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Bert Popowski Papers

Finding Aid

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Collection Summary

Identifier

MA 5

Title

Bert Popowski papers

Creator

Popowski, Bert, 1904-1982

Dates

1935-1978

Extent

6.65 linear feet (10 boxes) photographs, sound recording

Language

English

Repository

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

Access note

This collection is open to researchers without restrictions. The materials in the Archives do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Preferred Citation

Name of item . Bert Popowski papers. MA 5. South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

Abstract

Bert Popowski is noted as an outdoor writer. He wrote books concerning various aspects of outdoor sports such as hunting and fishing. His writings emphasized the important of habitat management. This collection is composed of articles, manuscripts, and materials related to Popowski's career as author and hunter.

Biographical Note

Bert John Popowski was born in Grafton, North Dakota on February 15, 1904. He lived in Grafton throughout his elementary and high school years. He attended South Dakota State College in Brookings, South Dakota and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in printing in 1926. He married Harriet Seymour of Aberdeen, SD in 1930. They had two sons, John Seymour and Jerome Bert.

Throughout his career, Bert lived in various areas of the United States and held several different jobs, ranging from a high school principal to associate editor for Look Magazine. From 1951 to his death in 1982, he worked as a freelance writer, author, and contributing editor for several publications.

During a career that spanned half a century, Bert wrote over 2,300 articles. His first feature story appeared in Outdoor Life in 1931. He served as contributing editor for The American Rifleman writing a column titled "Dope Bag." He also wrote columns for several other magazines, including "Hunting" for The Outdoorsman, "Guns and Ammunition" for Hunting & Fishing, and "The Shot Tower" for Guns and Hunting. He wrote several major books and gained national prominence with his classic Hunting Pronghorn Antelope. Some of his works were translated into Spanish and Japanese. He was also an award-winning photographer, and his photographs illustrated many of his articles and books.

In his earlier years, he was best known as an expert varmint hunter. Several of his books did much to popularize this form of hunting. In 1932, he built a log cabin near the Narrows on French Creek in Custer State Park. There he weathered the Great Depression and did most of his writing. In 1949 he won the National Crow Shooting Championship, using calls of his own design to take first place over 51 other contestants. Bert was always interested in natural history and wildlife management as well as hunting.

In 1979, he donated a collection of his books, original manuscripts, and photographs to his alma mater, South Dakota State University. At the convention of the Outdoor Writers Association of America in Rapid City, the State of South Dakota presented him with a special award as the Dean of South Dakota Outdoor Writers. In the 1980's, Bert contracted cancer and eventually suffered a stroke, which hospitalized him. He died on February 14, 1982

Arrangement

The Bert Popowski Papers are arranged into eight series:

Series 1. General

Series 2. Illustrations

Series 3. Japanese Magazine: Modern Hunting

Series 4. Manuscripts

Series 5: Phonograph Record

Series 6. Photographs

Series 7. Published Articles

Series 8. Research Material

Folders are arranged alphabetically within each series.

Contents Note

This collection is composed of articles, manuscripts, and materials related to Popowski's career as author and hunter. Included are photographs, illustrations, and many articles. Bulk of collection is copies of articles authored by Popowski on the subject of hunting and wildlife.

The general materials are composed of correspondence from 1942-1956.

The illustrations consist of several loose-leaf illustrations of crows drawn by Gordon Elliott for Popowski's book titled Crow Shooting and include 29 ink drawings. Also included are two folders of photograph proofs (37 pages) for Popowski's book titled Hunting Pronghorn Antelope, 1 mat board drawing of a fireplace in what is suspected to be Popowski's cabin and drawn by C. Greenidge and one phonograph record titled Crow Calling.

The Japanese magazine Modern Hunting is composed of article submitted by Popowski.

The manuscripts are accompanied by correspondence sent to publishers and an information card, which notes to which publications Popowski sent his manuscripts, whether or not they were published and the amount he was paid for these manuscripts.

