Northern Great Plains History Conference
2024 Program
Wednesday, 25 September
5:00—6:30 p.m.
“Experiential History session using replica weapons to better understand the (ancient) past,” Graham Wrightson, South Dakota State University
Van Eps Park, Sioux Falls (if raining it will be in the Downtown public library)
Thursday, 26 September
9:00—10:45 a.m.
1. Northern Great Plains Conservation (Northern Grasslands History Interest Group) — Palisades I
Chair: Scott E. Randolph, University of Redlands
“The Origin of 'Prairie Pothole Region' as a Regional Label,” Bryce Tellmann, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
“Changes to the Agricultural Landscape of the Northern Great Plains,” Jacob Clauson, Valley City State University
“Naturalists on the Northern Plains,” Ty M. Reese, University of North Dakota
9:00—10:45 a.m.
2. External Influences: Geographical, Political, and Technological Influences on the National Guard (Society for Military HIstory) — Palisades II
Chair: Wayne Riggs, Hastings College
“A Modest Proviso: Fostering Change from within the National Guard Bureau through Political Persuasion,” Johannes Allert, Swansea University
“Rapid Fire Change: Difference between the Army and National Guard in the Incorporation of the Machine Gun, 1898–1917,” Matthew Savage, Independent Scholar
“Geography and Demographics in the Southern Theater of the American War for Independence,” Timothy S. Cooke, University of Sterling
9:00—10:45 a.m.
3. Suffrage and Women’s Resistance (Women’s History Interest Group, Northern Grasslands History Interest Group) — Palisades III
Chair: Kellian Clink, Minnesota State University, Mankato
“Redefining Red Power: Native American Women and the Aftermath of Wounded Knee,” Tom Kahle, University of Oklahoma
“Suffrage and Citizenship in South Dakota: Race, Nativism, and State Power, 1889-1918,” Thayme Watson, University of Oklahoma
“The Puzzle of Female Suffrage in Saskatchewan, 1913-1916,” Gerard Boychuk, University of Waterloo
9:00—10:45 a.m.
4. Dynamic Faith: Religious Movement and Transformation across American History — Cascade
Chair: Perry Hornbacher, Bismarck State College
“Instead of Staying to Preach, They Go to Preach: The Methodist Imperative to Move,” John Ellis, Bemidji State University
“Devine Providence and Union Victory: Northern Theological Interpretations of the Civil War’s Outcome,” Caleb Curfman, Northland Community and Technical College
“A Promised Land: How Views of the American Wilderness Shifted from Evil to Eden,” Nolan W. Reynolds, University of Kansas
Thursday, 26 September
11:00—12:45 a.m
5. Social Changes and Soldiers — Palisades I
Chair: Bryce Tellmann, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
“Seaman Knapp: Architect of the Modern Administrative State,” Kathi Nehls, Peru State College
"British Colonial Soldiers in Palestine during World War I," Jameel Haque, Minnesota State University, Mankato
6. Religion (Upper Midwest Ancient History Network) — Palisades II
Chair: James Chlup, University of Manitoba
“Witness: The Enigma of the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved,” Jared Pannell, Missouri State University
“Differing Interpretations of the Eucharist in the Ancient Church,” Emily Knoppe, Missouri State University
7. LGBTQ Visibility in the Northern Plains: Farming, Dancing, and Politics (Northern Grasslands History Interest Group) — Palisades III
Chair Cory Haala, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
“Creating and Celebrating Community: Same-Sex Dancing in Fargo-Moorhead in the Twentieth Century,” Larry R. Peterson, North Dakota State University
“Rural Power in Life and Love: The Legacy of Dick Hanson and Bert Henningson,” Jon Rundquist, North Dakota State University
8. Cultural and Religious Resistance — Cascade
Chair: Michael J. Mullin, Augustana University
“Broader Implications of 1857: A Sectarian Riot in Dublin, Ireland,” Margaret Preston, Augustana University
“Setting the Tone: The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union’s Campaign to Influence Early South Dakota,” Charles Vollan, South Dakota State University
“Everyday Resistance in the Form of Grieving Rituals for Minority Religious Communities in California, 1941-1945,” Katherine Montana, Montana State University
12:45—2:00 p.m. – LUNCH
Society for Military History Luncheon and Awards
Thursday, 26 September
2:00 p.m.—3:45 p.m.
