Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve Papers

Finding Aid

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Collection Summary

Identifier

MA 19

Title

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve Papers

Creator

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve

Dates

1887-2015

Extent

23.84 linear feet (48 boxes) sound recordings, moving image materials, photographs

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 . Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve papers. MA 19. South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

Abstract

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve is an American writer of Children's literature. She studied journalism at South Dakota State University. She was an English language teacher in several public schools and editor at the Brevet Press in Sioux Falls, S.D. This collection is composed of manuscripts of books and articles written by Sneve, as well as research materials and correspondence from both publishers and fans. General items include materials related to Sneve's career such as speaking engagements and awards, as well as biographical material, journals, and hard cover copies of many of her books.

Biographical Note

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve (s-navy) was born on February 21, 1933 and raised on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. She is enrolled as a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. She attended Bureau of Indian Affairs day schools on the reservation and graduated from St. Mary's Episcopal High School for Indian Girls in Springfield, South Dakota in 1950.

Driving Hawk Sneve attended South Dakota State University and graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science degree. After graduation, Driving Hawk Sneve taught for a year in White, SD, teaching English and music. The next school year she taught for only one semester at Pierre Junior High School in Pierre, SD. From 1956 to 1964, Virginia made the decision to be a full time homemaker and stayed at home to raise her three children. In 1965, Virginia resumed teaching at Flandreau Indian School teaching English, speech and drama. She eventually became a guidance counselor at the Flandreau Indian School. During this time, she also worked to receive her Master in Education degree from South Dakota State University, which she received in 1969.

In 1971, Driving Hawk Sneve made her first attempt at writing a juvenile fiction book. Her first book was titled, "Jimmy Yellow Hawk." She entered the manuscript for this work in a contest held by the Council on Interracial Books and was the 1971 winner. After winning the award, publishing houses began to contact her about publishing "Jimmy Yellow Hawk." She worked out her own contract with Holiday House, which has handled most of her books of juvenile fiction. In 1972, her first book, "Jimmy Yellow Hawk" and her second book "High Elk's Treasure" were published by Holiday House.

In 1973, Driving Hawk Sneve expanded her writings to include non-fiction. In that year, Brevet Press of Sioux Falls, SD published "South Dakota Geographic Names", which she edited, and "The Dakota's Heritage." She has published more non-fiction, including her history of the Episcopal Church in South Dakota.

Among the numerous awards and honors that Sneve has received for her writing are the South Dakota Governor’s Award in the Arts for Distinction in Creative Achievement, the South Dakota Humanities Council Distinguished Achievement in the Humanities Award, and honorary doctorates from South Dakota State University and Dakota Wesleyan University. The National Education Association awarded her the Author/Illustrator award in 1996. She was the first South Dakotan to be awarded the National Humanities Medal, presented on December 20, 2000 by President Bill Clinton.

Sneve’s numerous appearances include speaking at literary festivals and conferences and a number of International Reading Association events. She also participated in the National Book Festival in 2002 and the Native Writers Series at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in 2005, both held in Washington D.C.

Driving Hawk Sneve has continued to write to the present time. Her impressive portfolio includes adult fiction, non-fiction, short stories, articles, editorials, and book introductions, in addition to her many works for children. Among these works are the 1995 "Completing the Circle", and "The First Americans Series" on native peoples of North America.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into three series:

Series 1. Creative writings

Series 2. General material

Series 3. Other writings.

Folders are arranged in alphabetical order within each series.

Contents Note

This collection is composed of manuscripts of books and articles written by Sneve, as well as research materials and correspondence from both publishers and fans. General items include materials related to Sneve's career such as speaking engagements and awards, as well as biographical material, journals, and hard cover copies of many of her books.

The creative writing series is composed of creative works, both fiction and non-fiction. Each creative work may include clippings, correspondence, manuscripts, printer's galleys, proofs, published books, research, reviews, and scripts. The correspondence consists mainly of letters to and from publishers and letters from school children thanking Sneve for writing her book or for visiting their school. Some of these letters include drawings by the school children. Many of the manuscripts are edited and include comments or notes for improvements by the editor. The research material includes notes, collected material and taped interviews. A published book accompanies many of the titles. A video of "High Elk's Treasure" is also included.

