FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Jan. 18, 2008
CONTACT:  Chelle Somsen, (605) 773-5521, Chelle.Somsen@state.sd.us

Research grant recipient visits State Historical Society-Archives

PIERRE, S.D. – Annette Bramstedt of Harrisburg, a history major at the University of South Dakota, was recently awarded the 2007-08 South Dakota Archives Research Grant by the South Dakota State Historical Society and the South Dakota Heritage Fund.

The Research Grant Program is designed to provide research funding for one senior history major currently enrolled in a South Dakota university. 

“The goal of this project is to provide funding for a college senior to research and utilize South Dakota State Historical Society resources at the State Archives in Pierre,” noted Chelle Somsen, State Archivist.  

The family of Scotty Philip established the Scotty Philip Memorial Endowment in the South Dakota Heritage Fund as a memorial to South Dakota’s pioneer ranchers, cattlemen, and immigrant settlers. The earnings from the endowment are to be used to fund education-related projects in the field of history. The total grant amount awarded is $750.

As part of the grant criteria, Bramstedt had to travel to the Cultural Heritage Center and write an eight-page paper on a particular archives collection. She chose the Mrs. E.M. (Sturtevant) Bishop Collection.

The goal of the research grant program is to have the student explain: what is in the collection, what information the resource will provide fellow researchers, why it is important as a primary source, some historic background concerning the contents of the collection, and the collection’s significance to South Dakota history. 

“The Research Grant Program will provide greater insight into specific collections held by the State Archives and introduce senior history majors to visiting an archival institution, which will assist them with future research opportunities,” Somsen said. 

To learn more about the grant, visit the State Historical Society’s website at www.sdhistory.org or visit the State Archives Research Grant Program website at http://www.sdhistory.org/arc/grant/resgrantindex.htm

The South Dakota Archives is located in the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre.  The State Archives is open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and the first Saturday of each month.  Contact the archives by phone at (605) 773-3804 or e-mail archref@state.sd.us