History lives in the stories we tell, the artifacts we preserve, and the lessons we pass down to future generations. At the South Dakota Historical Society (SDHS), the mission is simple yet profound: safeguard the heritage of South Dakota so it continues to inspire, educate, and connect.
Chelle Somsen, State Archivist and longtime staff member at the SDHS, joined the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) Senior Program Officer, Ginger Niemann, for a conversation. They discussed how her work with the South Dakota Historical Foundation helps raise funds to support SDHS’s efforts to preserve state history for generations to come.
In this episode, you will hear:
How the South Dakota Historical Society is preserving state history
Chelle’s experience applying for a South Dakota Fund grant
The digitization project of the history of American Indian life in South Dakota.
“History isn’t just something in the past,” she reflected. “It’s happening every day. And when people take the time to record their experiences, they’re helping to shape the record of who we are as South Dakotans.” - Chelle Somsen
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