FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2011

CONTACT: Jeff Mammenga, Media Coordinator, (605) 773-6000, Jeff.Mammenga@state.sd.us

State Historical Society Remembers Keith Paisley

PIERRE, S.D. – Former state legislator Keith Paisley of Sioux Falls passed away on May 31, but thanks to his donations to the South Dakota State Historical Society at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre, memories of his public life live on.

In 2007, Paisley donated nine scrapbooks of news clippings, photos and reminiscence of his time in the South Dakota Legislature to the State Historical Society-Archives. Each scrapbook represents two to three years of his legislative service. 

Paisley, 82 at the time of his death, served for 20 years in the South Dakota legislature as a Republican from Minnehaha County. He served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 1981-1985 and in the South Dakota State Senate from 1985-2000.

“The scrapbooks offer insight into the legislative process in general and offer a behind-the-scenes look into several diverse legislative topics,” said Chelle Somsen, State Archivist. 

Some of the topics covered in Paisley’s scrapbooks include: Railroad acquisitions, Farm March on Pierre/Legislators to D.C., Low-level Nuclear Waste, Sales Tax Reform, Video Lottery, Indian Reconciliation, DM&E Railroad and Term Limits.

“Donations like Mr. Paisley’s are a tremendous resource,” Somsen said. “These scrapbooks offer a glimpse into the legislative process from a 20-year period of South Dakota’s history. Mr. Paisley was directly involved or associated with a number of historical events in the state. His donation and its historic value to South Dakota are recognized and greatly appreciated.”

Donations to the State Historical Society are always welcome and appreciated. Contact Dan Brosz for museum objects at (605) 773-6013 or Matthew Reitzel for archival materials at (605) 773-3615, or visit www.history.sd.gov.

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The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Tourism. The Department of Tourism is comprised of Tourism, the South Dakota Arts Council, and the State Historical Society. The Department is led by Secretary James D. Hagen. The State Historical Society is headquartered at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing and administrative/development offices. Call (605) 773-3458 or visit www.history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.