The phonograph records is composed of a recording of Popowski demonstrating crow calls. The photographs consist of several black and white photographs, mostly of wildlife and hunting, and a few negatives. Some items of note are 22 matted and signed black and white photographs that Popowski entered into a photography contest at the Iowa State Fair. He won first prize for these photographs.

The research material is the largest series is Popowski's collection of articles he had published in various hunting and wildlife publications. These articles cover a wide range of subjects from big game, crow and varmint hunting to safety and conservation issues. Included also is an autographed copy of The Outdoorsman (June 1947) in which Popowski wrote an article titled "Off-Season" Duck Hunting.

Bibliography

Calling All Game
Harrisburg, Pa., Stackpole Co., 1952.
Call number: SD Collection: SK33.P6ca

Calling All Varmints
Harrisburg, Pa., Stackpole Co., 1952.
Call number: SD Collection: SK33.P6c

Crow Shooting
New York: A.S. Barnes and Company, 1946.
Call number: SD Collection: SK325.C7 P6

Hunting Pronghorn Antelope
Harrisburg, Pa., Stackpole Co., 1959.
Call number: SD Collection: SK305.A6 P6h

Hunting Small Game
New York: Macmillian Co., 1948.
Call number: SD Collection: SK36.P63

Manual dil Cazador de Alimanas y Grajos (The varmint and crow hunter's bible. Spanish)
Barcelona: Editorial Sintes, 1964, c 1962.
Call number: SD Collection: SK33.P58718

Olt's Hunting Handbook
Omaha? c1948.
Call number: SD Collection: SK313.P6

South Dakota Brags
Custer, S.D.: The Author, 1953.
Call number: SD Collection: F651.5.P6

The Hunter's Book of the Pronghorn Antelope
Tulsa, Okla., Winchester Press, c1982.
Call number: SD Collection: SK305.P76 P66 1982

The Redbook of Big Game Hunting
Skokie, Ill., Publishers Development Corp., 1961
Call number: SD Collection: SK33.P588

The Varmint and Crow Hunter's Bible
Garden City, N. Y., Doubleday, 1962.
Call number: SD Collection: SK33.P587

Varmint Hunting
Paterson, N. J., Athletic Activities Pub. Co., 1971.
Call number: SD Collection: SK336.P66

