FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  March 7, 2008
CONTACT:  Chelle Somsen, (605) 773-5521, Chelle.Somsen@state.sd.us

State Historical Society highlights Women’s History Month with Dibble photo collection

PIERRE, S.D. – In recognition of Women’s History Month, the South Dakota State Historical Society is featuring a collection of photos taken by Day County homesteader Eliza Dibble.  

The theme for this year’s Women’s History Month is Women’s Art: Women’s Vision.

“This year’s theme provides a special opportunity to discover and celebrate women’s visual arts in a variety of forms and mediums,” said Chelle Somsen, state archivist for the Historical Society, located in the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center. “This photo collection is just one example that we have.”

The Eliza Dibble Collection contains more than 300 images depicting early farm and family life in Day County in northeast South Dakota during the first quarter of the 20^th Century.

Eliza (Peck) Dibble was born on Feb. 14, 1860, in Bremer County, Iowa. She married Herbert Dibble on July 4, 1878. In 1885, Eliza, Herbert and their three children came by train to Webster, S.D., and settled on a farm in Raritan Township, Day County. 

Some of Eliza’s images of her family are on display at the entrance to the State Archives in the Cultural Heritage Center. Researchers can visit the State Archives to see all of Eliza’s collection.

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