State Historical Society Conference

South Dakota politics will be the focus of this year's annual history conference hosted by the South Dakota State Historical Society. The conference is April 30-May 1 at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre.
The theme of the conference is "Prairie Politics...From Territory to Today".
"In conjuction with the State Capitol Centennial, this conference will discuss the people, ideas and movements that have shaped politics in South Dakota," said Jay D. Vogt, director of the South Dakota State Historical Society.
The Keynote speaker is Tom Isern, professor of history and univeristy distinguished professor at North Dakota State University. Isern's academic specialty is the history of folklore of the Great Plains of North America. He is the author and co-author of six books. Isern's presentation is titled, "Ungovernable: The Political Culture of the Northern Plains".
Public Utilities Commision Chairman Dusty Johnson and South Dakota House Minority Leader Bernie Hunhoff will co-moderate the conference.
Conference sessions cover a wide variety of political topics, including a video message from former televison anchor Tom Brokaw, a comparison between East River and West River politics, Lakota politics, women in politics and the fight for the capital city.
Members of South Dakota's First Families, as well as prominent South Dakota political reporters, will lead two different panel discussions, "First Families" and "Politics Then & Now".
The conference also features the exhibit "The People's House: Celebrating the Century," the announcment of the Governor's Award for History and a bus tour of historic Pierre.
For a complete agenda and registration information, visit www.history.sd.gov or call 605-773-6000
The early registrationi deadline is April 16, 2010.