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       West River History Conference                August, 2015
Rapid City, South Dakota
Let the Games Begin:
Sports and Recreation
in South Dakota


Thurday Evening Keynote
 Speaker Announced
Robert Hanna is the interpretive coordinator at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan in Washburn, North Dakota, and has been active in museums and heritage interpretation since 2003. Robert's topic,  Mandan Sports & Games, exemplifies his passion for promoting a sense of place on the Upper Great Plains.
The speaker at the Friday Awards luncheon is Humanities Scholar Jean Patrick, of Aberdeen. The Girl who Struck out Babe Ruth, is the true story of how 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell struck out not only Babe Ruth, but Lou Gehrig, for good measure.  The chautaqua-style presentation will also include the wider context of the history of women in baseball, especially those in South Dakota and Iowa who played ball during the 1940s and 1950s.

Saturday's Westerners Breakfast speaker will be Dave Kemp of Sioux Falls.  Dave has a deep and varied background in sports, Irish, Black and music history.   As an archivist, exhibit coordinator, publisher and author Dave has participated in a number of South Dakota projects, including the current Deadwood Baseball Exhibit which will be on display at the conference.
Board Member Spotlight
Wayne Gilbert works for the Spearfish, South Dakota law firm of Brady Pluimer doing legal research and writing, and a good deal of his spare time is devoted to research in regional history. He is well-known in the Black Hills for his active participation in local theatrical productions. Between these two hobbies, he is usually preparing a historical paper or rehearsing a play, and often both. Now a resident of Belle Fourche, Wayne is a South Dakota Humanities Scholar and a member of the Board of Directors of the Black Hills Raptor Center. When he can, he tries to work in some hiking and backpacking in the Black Hills.
Conference Registration

Registrations received before September 28 will save $5 per person over onsite registrations.  All meals orders must be made in advance.

This conference is made possible by:
 
SD Humanities
An affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities
Deadwood Historic
Preservation
Westerners
Black Hills Corral
Big Thunder Gold Mine, Keystone, SD
Barker Wilson Law Firm of Belle Fourche and Rapid City
Center for Western Studies, Augustana College, Sioux Falls
Cheyenne Crossing, Lead, SD
Chicken Creek Communication, Spearfish, SD
Keystone Historical Society
Minnilusa Historical Society, Rapid City, SD
Tri-State Museum, Belle Fourche, SD
Call for Papers

Let the Games Begin:  Sports and Recreation
in South Dakota
October 1-3, 2015


The 23rd annual West River History Conference will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Rapid City, SD.  Make plans today to attend and learn more about your heritage.
 
Conference Lineup
 
Thursday Evening: MANDAN SPORTS & GAMES - Robert Hanna 
 
Friday Luncheon: THE GIRL WHO STRUCK OUT BABE RUTH 
- Jean Patrick 
 
Saturday Westerners Breakfast:
SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTS - Dave Kemp
West River History
Conference Board

Shebby Lee, President
Wayne Gilbert, VP/Sponshorships
Bobbi Sago, Sec/Publications
Diana Hayes, Treasurer
Marguerite Kleven, Exhibits
Carolyn Weber, Corresponding Secretary
Carol Saunders,Student Liaison

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Quote of the Month
History is not static,
but living and breathing,
and open to interpretation.

Edwin S. Grosvenor
former Editor-in Chief
American Heritage Magazine

 

 

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Vendors
Exhibitors and Booksellers Welcome

It's not too late for exhibitors and booksellers to reserve a table for Friday, Oct. 2.  If you have a new book to sell, or especially an historical exhibit pertaining to this year's theme, please let us know! There is no charge for a table (or half table) - but are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. All participants must register for the conference.  Request a table.