Rapid City public library historical collection: an archival collection spanning from 1879 to present
(Reference)

Finding aid: Slide box contents: 92 slides Subjects: Library Sculptures (Pinocchio), meetings, directors, bookmobile, library departments (youth services; young adult; technical services), card catalog, stacks, library programming, library building, administration assistant, telephone directory. Range of dates: February 31, 1977 - September 17, 2017. Condition: In fine condition with minor wear. Brown Scrapbook Contents: Photos of Children's Room in the Carnegie Library; newspaper clippings; artifacts from summer reading programs. Description: A few photos of the children's room addition in the Carnegie building. The rest of the scrapbook is articles about summer reading programs from 1938 to 1960, along with artifacts from those programs including: certificates of completion, themed artifacts, typewritten descriptions of reading programs, and photographs. Dates: 1938 - 1960 Condition: Good. Articles are attached to brown scrapbook paper, and there are thin sheets of paper between each page. RCPL Series 2 Box 1 Folder 1: Sister Cities International Contents: 1 envelope, 2 photographs, 1 photocopy of a photograph and two letters. Description: Documents and photographs relating to Sister Cities International. One envelope contained the items sent by the SD State Coordinator for Sister Cities. The documents are from a visit when librarians from Mongolia came to Rapid City. Handwritten notes indicating who the people are in the photos. Photos are of Kathy Fredette [Director], Kathy Dennison [Asst. Director], people watching a demonstration of an electronic card catalog and the other depicts a group photograph of the visiting librarians and RCPL librarians. Dates: March 30, 1995 Condition: In good condition with minor wear. RCPL Series 2 Box 1 Folder 2: Historical Library Documents Contents: Certificate of Membership of Rapid City Library Association (no.27), correspondence, newspaper articles, architectural agreements, architectural plans, construction agreements, WPA Library Project documentation, certification of incorporation, programs for the grand opening, and history by various people about the libraries history. Description: Materials regarding the history of the library beginning in 1879 with the first library and culminates at 2008. An agreement between H.E. Waldron (Architect) & Library Board April 7, 1915; State Free Library Commission Correspondence involving President J.L. Soule, Mr. Albert Halley, Leona Lewis, Lilly M. E. Borresen (field librarian) ; Carnegie Corporation related materials; Carnegie Library construction (Northern Casualty Company, John J. Hutton & Edward J Lane); WPA Project Proposal, History of the Rapid City Free Public Library by Mrs. Stein (Eva) Bangs (1960); Quincy Street Library documents featuring Auberman & Vazourek, a Certification of Incorporation, which discussed the potential new building in 1965 and the documents stating its completion in October of 1972; programs describing the new building and the grand opening. Subjects: Carnegie Corporation, Carnegie libraries, correspondence, letters, library expansion, library personnel, library programming, Mitchell, SD, Pierre, SD State Free Library Commission, WPA Projects. Range of dates: 1901 - 2008. Condition: Several pages are chipped and torn; most of the items are in good condition. RCPL Series 2 Box 1 Folder 3: Newspaper clippings (services, programming, and funding) and letters to the editor. Contents: newspaper articles and letters to the editor. Description: An analysis of the Rapid City Public Library and its community from May 1979; Quincy St. Library expansion- funding proposal power points; newspaper articles; Petition and vote to allow Pennington County members to get a library card—Letters to the Editor. Subjects: library publications, outreach, programming Range of dates: 1997- June1999 Condition: The pages are in good condition and are primarily photocopies. RCPL Series 2 Box 1 Folder 4: RCPL Photographs Contents: photographs. Description: A collection of photographs depicting the Grand opening in 1972 and other miscellaneous images of Library Hall in 1881 and postcard image of the interior of the library, construction, programs, Jim Shaw, Kathy Fredette, RCPL’s Bookmobile, Programming, photos of staff members, and of the Rapid City Centennial Committee. Subjects: Library programming, mayors, library directors, library services, bookmobile, anniversaries, libraries, library history, library holidays, construction, renovation, photographs, library staff. Range of dates: 1881 - 2017; Bulk Dates: 1980 - 1987 Condition: Taped to acidic paper, some items have staining on the verso side, most are in fair condition. RCPL Series 2 Box 1 