Her Vote. Her Voice. is working to ensure historical collections are accessible to all
PIERRE, S.D. – In conjunction with Women’s History Month, the Her Vote. Her Voice. (HVHV) campaign is requesting support to digitize important historical documents in the State Archives of the South Dakota State Historical Society in Pierre.
The following collections identified for preservation will be readily available to the public via the internet for use in research, publishing projects, student history assignments, genealogy, and personal use once they’re fully funded and archiving is complete. Digitizing costs for all of the collections include an estimate of $7,500 to $23,000 to prep the collection, digitize, catalog, provide quality control, and upload to the South Dakota Digital Archives.
- Jane Rooker Breeden papers – In 1892, Jane Rooker Breeden homesteaded with her husband, James Knox Breeden, in Stanley County, Dakota Territory. She would become active in the temperance movement and with many local women’s and literary clubs. Breeden played a vital role in the development of Pierre’s Carnegie Library. This collection includes correspondence, notes, manuscripts, and other papers relating to women’s suffrage and temperance movements.
- Lt. Gov. Carole Hillard records – This collection consists of correspondence, letters, photographs, and speeches of Lt. Gov. Carole Hillard from 1986-2006. This collection includes correspondence, notes, graduation diplomas, magazines featuring articles of Carole, bound materials, and oversize items such as posters, framed photographs, and photograph albums.
- General Federation of Women’s Clubs of South Dakota records – This collection consists of records of the GFWC of South Dakota, 1899-1958, including the Pioneer Daughters Collection. The Pioneer Daughters Collection results from a statewide GFWC effort to collect and preserve the stories of female pioneers in South Dakota. Arranged by county, this collection includes obituaries, written histories of varying lengths, and some photographs. Many of the letters are typed, but some are handwritten.
- Commission on the Status of Women records – This series contains state and national discussions of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), among other administrative files pertaining to the Committee on Women’s Status in the Department of Social Services from 1976 to 1980. The collection includes correspondence, notes, memos, slides, photographs and negatives, news releases, monthly expenditures, budget files, legislation, reports, brochures, newspaper clippings, and topical files.
The South Dakota Historical Society Foundation, in partnership with HVHV, is aiming to preserve women’s history through digitizing papers, artifacts, and historical collections that focus on women’s contributions to the state. But they need additional funding to ensure that the collections are not lost and are more accessible to the public.
Pat Miller, chair of the HVHV delegation, noted the public can help preserve these documents and thousands like them for future generations.
“With the public’s help to fund the collections, they will be available to you no matter where you live for years to come,” said Miller. “All sizes of donations are extremely helpful.”
For more information go to www.hervotehervoice.org/donate
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Ask any successful man how they got where they are and a “Power Woman’s” name will appear. A Mom, Wife, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Co-Worker or trusted confidant.
My Dad used to laugh at my Grandmother when she sent $4 in to an organization saying it won’t matter but her response was genius; “Yes LeRoy $4 may not be much but if a few thousand of us send in $4 it makes a big difference!”
Rosa had it figured out long before we did I guess.
This is a great organization to send in a couple dollars to!
Today’s my birthday, so I’d be nothing without my mom. (Dad had a small role, too, I’m told.)