Identifier

MA 42

Dates

1932-2016

Extent

16.21 linear feet (16 record boxes, 1 oversize box

Abstract

The Elizabeth Cook-Lynn Papers document the life, career, and scholarship of Dakota author, editor, and educator Elizabeth Cook-Lynn (1930–2023), an enrolled member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. Born in Fort Thompson, South Dakota, on the Crow Creek Indian Reservation, Cook-Lynn earned a B.A. in English and Journalism from South Dakota State College in 1952 and later completed an M.Ed. in Psychology and Counseling at the University of South Dakota. After beginning her career as a secondary school teacher, she joined the faculty of Eastern Washington University, where she taught English and Native American Studies from 1971 to 1990. During her academic career she helped establish Native American Studies as a field of scholarship and co-founded Wicazo Sa Review: A Journal of Native American Studies. Following her retirement, Cook-Lynn continued her work as a writer, publishing fiction, poetry, and essays addressing Native identity, tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous intellectual traditions.

The collection includes biographical materials, extensive correspondence, and a broad range of Cook-Lynn’s literary and scholarly work, including articles, essays, editorials, poetry, novels, novellas, book reviews, and unpublished manuscripts. Teaching files, course materials, and academic papers document her work in higher education and her role in developing Native American Studies programs. A substantial portion of the collection relates to Wicazo Sa Review, including editorial correspondence, manuscript submissions, drafts, grant applications, and administrative records documenting the development of the journal. Additional materials include research files, conference and lecture documentation, and publications addressing legal, cultural, and educational issues affecting Native American communities. Together, the papers document Cook-Lynn’s contributions to Native American literature, scholarship, and advocacy and provide a resource for the study of Indigenous intellectual and cultural history in the United States.

SDSU Archives and Special Collections

This document is a descriptive inventory of the collection in the SDSU Archives and Special Collections. It contains:

  • An overview of the collection, including information about the person or organization and a brief description of the materials and subjects found within.
  • A detailed inventory listing, organized by boxes and folders.
  • Information on how to access the materials, including any restrictions or special conditions.

In most cases, the materials in the collections have not been digitized and are not available online. If you would like to know more about the contents of the collection, please contact the SDSU Archives at:

Language

English

Publisher

South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Brookings, South Dakota.

Rights

In Copyright: This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copy-right Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, publicity, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permis-sions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use.

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