9. Geography and Trade — Palisades I
Chair: Margaret Preston, Augustana University
“‘Fire, Smoke, Ashes and Melted Lava Pouring from the Crater’: The U.S. Army Signal Corps Weather Station Atop Pikes Peak, 1873-1888,” Kent Sieg, U.S. Air Force 557th Weather Wing
“Trading for Empire: The Role of Fur Traders in American Expansion into the Missouri River Valley,” Greg Payne, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
“Envisioning the Missouri: Cartography and Trade before the Lewis and Clark period,” Michael J. Mullin, Augustana University
10. World War II — Palisades II
Chair: Dustin Gann, Southeast Missouri State University
“The Shelburne Line Allowed up to 200 Airmen to Get Back to England to Fly against Nazi Germany,” Kellian Clink, Minnesota State University, Mankato
“From the Gymnasium to the Mayo Clinic: Physical Therapy Training During World War II,” Dave Grettler, Northern State University
11. Rodeo Women, Cohabitants, and Sex Workers: Resistance and Dispossession on the Mid-Twentieth Century Northern Plains (Women’s History Interest Group, Northern Grasslands History Interest Group) — Palisades III
Chair: Lori Ann Lahlum, Minnesota State University, Mankato
“Women Rodeo Performers, 1920s-1950s: Straddling the Conflicting Demands of Feminine Behavior and Masculine Skill in the Arena,” Renée Laegreid, University of Wyoming
“Cohabitation and Social Dispossession in Montana, 1890-1953” Dee Garceau, University of Montana, Missoula
“Sex-Buying vs. Sex Labor in the Eyes of Northern Great Plains Settler Society: Reflections on Mari Sandoz’s Slogum House,” Nikki Berg Burin, University of North Dakota
12. Undergraduate Student Research from the Northern Great Plains — Cascade
Chair: Jeff Wells, Dickinson State University
“The Affair of the Poisons: Gendered Usage of Witchcraft and Poison,” Tessa Putzier, University of South Dakota
“The Klan in Business Suits and Their Thoughts on Education,” Lucas Hrabik, Peru State College
“The Life of Losk: How the Homestead Act Sustained a Jewish Community in Western North Dakota,” Ty Sturm, North Dakota State University
Commentator: Jacob Clauson, Valley City State University
Thursday, 26 September
4:00 — 6:00 p.m.
13. Conservation (Northern Grasslands History Interest Group) — Palisades I
Chair: Kevin Mason, Waldorf University
“Living Legacy of Camp Pattison: Civilian Conservation Corps at Pattison State Park,” Ella Hunter, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
“Guiding Naturalists: Western Science and the Role of Indigenous Voices in Post-World War II American Conservation,” Dale Potts, South Dakota State University
“Wolf Science from Minnesota to Montana: Radio-Collaring and the Origins of Wildlife Corridors,” Will Wright, Augustana University
“‘We Shall Vanquish It:’ Addressing the Locust Problem,” Rebecca Hupp, University of South Dakota
14. Emblems of War: Symbolism, Military Service, and American Citizenship (Society for Military History) — Palisades II
Chair and Commentator: Kurt Hackemer, University of South Dakota
“Franz Sigel, Peter Osterhaus, and German-Americans during the Civil War,” Paul Fessler, Dordt University
“‘A Peculiar Duty’: Western Union Veterans’ Homes and Entitlements,” Lindsey R. Peterson, University of South Dakota
“The Myth of Rosie the Riveter: The Untold Stories of Women in the Workforce,” Elisabeth Kluin, University of South Dakota
“Beyond Civilian Spaces: Examining Black Soldiers Leisure during World War II at Fort Leonard Wood,” Mariah Cosens, University of South Dakota
15. Women, Sport, and Spectacle in American History (Women’s History Interest Group) — Palisades III
Chair and Discussant: Renée M. Laegreid, University of Wyoming
“Reaffirming Stereotypes: The Problem of Lesbians in Gay Rodeo,” Elyssa Ford, Northwest Missouri State University.