Key Words

Big game hunting

Elliott, Gordon

Fowling

Hunting

Popowski, Bert, 1904-1982 -- Archives

Container List

View container list on Open Prairie

Series Box Folder Description Date(s)
1. General 1 2 Correspondence 1952
1. General 1 1 Correspondence 1942-1951
1. General 1 3 Correspondence 1953-1956
1. General 1 4 Miscellaneous undated
2. Illustrations 8 Drawings 1 matted drawing of a fireplace drawn by C. Greenidge undated
2. Illustrations 8 Drawings 29 ink drawings undated
2. Illustrations 8 Proofs Crow shooting illustrations (33 p.) undated
3. Japanese Magazine: Modern Hunting 7 2 [No Articles Found] 1968
3. Japanese Magazine: Modern Hunting 7 8 Aim of Elk Hunting; p. 38-43 1970
3. Japanese Magazine: Modern Hunting 7 4 Crow Shooting (Last - Decoy); p. 56-64 1969
3. Japanese Magazine: Modern Hunting 7 3 Crow Shooting; p. 30-38 1969
3. Japanese Magazine: Modern Hunting 7 5 Decoying Ducks; p. 54-61 1969
3. Japanese Magazine: Modern Hunting 7 9 Decoying The Divers; p. 17-24 1970
3. Japanese Magazine: Modern Hunting 7 6 Detail Survey of Deer Hunting By Calling (Part 1); p. 30-35 and Calling for Ducks; p. 98-101 1969
3. Japanese Magazine: Modern Hunting 7 7 Detail Survey of Deer Hunting By Calling (Part 2); p. 30-37 1969
3. Japanese Magazine: Modern Hunting 7 1 Translation of article titles 1968-1970
4. Manuscripts 2 1 Alaska 1967, 1973-1974
4. Manuscripts 2 2 Big Game 1957-1970
4. Manuscripts 2 7 Big Game : Elk undated
4. Manuscripts 2 3 Big Game: Antelope 1957-1975
4. Manuscripts 2 4 Big Game: Bear 1955-1957
4. Manuscripts 2 5 Big Game: Bison 1957-1958, 1969
4. Manuscripts 2 6 Big Game: Deer 1955-1976
4. Manuscripts 2 8 Big Game: Moose undated
4. Manuscripts 2 9 Big Game: Sheep 1975-1976
4. Manuscripts 2 10 Big Game: Turkey 1958-1977
4. Manuscripts 2 11 Binoculars and Scopes 1973, undated
4. Manuscripts 2 13 Book: Call of the Wild undated
4. Manuscripts 2 12 Book: Calling All Crows undated
4. Manuscripts 2 14 Book: Hunting Pronghorn Antelope 1959
4. Manuscripts 3 1 Camping 1959, undated
4. Manuscripts 3 2 Conservation 1960-1976
4. Manuscripts 3 3 Cookery 1973-1978
4. Manuscripts 3 4 Dogs 1974-1975
4. Manuscripts 3 5 Firearms 1955-1978
4. Manuscripts 3 6 Fishing 1947-1957
4. Manuscripts 3 7 Game Birds 1953, 1966-1975
4. Manuscripts 3 8 Game Birds: Grouse 1958, 1974-1975
4. Manuscripts 3 9 Game Birds: Pheasant 1964-1974
4. Manuscripts 3 10 Game Birds: Prairie Chicken 1965-1968
4. Manuscripts 3 11 Game Birds: Quail undated
4. Manuscripts 3 12 Game Preparation 1964-1970
4. Manuscripts 3 13 Hunters 1973-1975
4. Manuscripts 3 14 Hunting undated
4. Manuscripts 3 15 Hunting and Game Laws 1968-1973
4. Manuscripts 3 16 Hunting Gear 1964-1970
4. Manuscripts 4 1 Hunting Techniques 1956-1975
4. Manuscripts 4 2 Miscellaneous 1966, 1972-1973
4. Manuscripts 4 3 Safety 1973-1976
4. Manuscripts 4 4 Small Game 1975-1978
4. Manuscripts 4 7 Small Game: Bobcat 1955-1957
4. Manuscripts 4 8 Small Game: Coyote 1946-1970
4. Manuscripts 4 5 Small Game: Crow 1952-1977
4. Manuscripts 4 6 Small Game: Dove 1973-1974
4. Manuscripts 4 9 Small Game: Fox undated
4. Manuscripts 4 10 Small Game: Magpie 1952
4. Manuscripts 4 11 Small Game: Mink 1956
4. Manuscripts 4 12 Small Game: Porcupine undated
4. Manuscripts 4 13 Small Game: Prairie Dog 1958
4. Manuscripts 4 14 Small Game: Rabbit 1956-1973
4. Manuscripts 4 15 Small Game: Rat 1952
4. Manuscripts 4 16 Small Game: Squirrel 1967-1975
4. Manuscripts 4 17 Small Game: Woodchuck 1977
4. Manuscripts 9 1 South Dakota Brags 1953
4. Manuscripts 4 18 Waterfowl: Duck 1947-1973
4. Manuscripts 5 1 Waterfowl: Goose 1955-1957
4. Manuscripts 5 2 Weather 1970
4. Manuscripts 5 3 Wildlife 1954-1973
5. Phonograph record 8 Phonograph Record Photograph record titled Crow Calling (78 rpm) undated
6. Photographs 10 1 Award-winning photographs 1939
6. Photographs 7 10 Hunting and fishing undated
6. Photographs 7 11 Hunting techniques undated
