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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Oct. 15, 2008 Lincoln re-enactor coming to Cultural Heritage Center PIERRE, S.D. – Abraham Lincoln is coming to Pierre for Archives Month in South Dakota! Vernon Risty of Illinois, a Lincoln re-enactor and former South Dakota resident, will portray Lincoln on Sunday Oct. 19, at 1 p.m. in the Education Room of the Cultural Heritage Center, hosted by the South Dakota State Historical Society-Archives. Risty, also known as “The Abe Lincoln,” will bring history alive and highlight Lincoln’s connection to our state in his free presentation, sponsored by the State Historical Records Advisory Board. At first glance one would think Lincoln did not play a prominent role in Dakota Territory, but it was John B.S. Todd, cousin of Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, who was one of the first individuals who advocated for Dakota to become a territory, and Lincoln was president when Congress created Dakota Territory on March 2, 1861. He appointed officials to run the territory, including the governor, secretary, chief justice, attorney general, surveyor general and the territorial marshal. Unfortunately, the State Archives has very few records related to Lincoln and his role in the formation of Dakota Territory, but there is a small collection of correspondence, including a letter signed by Lincoln. The letter, dated April 8, 1861, orders the Yancton (as it was originally spelled) Land District be formed in Dakota Territory and names the individuals who were to run the office. A copy of the letter will be on display during Risty’s program. Archives Month, as declared by Gov. Mike Rounds, is a collaborative effort by professional organizations and repositories around the state and nation to highlight the importance of records of enduring value. The final Archives Month program at the Cultural Heritage Center will be State Historical Society Manuscript Archivist Matthew T. Reitzel discussing “Collection Care for Paper, Photos, Books and Digital Images” at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26. The State Archives, a program of the State Historical Society, is open Monday through Friday and the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Contact the archives by phone at (605) 773-3804 or e-mail at archref@state.sd.us |
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