Folder 5: Newspaper articles Contents: newspaper articles. Description: A collection of newspaper articles covering the missing Laura Ingalls doll from the libraries set and Subjects: Newspaper articles, Laura Ingalls, Little House on the Prairie, libraries. Range of dates: 1968 - 1975 Condition: Good condition, slight wear. RCPL Series 2 Box 1 Folder 6: Newspaper articles Contents: newspaper articles. Description: Newspaper articles about Marjorie Smith’s death, Helen Hoyt’s appointment as Head Librarian, programs, anniversary celebration. Subjects: Libraries, librarians, library history, anniversaries, library programs Range of dates: 1894 - 2003 Condition: Good condition, slight wear. RCPL Series 2 Box 1 Folder 7: RCPL’s Blue Stem Woman Contents: photographs, booklets, programs, 19 of items. Description: A collection of materials relating to the Blue Stem Woman. Subjects: Library, sculptures, Blue Stem Woman. Condition: Good condition RCPL Series 2 Box 1 Folder 8: Library Publications Contents: invitations (card, inserts, and envelopes), 8 booklets, 3 trifold brochures, 4 pamphlets, 1 documents relating to North Branch, 7 booklets about RCPL and digital age, 1 pamphlet on library history, 2 booklets about Friends of the Library. Description: A collection of materials relating to the library and published by the library. It includes Invitations to the dedication of the new Rapid City Public library on October 28, 1972, Your new Rapid City Public Library 1972-1982, Brief History of Rapid City Public Library 1879 to Present, Opening of the North Branch, RCPL: 1879 to the Digital Age, Pamphlet of Library History. Subjects: Library history, outreach Range of dates: 1879 - 2007 Condition: In fair condition, some minor wear, folding and minor damage. RCPL Series 2 Box 1 Folder 9: Library History and Certificates Contents: 6 Essays, certificates, proclamations, page of notes, miscellaneous articles and photocopies, articles, and a chronology of the library Description: A collection of materials relating to the library and published by the library. “History of the Rapid City Free Public Library,” by Eva Bangs, Proclamation of Appreciation of the Friends of the Library from November 7, 1987, and State of South Dakota Certificate of Appreciation awarded to Rapid City Public Library Bookmenders signed by George S. Mickelson, “Some Sidelights on the Early History of the Rapid City Library,” by Laura Bower Van Nuys as told to her son Maxwell Van Nuys, a page of notes, miscellaneous articles and photocopies of history documents relating to RCPL, articles about the library and its services, and a chronology of locations of the library. Subjects: library history, governors, Free Public Library, library services, accolades. Range of dates: 1905 - 1990 Condition: In fair condition, some minor wear, folding and minor damage. RCPL Series 2 Box 1 Folder 10: State of South Dakota Works Progress Administration Library Project: the organization of a small library Contents: 1 bound volume with a few loose sheets. Description: State of South Dakota Works Progress Administration Library Project by Irene Binger (Instructions, notes, statistics, and an analysis of the project)--Organization of a small library: A manual for use in the small public and high school libraries of South Dakota complied by the South Dakota Free Library Commission, Helen E. Burgess, Reference Librarian, Pierre, SD on October 1930. Subjects: South Dakota Free Library Commission, library history, library organization, small libraries, South Dakota, Works Progress Administration. Range of dates: 1930 - 1940 Condition: Slight wear and minor damage. RCPL Series 2 Box 1 Folder 11: Library Publications Contents: 1 Sendak Memorial Exhibition: Rapid City Library Foundation Event program; 2 copies of Native Fall Flora Hike (August 17th date was canceled); 10 copies Tracing Steps of History: Following the Flood's Path of Destruction and insert about Rapid City Public Library's Oral History Project; 6 copies of Historic West Boulevard Walking Tour. Description: Library created publications regarding library programs and events. Subjects: Sendak, Maurice, West Boulevard, 1972 Flood, Hanson Larsen Memorial Park, walking tours, hikes. Range of dates: December 10, 2016 - September 17, 2017 Condition: Fine. RCPL Series 2 Box 1 Folder 12: Pen Pal Exchange Letters Contents: 67 letters Description: Letters were received during the Pen Pal Exchange Program with other Children's Services Departments in Public Libraries. Subjects: Public libraries, letters pen pal programs, United States. Range of dates: June 2017 - September 2017 Condition: Fine and near fine condition, some minor damage. From the RCPL Series. RCPL Series 2 Box 1 Folder 12: Certifications Contents: Terri Davis director certification Condition: Good