FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Sept. 12, 2007
CONTACT:  Marvene Riis, (605) 773-3804, Marvene.Riis@state.sd.us 

State Historical Society acquires IRA papers

PIERRE, S.D. -- The South Dakota State Historical Society-Archives in the Cultural Heritage Center recently acquired the microfilm of the Indian Rights Association (IRA) Papers, consisting of 136 rolls of microfilm covering the years 1864-1973.  

“These records complement the Bureau of Indian Affairs microfilms for all the South Dakota reservations which are already housed in the state archives,” said Marvene Riis, archives librarian. “In addition the IRA Papers provide the researcher with a unique insight into Indian affairs, from the IRA, the Indian and the government points of view.” 

Although not specific to the South Dakota region, the IRA Papers do contain considerable information about South Dakota reservations, and they document the activities of Charles H. Burke of Pierre, who served as Indian Commissioner in Washington, D.C., from 1921-1929.

The original IRA Papers are housed at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Included in the collection are correspondence, organizational records, printed matter, the Herbert Welsh Papers, photographs and the Council on Indian Affairs records.

The Indian Rights Association was formed in Philadelphia on Dec. 15, 1882, following a visit by William Welsh and Henry S. Pancoast to the Sioux Reserve in Dakota Territory. They had traveled there at the request of Bishop William Hobart Hare (Protestant Episcopal Church Bishop of Niobrara) to experience the harsh existence of an American Indian’s daily life. The conditions on the Sioux Reserve prompted Welsh and 30 other men to form the IRA, with the purpose of protecting the interests and general welfare of the American Indians by influencing public sentiment and Congressional action.

Although the IRA Papers microfilm may only be used at the State Archives in the Cultural Heritage Center, headquarters of the State Historical Society, many of the other BIA microfilms are available for purchase or interlibrary loan.

The South Dakota Archives are open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and the first Saturday of each month. For more information call (605) 773-3804 or visit www.sdhistory.org.