Non-Profit

Non-profit promotion western history and research.

The Dakota History Conference, as it was known when it was officially transferred by Dakota State University to the Center for Western Studies of Augustana University in 1989, is the model for the West River History Conference. The Dakota History Conference was founded in 1969 by Prof. Ernest Teagarden at DSU and was continued by Prof. Herb Blakely, also of DSU, until 1989. When Blakely retired from DSU and moved west, he and others, notably Shebby Lee, a long-time attendee and presenter at the Dakota Conference, established the West River History Conference. There was a Black Hills History Conference previous to the West River History Conference, sponsored by Black Hills State University and managed by Dr. David Miller, of BHSU, until his death. We are pleased that you are carrying on a great tradition in West River South Dakota. Best wishes with your upcoming conference.