The General series is composed of awards, clippings, correspondence, interviews, journals, miscellaneous items, general research, and speaking engagement material. The correspondence is comprised of letters to and from publishing houses, Senator Larry Pressler, other writers such as Bob Karolevitz and Audrae Visser, and personal correspondence. The miscellaneous items consist of a 1901 class photograph of unidentified people, and some teaching aids. An item of note is an audio reel of an interview that Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve conducted with Harold Shunk, a Bureau of Indian Affairs superintendent at several South Dakota reservations. The speaking engagement material consists mainly of correspondence that deals with scheduling details, but a few speeches are also included.

The Other writings series is composed of Driving Hawk Sneve's works that are not considered creative. This material includes articles published in newspapers and magazines, scripts for a South Dakota Public Radio program series, a Christian education resource for the Episcopal Church Center, introductions and reviews for other writer's works, newspaper editorials, studies conducted for the Flandreau Indian School in Flandreau, S.D., and a contribution to "On the Wings of Peace", a compilation of short stories coordinated by Sheila Hamanaka which benefits world peace organizations.

Bibliography

The Apaches by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; illustrated by Ronald Himler.
Call Number: SD Collection: E99.A6 S63 1997
Publication Date: New York: Holiday House, c1997.

Bad River boys: a meeting of the Lakota Sioux with Lewis and Clark by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk.
Call Number: SD Collection: PS3569.N474 B32 2005 [also Archives]
Publication Date: New York: Holiday House, c2005

Betrayed by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk.
Call Number: SD Collection: PS3569.N474 B37 1974 [also Archives]
Publication Date: New York, Holiday House [1974]

The Cherokees by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; illustrated by Ronald Himler.
Call Number: SD Collection: E99.C5 S645 1996
Publication Date: New York: Holiday House, c1996

The Cheyenne’s by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; illustrated by Ronald Himler.
Call Number: SD Collection: E99.C53 S63 1996
Publication Date: New York: Holiday House, c1996

The chichi hoohoo bogeyman by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; drawings by Nadema Agard
Call Number: SD Collection: PS3569.N474 C44 1993 [also Books/Upper Level]
Publication Date: Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1993.

The Christmas coat: memories of my Sioux childhood by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk.
Call Number: SD Collection: PS3569.N474 Z46 2011
Publication Date: New York: Holiday House, 2011

Completing the circle by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk.
Call Number: SD Collection: E99.D1 S6276 1995 [also Books/Upper Level]
Publication Date: Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, c1995.

Dakota's heritage; a compilation of Indian place names in South Dakota. By Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk.
Call Number: SD Collection: E78.S63 S58 [also Books/Upper Level]
Publication Date: Sioux Falls, S.D., Brevet Press, 1973.

Dancing teepees: poems of American Indian youth selected by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve; with art by Stephen Gammell
Call Number: SD Collection: PM197.E3 D36 1989
Publication Date: New York: Holiday House, c1989

Enduring wisdom: sayings from Native Americans selected by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve; with paintings by Synthia Saint James
Call Number: SD Collection: E98.P5 E53 2003 [also Books/Upper Level]
Publication Date: New York: Holiday House, c2003

Grandpa was a cowboy & an Indian and other stories by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk.
Call Number: SD Collection: PS3569.N474 G73 2000 [also Books/Upper Level]
Publication Date: Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, c2000.

High Elk's treasure by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; illustrated by Oren Lyons
Call Number: SD Collection: PS3569.N474 H53 1972
Publication Date: New York, Holiday House [1972]

The Hopis by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; illustrated by Ronald Himler.
Call Number: SD Collection: E99.H7 S63 1995
Publication Date: New York: Holiday House, c1995

The Iroquois by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; illustrated by Ronald Himler.
Call Number: SD Collection: E99.I7 S625 1995
Publication Date: New York: Holiday House, c1995

Jimmy Yellow Hawk by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; illustrated by Oren Lyons
Call Number: SD Collection: PS3569.N474 J55 1972
Publication Date: New York: Holiday House [1972]

Lana's Lakota moons by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk.
Call Number: SD Collection: PS3569.N474 L36 2007 [also Books/Upper Level]
Publication Date: Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, c2007

The Navajos by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; illustrated by Ronald Himler.
Call Number: SD Collection: E99.N3 S6 1993
Publication Date: New York: Holiday House, c1993.

