directories, no… I hope more such things get recorded for local history museums or oral history archives!
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Hi, love your work on the Green Book in SD! I’m working with a team of scholars around the country to research GB sites. You can see our work at https://community.village.virginia.edu/greenbooks/. Would you be interested in working on adding SD’s sites to our project? Please let me know, thanks!
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Victoria McAlmon was my great aunt and my mother, her niece, and I are so pleased with the new details (for us) about her life that you provided along with so many sources. I never had the chance to meet her but my Mother remembers her well. What a treat. Thank you!
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