“Female Athleticism as Female Spectacle in the National Police Gazette,” Sara E. Lampert, University of South Dakota
“The Spectacle of the Pro-Suffrage Female Mountaineer” Barbara Cutler, University of Northern Iowa
““Girls Must Win at Home:” The Canadian Women’s National Basketball Team and the 1976 Olympics,” Kathryn McPherson, York University
16. 20th Century US-China Foreign Relations — Cascade
Chair: Paul R. Spyhalski, Independent Scholar
“US-China Engagement through Revolving Doors: 1900-1909,” Carly DeLeu, Minnesota State University, Mankato
“Harvesting Diplomacy: Sino-American Bilateral Engagement through Agricultural, Scientific, and Technological Cooperation, 1977-1982,” Ryley Lamb, Edwards Creative
“Superficial Sanctions and Substantial Engagement: A Study of President George H. W. Bush’s China Policy,” Brett Neel, United South Central High School
“A Lost Chance: A Study of the Dixie Mission,” Michael Werner, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Thursday, 26 September
6:30—7:30 p.m.
Free Reception at Remedy Brewing
* * * * * * *
Friday, 27 September
9:00—10:45 a.m.
17. Economics — Palisades I
Chair: Scott Foens, Independent Scholar
"Economic Euphoria: the Economic Incentives of the Black Hills Gold Rush of 1874," Erika Thompson, South Dakota State University
“No failures are recorded, even in view of the fact that conditions in sections of the state have not been good:” State Banking in North Dakota, 1904–1914,” Scott E. Randolph, University of Redlands
“Liberty Bond Sales in Bremer County, Iowa during World War I,” Terrence J. Lindell, Wartburg College
18. US Civil War — Palisades II
Chair: Caleb Curfman, Northland Community and Technical College
“The Defensive Performance of Permanent Coastal Forts during the United States Civil War,” Ronald Piccirilli, Park University
“Teaching and Learning about the American Civil War through Local Cemeteries,” Brie Swenson Arnold, Coe College
“More Than Fredericksburg and the Mud March: A Reassessment of the Generalship of Union Major General Ambrose Burnside,” Lucas Wilder, Lincoln Memorial University
19. Sport I: Feminism, Racism and Ethno-Nationalism in Sport (Women’s History Interest Group) — Palisades III
Chair: Abby Bernhardt, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
“Femininity, Athleticism and Spectacle: The Competition and Exhibition of Women Swimmers, 1905-1920,” Kallen Dewey Kentner, University of Oregon
“Cracking North Carolina’s Wall of Segregation: Interracial Sporting Events in the 1940s and 50s,” Paul R. Spyhalski, Independent Scholar
“Championing a Nation and People: The Lithuanian Riflemen’s Association, Ethno-Nationalism, and the Meaning of Sport in Lithuania, 1920-1940,” Olivia Perez
20. Boogeymen: Representations of Frontier Lawlessness Around the Globe — Cascade
Chair: Thomas Buoye, University of Tulsa
“Liars and Loyalists: Early Qing Anxiety Regarding China’s Southwest,” Kenneth M. Swope, University of Southern Mississippi
“Boys of the Right Stripe: Organized Criminality in the Middle West, 1837-1845,” Patrick Hoehne, University of Southern Mississippi
“Embodying the Maritime Borderlands: Ethnic and Status Performance Among Japanese Pirates in Fifteenth-Century East Asia,” Peter Shapinsky, University of Illinois, Springfield
Friday, 27 September
11:00 a.m.—12:45 p.m.
21. Conservation: Trees, Drought, and Floods — Palisades I
Chair: Kent Sieg, U.S. Air Force 557th Weather Wing
“Managing the Missouri: Connections between Mid-Century Flooding and Municipal Modernization” Dustin Gann, Southeast Missouri State University
“Northwoods Apocalypse: The Aftereffects of Old Growth Logging on the Environment and Indigenous Population of Minnesota,” Fred Schumacher, Independent Scholar
“The States of Drought in Deluge in Tribal Lands in the Dakotas through Satellite Imagery,” Ashly D. Hall, University of North Dakota
22. Cold War — Palisades II
Chair: Oscar B. Chamberlain, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
“Cold War Christmas: Poverty, Consumerism, and the American Dream,” Thomas Weyant, Black Hills State University
“Lois Frolova v. USSR: Exploring Human Agency in the Context of International Human Rights Violations in the Early 1980s,” Alisa Kuzmina, University of Minnesota
23. Religious and Cultural Communities (Women’s History Interest Group) — Palisades III
Chair: Elyssa Ford, Northwest Missouri State University
“Within These Walls: Restored Synagogues as Sites of Jewish Collective Memory (1960-2022),” Lilah Banks, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
“The Most Sincere Salesman: Billy Graham’s Selling of Christianity in 1950s America,” Emma Morelli, Hastings College
“The Menus of Jurmala: What Can They Tell Us?” Robert S. Babcock, Hastings College
24. Unpacking the South Dakota Standards Debacle: A Critical Examination of Content, Pedagogy, and Democratic Participation in History Education — Cascade
Chair: Will Prigge, South Dakota State University
“Timeline of South Dakota History Standards Revision,” Taylor Hamblin, University of Wisconsin—La Crosse
“A Manufactured Debate: Inquiry vs Content Rich Pedagogy,” Stephen Jackson, University of Kansas
Comment: Benjamin Jones, South Dakota State Historidal Society
12:45—2:00 p.m. – LUNCH
Women’s History Group Luncheon
Friday, 27 September
2:00—3:45 p.m.
