FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  March 19. 2008
CONTACT: Adrienne Kerst or Renee Boen, SDSHS Archaeological Research Center, (605) 394-1936; Adrienne.Kerst@state.sd.us or Renee.Boen@state.sd.us

Rapid City hosting South Dakota State Historical Society 2008 Annual History Conference

PIERRE, S.D. -- The 2008 South Dakota State Historical Society Annual History Conference will be held May 2-3 in Rapid City at the Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center.

The Society’s Archaeological Research Center (ARC) in Rapid has planned and is hosting the conference. This year’s theme is “Empires on the Plains: The Fur Trade.”

“The 19^th century fur trade on the Great Plains is significant in the history of the Plains and the nation because it exemplifies not only the beginnings of westward expansion, but more importantly, the American experience with exploration, adventure and discovery,” said Jim Haug, ARC director.

The keynote address will be given by Dr. Brad Tennant, an assistant professor of history at Presentation College in Aberdeen. He has published numerous journal articles on Great Plains history, many specifically focused on the fur trade and the Lewis and Clark expedition. In 2007, Dr. Tennant was appointed by Gov. Mike Rounds to the South Dakota State Historical Society Board of Trustees.

Other conference topics and speakers include: 

n      Weapons From the Traders-James Hanson;

n      Country Wives and Concubines: The Chouteaus and the Indian Marriages that Built a Fur Dynasty-Shirley Christian;

n      Fort Pierre Chouteau Archaeological District-Mike Fosha;

n      The Chippewa of North Dakota: An Examination of American Indian Cultural Evolution During the 18^th and 19^th Centuries-Kade Ferris;

n      Plains Indian Metalworking-James Hanson;

n      Prince Maximillian Views the Fur Trade-Steve Witte;

n      Will the Real Jedediah Smith Please Stand Up?: The Eulogy, Myths and Realities-Barton Barbour;

n      The Fur Trade on the Northern Great Plains as a Spacial System-David Wishart;

n      Fort Union and the Upper Missouri Outfit-Richard Stenberg;

n      and The Black Hills Fur Trade-James Hanson.

New to the conference this year is a student registration at reduced rates, as well as a living history demonstration of fur trade era technologies scheduled to take place Friday evening in downtown Rapid City. This event is free and open to the public.

Demonstrations include:  Trade Beads and Beading, by Michael Lekburg; The Care and Feeding of the Flintlock Rifle, by John Halvorson; Traps and Trapping, by Mike Runge; Fire Starting, by Mark Kirchgesler; Flintknapping and Plains Bows and Arrows, by Mike Stocklin; Brain Tanning, by Gary Chappell; Flintlock Rifles of the Fur Trade, by Robert Strand; and Period Turkey Calls by Randy Gaskins.

The Historical Society’s Governor’s Awards for History luncheon will take place on Saturday, May 3. Also at that event, the winners of the society’s annual election for the board of trustees will be announced.

One teacher certificate renewal credit through the state Department of Education is being offered.

This year’s conference coincides, appropriately, with the beginning of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month in May, a nationwide event which draws attention to the value of preserving and celebrating our heritage.

Online registration is available. For further information, visit the SDSHS website at www.sdhistory.org and click on “History Conference, 2008,” or call the Archaeological Research Center at (605) 394-1936.

If you wish to support the conference with a donation please contact Adrienne Kerst at (605) 394-1936 regarding levels of contribution.