Harold W. Shunk Papers

Finding Aid

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Collection Summary

Identifier

MA 3

Title

Harold W. Shunk papers

Creator

Harold W. (Harold William) Shunk

Dates

1911-1993

Extent

1.26 linear feet (3 document cases) mounted steer horns

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. Harold W. Shunk Papers. MA 3. South Dakota State University Archives and Hilton M. Briggs Library Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

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.

Biographical 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.

Arrangement

Arranged into three series:

Series 1: General

Series 2: Wahehe Heirship Hearing [Original photostat copies]

Series 3: Wahehe Heirship Hearing [Preservation photocopy]

Folders are arranged in alphabetical order within each series.

Contents Note

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].

Key Words

Cities and towns -- South Dakota

Dakota Indians

Indians of North American -- Folklore

Indians of North America -- North Dakota

Indians of North America -- South Dakota

Shunk, Harold W. (Harold William), 1970-1998 -- Archives

South Dakota – History -- Sources

Container List

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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 September 2.