6. Photographs 7 12 Miscellaneous 1937-1938, undated
6. Photographs 9 2 Miscellaneous undated
6. Photographs 7 13 Portraits 1949, undated
6. Photographs 7 14 Proofs-Hunting Pronghorn Antelope: Final set undated
6. Photographs 7 15 Proofs-Hunting Pronghorn Antelope: Rough draft undated
6. Photographs 7 16 Tomahawks undated
6. Photographs 7 17 Wildlife undated
7. Published Articles 5 4 Ammunition 1938-1964
7. Published Articles 5 5 Big Game 1948-1962
7. Published Articles 5 6 Big Game: Antelope 1948-1962
7. Published Articles 5 7 Big Game: Bear 1951-1962
7. Published Articles 5 8 Big Game: Bison 1959
7. Published Articles 5 9 Big Game: Deer 1941-1963
7. Published Articles 5 10 Big Game: Elk 1952-1962
7. Published Articles 5 11 Big Game: Moose 1962
7. Published Articles 5 12 Big Game: Mountain Goat 1950
7. Published Articles 5 13 Big Game: Mountain Lion 1958
7. Published Articles 5 14 Big Game: Turkey 1960
7. Published Articles 5 15 Cabins 1935-1941
7. Published Articles 5 16 Conservation 1948
7. Published Articles 5 17 Cookery undated
7. Published Articles 5 18 Dogs 1952-1959
7. Published Articles 5 19 Firearms 1939-1963
7. Published Articles 5 20 Fishing 1938-1962
7. Published Articles 5 21 Game Birds 1939
7. Published Articles 5 22 Game Birds: Grouse 1958-1961
7. Published Articles 5 23 Game Birds: partridge 1960
7. Published Articles 5 24 Game Birds: Pheasant 1937-1963
7. Published Articles 5 25 Game Preparation 1960
7. Published Articles 5 26 Hunters 1945-1958
7. Published Articles 6 1 Hunting 1947-1962
7. Published Articles 6 2 Hunting Gear 1951
7. Published Articles 6 3 Hunting Guides 1950-1963
7. Published Articles 6 4 Hunting Techniques 1942-1962
7. Published Articles 6 5 Miscellaneous 1935-1938
7. Published Articles 6 6 Photography 1945
7. Published Articles 6 7 Small Game 1942-1962
7. Published Articles 6 8 Small Game: Bobcat 1952-1961
7. Published Articles 6 9 Small Game: Coyote 1953-1959
7. Published Articles 6 10 Small Game: Crow 1938-1963
7. Published Articles 6 11 Small Game: Fox 1941-1943
7. Published Articles 6 12 Small Game: Magpie 1961
7. Published Articles 6 13 Small Game: Owl 1948, 1959-1960
7. Published Articles 6 14 Small Game: Prairie Dog 1941-1962
7. Published Articles 6 15 Small Game: Rabbit 1942-1959
7. Published Articles 6 16 Small Game: Raccoon 1960
7. Published Articles 6 17 Small Game: Snake 1943
7. Published Articles 6 18 Small Game: Squirrel 1940-1943
7. Published Articles 6 19 Small Game: Woodchuck 1939-1961
7. Published Articles 6 20 Waterfowl: Duck 1940-1962
7. Published Articles 6 21 Waterfowl: Goose 1942-1963
7. Published Articles 6 22 Weather 1944
7. Published Articles 6 23 Wildlife 1945
8. Research material 1 5 Magazine Articles 1946-1973
8. Research material 1 6 Magazines 1949-1971
8. Research material 1 7 Newspaper clippings 1952-1957
8. Research material 1 8 Statistics 1938-1958

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers without restrictions. The materials in the Archives do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Researchers conducting extensive research are asked to make an advance appointment to access archival material. Please call or e-mail prior to visiting the collection and indicate as much detail as possible about a particular topic and intended use.

South Dakota State University supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted as a result of their fragile condition or by contractual agreements with donors.

Copyright note

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.

Arranged and Described by

Crystal J. Gamradt, 1998 March 1.

Processing note

This collection was received prior to 1997, when the South Dakota State University Archives was established. The acting archivist created a preliminary inventory of materials received. Final arrangement and description was completed by Crystal J. Gamradt on 31 March 1998.