25. Nationalism — Palisades I
Chair: Abby Bernhardt, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
“There Will Probably Be No Bloodbath in Turkey:” How Differences in Secularism and Nationalism Prevented US Intelligence from Predicting the 1960 Coup in Turkey,” Elizabeth Miller, Hastings College
“Ho Chi Minh: Marxist by Default, Nationalist at Heart,” Chad Lemme, South Dakota State University
“Soviet Moldavian Culture Wars: The Scientists vs. The Artists,” Will Prigge, South Dakota State University
26. Ancient III: Rome (Upper Midwest Ancient History Network) — Palisades. II
Chair: Graham Wrightson, South Dakota State University
“Organizer of Augustus’ Labours: Agrippa and the Augustan ‘Republic’,” Paige Boyd, University of Manitoba
“Roman Castra and Canabae as Consumer Cities,” Thomas McIntosh, University of Manitoba
“Military Discipline in Frontinus’ Stratagems,” James Chlup, University of Manitoba
27. Female Education, Activism, and Autonomy in Global Perspective (Women’s History Interest Group) — Palisades III
Chair: Brie Swenson Arnold, Coe College
“The United Daughters of the Confederacy in Minnesota.” Jules Ruark, University of St. Thomas
“To ‘make women feel and know I was one with them:’ The Intersectional Activism of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.” Laura Murr, University of St. Thomas
“Native Women and Guns in Colonial North America.” Jennifer McCutchen, University of St. Thomas
28. Song, Sports, and Socialization: Creating Community Connections in Nebraska through Popular Prairie Pastimes, 1890-1940 — Cascade
Chair: Charlie Barber, Northeastern Illinois University- Chicago
“Towards a Transnational History of Lacrosse on the Great Plains,” Nathan Tye, University of Nebraska- Kearney
“This Noble Moses P. Kinkaid”: Singing the Grassroots Culture of the Nebraska Sandhills, Tom Isern, North Dakota State University
“Basketball, Broncs, and “Broadway:” The Aspects and Significance of Socialization in the Nebraska Sandhills during the Great Depression,” Drew Donna Folk, Independent Scholar
Commentator: Kathi Nehls, Peru State College
Friday, 27 September
4:00—6:00 p.m.
29. The Use of Artificial Intelligence in History and Education — Palisades I
Chair: Caleb Curfman, Northland Community and Technical College
Audience discussion, comments, and questions welcome!
