FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  March 21, 2007
CONTACT:  Jeff Mammenga, (605) 773-6000 or Jeff.Mammenga@state.sd.us

State Historical Society conference highlighting women’s contributions

PIERRE, SD – The experiences of women on the Great Plains will be the focus of this year’s annual history conference hosted by the South Dakota State Historical Society. The conference is April 13-14 at the Ramkota RiverCenter in Pierre.

The theme of the conference, which is partially funded by the South Dakota Humanities Council, is “Romancing the West:  Women’s Lives on the Great Plains.” Keynote speaker Paula M. Nelson, history professor and national authority on homesteading and women’s history, will give an overview of the historical lives of women before the turn of the century.  Nelson will also feature the real life western romance of Alice Bower of Vermillion and Joseph Gossage of Rapid City, Dakota Territory.  The two young people, who would become the founders of the Rapid City Journal, conducted their courtship through letters. Professor Nelson will explore their thoughts on childrearing and the roles of men and women in the Victorian era.  Maxwell Van Nuys, who is the couple’s nephew, will discuss his aunt and the Bower family, the model for Walt Disney’s movie, The One and Only Genuine Original Family Band .

Conference speakers include Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, who will speak on the lives of American Indian women. Lori Ann Lahlum and Janet Howe Townsley will discuss European immigrant women. James D. McLaird will speak about the real Calamity Jane, the woman and not the myth. Rose Estep Fosha, Eileen French and Betti VanEpps-Taylor will discuss the lives of Chinese and African-American women in South Dakota.

Special events during the conference will include a presentation by U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth, who will speak about women in politics. Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith, historians for the PBS mini-series Frontier House, will present a video and discussion of the making of the television show.

“We are pleased to have a wonderful lineup of speakers, covering many types of experiences in the lives of women,” said Nancy Tystad Koupal, director of research and publications. “Women obviously have played and continue to play an important role in the history of our state.”

The Governor’s Awards for History, recognizing individuals, organizations and teachers who have made outstanding contributions to preserving South Dakota history, will be announced at an awards luncheon on Saturday.

One teacher certificate renewal credit from the state Department of Education and one undergraduate credit from Augustana College in Sioux Falls are available during the conference.

For more information, call (605) 773-6000 or visit www.sdhsitory.org for registration information. The early registration deadline is March 31.