West River History Conference

The 13th Annual West River History Conference was held at the Alex Johnson Hotel in Rapid City, South Dakota, on October 6, 7, and 8, 2005.

The West River History Conference had its beginnings in Keystone, SD in 1993; the combined dream of the late Prof. Herbert W. Blakely and history buff Beverly Pechan. During this time, the event was sponsored by the Keystone Area Historical Society, co-founded by Ms. Pechan, who served as its first president from 1983-1993. Professor Blakely also served several terms as president of Keystone's historical society, and also at Lake County historical Society, Madison, SD. In 2003, the conference was moved to Rapid City and incorporated as a non-profit entity dedicated to collecting and preserving the history of South Dakota and the Northern Great Plains regions.

Herb Blakely was also the driving force in Keystone's Country School program -- a hands-on classroom experience for West River students who participated in spelling bees, writing on slates, South Dakota geography sessions and old-fashioned recess with girls in bonnets and pinafores and boys dressed in caps and suspenders of the 1890's period. Herb's big love was in the the kind of education provided within the country school system, and he taught and coached at college, high school and elementary levels for three decades. From 1993 through 1998 Herb's country school project provided over 1,000 pupils annually from grades two through eight an opportunity to participate in classroom learning activities like their ancestors did.

With the West River History Conference, we invite people to of all ages to become interested in their heritage. We offer college credits where applicable. In 2003 and 2004, students from Rapid City area high schools volunteered their time to generously help with putting on the conference, and their energy has been invaluable. This year, a number of students under the direction of Conference President David Laudenschlager also researched and presented excellent papers. They and others of their generation will be the future historians and authors of our history when we are no longer here. We, as Americans, often take our heritage for granted, and that is our loss. We have to know where we came from to understand where we are going.

And the goals of the West River History Conference are so much more! We encourage papers and attendance from professionals who want and need a place to present their topics of research, and in addition to the social enjoyment of this annual get-together, these papers are published in a permanent bound volume available for purchase by libraries, museums and other interested parties. Likewise, we are most eager to see persons who have a special insight into an event, town or family history, or favorite topic they wish to bring to the conference. These stories by the people who have lived the experiences or knew those who did, provide a most important link that often fills in missing puzzle pieces of the past.

Thank you for your interest in the West River History Conference, and in this book dedicated to
remembering the lives of those who came before us, who are with us now and whose many contributions will be a part of our tomorrows.

The West River History Conference Staff

13th Annual West River History Conference

"Preserving the Heritage of Our People"

October 6, 2005

October 7, 2005

October 8, 2005

For more information:

West River History Conference
PO Box 9276
Rapid City, SD 57709

Email:

wrhistory@hotmail.com

wrhcsf@rushmore.com

Telephone:

Sandy (605) 721-7752 or
Judi (605) 343-5767

Note:

One hour of undergraduate or graduate credit is available for conference attendees - Contact Dave Laudenschlager at (605) 787-4016 for this information.

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