History Day

National History Day is a way for students to study and learn about historical issues, ideas, people, and events. The year-long educational program for grades 6-12 fosters academic achievement and intellectual growth in participants. The program consists of a series of district, state, and national competitions centered around an annual theme that is announced in September. Students conduct research, then present their findings in imaginative exhibits, original performances, media presentations, and papers in junior and senior divisions of seven different categories. Historians, educators, and professionals in related fields then evaluate each project. 

 

South Dakota History Day

National History Day

 

Theme for 2008: Conflict & Compromise in History

Tips

Preparing for research

 

 


History Day 2008
Conflict and Compromise in History

Resources at the South Dakota State Archives

 

The South Dakota State Archives collects and preserves permanently valuable government and organizational records, personal papers, publications, photographs, maps and sound and video recordings which tell the history of the South Dakota area.

The various collections at the South Dakota State Archives contain a wealth of information related to the 2008 National History Day theme.  The following ideas are just a small sample of what is available at the State Archives in Pierre to help with research on your topics.  

The State Archives contains over 10,000 cubic feet of records that document many aspects of South Dakota’s history and heritage from the 1700’s to 2007.  With few exceptions these records are available for public research.  Archival documents are used for different purposes by government officials, teachers, attorneys, students, genealogists, historians, historic preservationists, exhibit designers, authors, and newspaper and television journalists.

Other resources available at the State Archives include; Original Manuscripts, Organizational Records, Photographs, Government Documents and Records, Microfilm copies of most SD Newspapers from 1864-2007, Maps, Video and Audio Recordings. Several of these indexes are on line. Take a look at the Dakota Profiles page of the SD State Historical web site to view a few prominent South Dakotans in our heritage.       http://www.sdhistory.org/rp/dp/rp_dapr.htm

Resources at the SD State Archives are available to the public, but most collections must be used at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre.  Groups planning to visit the archives are encouraged to call or e-mail ahead to find out what is available concerning any topics not mentioned as well as those listed above.  Archives staff can provide special assistance to teachers and class groups by appointment.

The State Archives is open 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday thru Friday and the first Saturday of each month.  For more information please contact:

Virginia Hanson, Archivist                                 Or visit our web site at www.sdhistory.org
South Dakota
State Archives                           
SD State Historical Society
900 Governors Drive
Pierre
, SD 57501-2217
virginia.m.hanson@state.sd.us
(605)773-3804   (605)773-3616


 

History Day Ideas and Sources at the South Dakota State Archives

Conflict and Compromise in History

 IDEAS:

Small mining versus big business
        the conflicts that arose and compromises that       were found
Ft Pierre - Deadwood Trail
       Conflicts over where the trail should leave the
Missouri River
Transportation, Highway systems in SD
        Overweight trucking
Capitol fights
     1889-1890, when SD first became a state,
     1900, and 1905
Agriculture/Ranching
      vs wildlife, prairie dogs, coyotes
     Corn for ethanol instead of feed, or other uses  
     Growing crops on land not suitable for crops
Wars and battles
      Civil war or Spanish American war, the view from SD (
Dakota Territory)
     
Dakota wars
Land control
     Black Hills
1876, 1976
    
Homestead techniques
Religious conflicts
Conflicts over trade/transportation routes
     Which railroad is best, who lasted, who didn't
Conflicts and compromises of the immigrants 
     SD melting pot  
 
   
Immigration regulations now and then

Modern Engineering ideas from conflict
     Oahe Dam, from the 1952 Flood
     Rapid city
area developments from 1972 Flood 

Native customs  
     Ghost Shirt Dance
     Mission
work on the reservations

SOURCES:

Photograph collection Oahe Dam film and photos
County records Naturalization records
Maps Vertical files

Check the site index at our website at http://www.sdhistory.org/arc/archives.htm  for a more complete list of sources that may be of help in your research projects. Many sources are available but not listed because of the size of the file.  Please contact us, if you have any questions about possible sources not listed.