Identifier

MA 3

Dates

1911-1993

Extent

1.26 linear feet (3 document cases) mounted steer horns

Abstract

Harold Shunk worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs as superintendent of the several Indian agencies in South Dakota. He was also active in many civic and fraternal organizations and served on the governing boards of several schools and universities. Shunk had a special interest in history, and in addition to his service to the South Dakota State Historical Society, he hosted radio and television programs in Rapid City. Composed of collected stories, publications, speeches and typewritten transcripts of Wahehe Heirship hearing.

Historical Note

Harold W. Shunk was born in Philip, South Dakota on July 25, 1907. He married DeLilah E. Wood, a former classmate at Colome High School, in 1929. After graduating from Southern State College, Shunk taught school in Tripp County and later on the Rosebud and Cheyenne River Indian reservations. During World War II, he served as a tank driver in the South Pacific. He worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs as superintendent of the Sisseton, Turtle Mountain, Standing Rock and Rosebud Indian agencies beginning in the 1950s.

Upon retiring in 1968, Shunk devoted himself to public service. He was active in many civic and fraternal organizations and served on the governing boards of the Rapid City schools, South Dakota State University, University of South Dakota, and Black Hills State University. He was also a member of the South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles, Lower Brule Irrigation Board, and Pennington County Housing Board.

Shunk had a special interest in history, and in addition to his service to the South Dakota State Historical Society, he hosted radio and television programs in Rapid City.

Harold Shunk died on April 18, 1998 in Rapid City.

Content Notes

Composed of collected stories, publications, speeches and typewritten transcripts of Wahehe Heirship hearing. Collection also includes notebooks and manuscripts containing lists, definitions and transcriptions of many events related to Lakota history. Many stories told to Shunk when he was a United States Bureau of Indian Affairs agent are also rewritten in Shunk's own hand.

The papers in the Wahehe Heirship Hearing [photostat copy] series is restricted due to their fragile condition and poor quality. Preservation photocopies have been made of these papers and are available for researcher use. Please see Box 3 Wahehe Heirship Hearing [preservation photocopy].

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Language

English

Publisher

South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

Rights

Copyright restrictions apply in different ways to different materials. Many of the documents and other historical materials in the Archives are in the public domain and may be reproduced and used in any way. There are other materials in the Archive carrying a copyright interest and must be used according to the provisions of Title 17 of the U.S. Code. The Archive issues a warning concerning copyright restrictions to every researcher who requests copies of documents. Although the copyright law is under constant redefinition in the courts, it is ultimately the responsibility of the researcher to properly use copyrighted material.

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