PIERRE A historic collection of documents of the former secretary of the South Dakota State Historical Society, Doane Robinson, has been added to the South Dakota Digital Archives.
Jonah Leroy (Doane) Robinson (1856-1946) was secretary of the South Dakota State Historical Society and superintendent of the State Department of History from 1901 to 1926. The Doane Robinson Papers include both his official Department of History business as well as personal writings and correspondence. The papers address South Dakota history topics, as well as agriculture, art, education, geology, literature, religion, and the military. He corresponded with many notable figures of the time, including Calvin Coolidge, Badger Clark, H. Daniel Webster, and members of the Womans Christian Temperance Union. Of note is the correspondence between Robinson and Gutzon Borglum about the construction of Mount Rushmore. Robinson was also a supporter of the temperance movement and advocated for Missouri River water projects.
Thanks to a donor, this collection of documents has been digitized and is now available to the public on the South Dakota Digital Archives here.
I am thrilled to see the Robinson Collection digitized, making these invaluable historical records more accessible to researchers, historians, and the public, said Catherine Forsch, CEO of the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation.
Those interested in supporting the South Dakota Historical Society Foundations digitization efforts can contact them by calling 605-773-6003 or through email at [email protected]. For more information, contact the South Dakota State Historical Societys State Archives at 605-773-3804 or visit history.sd.gov/archives.
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