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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 8, 2008
CONTACT: Chelle Somsen, (605) 773-5521, Chelle.Somsen@state.sd.us
State Historical Society Web site highlights 1908 presidential election
PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota State Historical Society-Archives Web site highlights the 1908 presidential election as part of October being declared “Archives Month” in South Dakota by Gov. Mike Rounds.
The 1908 Presidential Election featured Republican William Howard Taft against Democrat William Jennings Bryan. Both Taft and Bryan were in South Dakota in late September and early October of 1908.
“It’s amazing to think that two presidential candidates were traveling by train through South Dakota with a little over a month to go before the election, “ said Matthew T. Reitzel, manuscript archivist with the South Dakota State Archives.
The Web site features images of Taft and Bryan in South Dakota, newspaper articles and cartoons about the election, 1908 election results, and information on Taft and Bryan.
Visit the State Historical Society Web site at www.sdhistory.org and click on the link under the “In The Spotlight” column titled, “1908 Presidential Election.”
Archives Month is a collaborative effort by professional organizations and repositories around the nation to highlight the importance of records of enduring value.
The State Archives is a program of the South Dakota State Historical Society located in the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The State Archives is open Monday through Friday and the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Contact the archives by phone at (605) 773-3804 or e-mail at archref@state.sd.us
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The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Tourism and State Development and strives to help the state meet the goals of the 2010 Initiative by enhancing history as a tool for economic development and cultural tourism. The 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.sdhistory.org for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call (605) 394-1936 for more information.