Conference Crier small
       West River History Conference                                   May, 2016
Rapid City, South Dakota
Commemorating 100 Years 

 
The 24th Annual West River History Conference 
will be held October 13-15, 2016   
at the BW Ramkota Hotel in Rapid City, SD
Keynote Speakers Announced
Thursday night's opening session speaker is South Dakota's own Paul Horsted, nationally-recognized independent photographer and publisher.  With a career spanning 30 years, Paul started doing re-photography 15 years ago and has worked extensively at historic photo sites across the Dakotas, in Yellowstone, and more recently in 25 other National Parks.  His latest, ongoing project will appear in a forthcoming book "Our National Parks Yesterday & Today" set for publication in 2017.
Mark Glenn Studio
The speaker at the Friday Awards luncheon will be Joe Wiegand, the nation's premiere reprisor of Theodore Roosevelt.  Joe's live performances have been featured at hundreds of historic places associated with TR's life and legacy, and he has appeared as the 26th president in film, stage and television.  His performance is sponsored in part by the
The Saturday morning Westerners
NPS

breakfast speaker will be a National Park Service interpretive ranger from Mount Rushmore National Memorial, which itself is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year.  (Details not yet available at press time.)
Shebby Lee Named Winner
of Individual Governor's Award for History
 
On April 30 the South Dakota Governor's Awards for History were presented at the state Historical Society's annual Awards Luncheon in the state capitol, Pierre, SD.  According to the press release, the award is presented to the individual who demonstrates outstanding dedication and commitment to excellence in the sharing, collection, preservation and interpretation of South Dakota history.  Pictured left to right:  Shebby Lee, Dr. Melody Schopp, Secretary, Department of Education, Jay D. Vogt, Director, South Dakota State Historical Society. Read Shebby's acceptance speech.
This conference is made possible by:
 
SD Humanities
An affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities
Westerners
Black Hills Corral
  
If you would like to become a sponsor
of the conference please contact us for details.
Call for Papers
Commemorating 100 Years
 of the National Park Service

October 13-15, 2016 

Paper topics are not limited to the conference theme.  Topics must be submitted with a title, brief description, and biographical sketch of the presenter by September 23rd in order to be included in the program.

Please note: Your completed paper is NOT due until the conference in October.  Only the abstract and above information is due by September 23.
 
The West River History Conference is open to all individuals and the public.  Paper titles are welcome from amateur and professional historians alike, and especially sought from students from middle school through graduate school.
West River History
Conference Board

Shebby Lee, President
Wayne Gilbert, VP,Sponsorships
Bobbi Sago, Sec/Publications
Diana Hayes, Treasurer
Marguerite Kleven, Exhibits
Carolyn Weber, Corresponding Secretary

Like us on Facebook 

 

EMAIL US 

 

Quote of the Month

History is not about dates and quotes and obscure provisos.  History is about life.

David McCullough

 

Do you know someone who might enjoy our conference?  Please share this newsletter.

Black Hills Corral, Westerners
Westerners, International members share a love for the history of the West.  Members include local history buffs and readers, viewers of Westerns and professional historians.  Our own Black Hills Corral meets the second Sunday of the month, March through November, at noon (meeting starts at 1:00 pm) at the Sturgis Pizza Ranch.  Anyone who loves the lore and history of the frontier West is welcome!