The Nez Perce by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; illustrated by Ronald Himler.
Call Number: SD Collection: E99.N5 S64 1994
Publication Date: New York: Holiday House, c1994

The Seminoles by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; illustrated by Ronald Himler.
Call Number: SD Collection: E99.S28 S64 1994
Publication Date: New York: Holiday House, c1994

The Sioux by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; illustrated by Ronald Himler.
Call Number: SD Collection: E99.D1 S6277 1993
Publication Date: New York: Holiday House, c1993.

Sioux women: traditionally sacred by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk.
Call Number: SD Collection: E99.D1 S61813 2016
Publication Date: Pierre: South Dakota Historical Society Press, c2016

South Dakota geographic names by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk, editor
Call Number: SD Collection: F649 .S56 1973 [also Books/Upper Level; Reference/Main Level]
Publication Date: Sioux Falls, S.D., Brevet Press, 1973

Standing Bear of the Ponca by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; illustrated by Thomas Floyd
Call Number: Books/Upper Level: E99.P7 S836 2013
Publication Date: Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, c2013

That they may have life: the Episcopal Church in South Dakota, 1859-1976 by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk.
Call Number: SD Collection: BX5917.5 .S8 S65 [also Books/Upper Level]
Publication Date: New York: Seabury Press, c1977.

They led a nation: [biographical & pictorial essays of 20 Dakota leaders] by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; edited by N. Jane Hunt; ports. By Loren Zephier.
Call Number: SD Collection: E99.D1 S63 [also Books/Upper Level]
Publication Date: Sioux Falls, S.D.: Brevet Press, 1975

The time of the horse and the tribe of the burnt thigh by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk.
Call Number: SD Collection: PS3569.N474 T55 1981
Publication Date: Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1981

The trickster and the troll by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk.
Call Number: SD Collection: PS3569.N474 T74 1997 [also Books/Upper Level]
Publication Date: Lincoln, Neb.: University of Nebraska Press, 1997

The twelve moons by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; pictures by Marc Brown.
Call Number: SD Collection: PS3569.N474 T83 1977
Publication Date: [New York]: Houghton Mifflin, 1977

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, reviews and advertising by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk.
Call Number: SD Collection: PS3569.N46 V5
Publication Date: [S.l.: s.n., 1976?]

When Thunders spoke by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; illustrated by Oren Lyons.
Call Number: Books/Upper Level: PS3569.N474 W43 1993
Publication Date: Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1993, c1974

When Thunders spoke by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk; illustrated by Oren Lyons.
Call Number: SD Collection: PS3569.N474 W43 1974
Publication Date: New York, Holiday House [1974]

With respect and honor [video recording] by Sneve, Virginia Driving Hawk.
Call Number: SD Collection: E77.2 .A47 2002 v. 3 Video
Publication Date: American Indian History Conference (10th: 2002: South Dakota State University)

Key Words

Driving Hawk Sneve, Virginia, 1933-

Dakota Indians -- Biography

Dakota Indians -- Juvenile fiction

Dakota Indians -- Legends

Dakota Indians -- Social life and customs

Dakota Indians -- Wars, 1865-1865 -- Juvenile fiction

Dakota women

Dakota women -- History

Health education -- Juvenile literature

Indian poetry -- Collections

Indians of North America -- Captivities -- Fiction

Indians of North America -- Fiction

Indians of North America -- Great Plains

Indians of North America -- Juvenile literature

Indians of North America -- Juvenile poetry

Names, Geographical -- South Dakota

South Dakota -- History

Container List

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Administrative Information

Legal status

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve retains the literary rights, including copyright, to this material. Patrons wishing to publish from this material must obtain permission directly from Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve. For further information, consult with the staff.

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, 1999 May 4. Additions were made by Ruby Wilson, February 24, 2017.