FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 16, 2012

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

Latest issue of South Dakota History features Indian New Deal, “What-if” History, Homestead Journey

PIERRE, S.D.—Summer reading lists are a popular item at this time of year, and the latest issue of South Dakota History from the South Dakota State Historical Society is a “must read” for anyone interested in the state’s past. The Summer 2012 issue features a mix of topics for a broad range of interests.

Teresa M. Houser’s (HOW-zer’s) article, “A Pivotal Decision: The Yankton Sioux and the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934,” provides a look at the consequences of this legislation for Yankton efforts to transition to self-government. The Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) was the centerpiece of the “Indian New Deal,” a collection of federal programs designed to improve economic conditions on reservations throughout the country. On the Yankton reservation, however, debate over the IRA deepened differences among political factions, ultimately leaving the Yanktons ineligible for many Indian New Deal benefits.

Politics also forms the core of John E. Miller’s “Historical Musings” essay. In his “Defining Moments in Twentieth-century South Dakota Political History,” Miller identifies 11 key points at which the actions of state politicians created “large and continuing impacts” for the future. Miller goes on to pose a number of fascinating “What if?” scenarios, speculating as to how the state’s history might have taken another course.

No summer is complete without a road trip, and William F. Ihne (EYE-nee) takes readers along on his 1996 trek across the country to Hayes, S.D., to find the homestead where his grandfather lived as a teenager in 1908 and 1909. In the process, Ihne connects with the Great Plains landscape and the descendants of other homesteaders, gaining insight into one of the formative experiences of his grandfather’s life. Poignant and filled with colorful characters, “Journey to the Homestead: A Grandson’s Quest to Uncover the Past” is a perfect summer read.

A subscription to South Dakota History is a benefit of membership in the South Dakota State Historical Society. For information on membership, call (605) 773-6000. To purchase individual issues, call (605) 773-6009.

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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.