30. Ancient and Medieval Militaries in War and Memory (Society for Military History, Upper Midwest Ancient History Network, and Midwest Ancient Warfare Network) — Palisades II
Chair: Graham Wrightson, South Dakota State University
“How Ancient Sports Delayed the Collapse of Civilization,” Zac Chase, South Dakota State University
“Sport at War: The Strasbourg Cavalry Games of 842,” Christopher P. Flynn, Minnesota State University, Mankato
“Fighting Medieval Islam: The Iberian Peninsula and India,” John J. Riggs, Independent Scholar
“Tattoos of Roman Antiquity: A History of Enslavement and Subversion,” Victoria Hare, University of Manitoba
31. Settler Colonialism, Sport, and Politics in 20th Century Women’s History (Women’s History Interest Group) — Palisades III
Chair: Jennifer McCutchen, University of St. Thomas
“‘A Friend of the Canadian Indians’: Reconceiving Relations between Catherine Motherwell and Indigenous Peoples in Saskatchewan,” Karen Brglez, University of Manitoba
“Norma Jean Serena: Motherhood Interrupted,” Stacey Lee Smith, University of Wyoming
“‘Building the Future’: the Northcott Neighborhood House and the Evolution of the Settlement House Movement," Tracie Grube-Gaurkee, Texas Christian University
“A Tale of Two Women, Nebraska 1986: Kay Orr vs. Helen Boosalis in America’s First all-Female Gubernatorial Election,” Jason C. Phillips, Peru State College
32. Where Does the Midwest End and the Plains Begin? (Northern Grasslands History Interest Group) — Cascade
Chair: Jon Lauck, Middle West Review
Tom Isern, North Dakota State University
Julie Courtwright, Iowa State University
Molly Rozum, University of South Dakota
Andrew Husa, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Harry Thompson, Center for Western Studies, Augustana University
Tim Mahoney, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Chris Laingen, Eastern Illinois University
Friday, 27 September
Dinner and Keynote Speaker
6:00—7:30 p.m.: Cash Bar
7:30—9:30 p.m.: Banquet
(8:30 p.m.: Keynote Speaker)
Ode to Food and Drinks
300 N. Cherapa Place (a short walk from the Hotel)
Keynote: The Olympic Winter Games at 100: Challenges, Complexities, and Legacies by Dr. Sarah Teetzel, Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, and a Senior Fellow, St. John’s College at the University of Manitoba. She is also a member of the Centre for Human Rights Research and the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics.
* * * * * * *
Saturday, 28 September
9:00—10:45 a.m.
33. Social Policy from the 1960s — Palisades I
Chair: Dale Potts, South Dakota State University
“Project Equality in Minnesota: A Failed Attempt to Promote Affirmative Action in the late 1960s,” Adam Petersen, Marquette University
“Beyond Vows: Race, Marriage, and Citizenship in Twentieth-Century Omaha,” Brianna Rose DeValk, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
34. Fighters in War, Peace, and Memory (Society for Military History) — Palisades II
Chair: Christopher Flynn, Minnestoa State University Mankato
“The 54th U.S. Colored Troops in War and Peace,” Valerie Reese, Independent Scholar
“Kentucky Vigilantes: The Night Riders and the Memory of the Black Patch Tobacco War,” William Critchfield, College of William and Mary
“‘Adopted Sons of Arkansas’: The Nebraska National Guard at Camp Robinson, 1941,” Nicholas A. Tuma, Nebraska National Guard Museum
35. Populism in Context: Lessons from the American Populist Uprising of the Late Nineteenth Century (Women’s History Interest Group, Northern Grasslands History Interest Group) — Palisades III
Chair: Jeff Johnson, Providence College
“When Reform Politics Becomes Celebrity Politics: Toward a New Understanding of Mary Lease, Radicalism, and the Historiography of Populist Women,” Ann Vlock, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
“Women, Children, and the Printer’s Devil: Family Labor and Populist Newspapers,” Jeff Wells, Dickinson State University
“The movement didn’t end; it relocated: Populist Politics, Cross-Border Connections, and the Canadian Progressive Movement,” Andrew Varsanyi, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Saturday, 28 September
From 10:00 on —
Optional guided tours of Pettigrew House and Museum and self-guided tours of the Cathedral historic district starting from Pettigrew House
Saturday, 28 September
11:00 a.m.—12:45 p.m.
36. Sport II: Football, Politics, and War — Palisades I
Chair: Jason C. Phillips, Peru State College
“Games on the Plains: The Role of Sports and Recreation at Nebraska Army Airfields During World War II,” Amber Alexander, University of Nebraska at Kearney
“The Spud Bowl: Stevens Point Football and the Farm Crisis,” Cory Haala, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
37. U.S. Military in World War II and Korea (Society for Military History) — Palisades II
Chair: Jonathan A. Epstein, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York
“Enabling the Myth: The V Corps, 4th Infantry Division, and the Liberation of Paris” Stephen A. Bourque, Emeritus, U.S. Army General Staff College
“‘This is our chance to kill a lot of Boche’: General Gerow Sees Opportunity at the Battle of the Bulge” Joseph C. Fitzharris, Emeritus, University of St. Thomas
“Crossroads for Change: Civil-Military Relations and the Korean War” William A. Taylor, Angelo State University
38. Creativity, Adaptability, and Resilience of Native Communities of the Great Lakes and the Great Plains — Palisades. III
Chair: Robert W. Galler, Jr., St Cloud State University
“A History of Comanche Resilience,” Adam Herman, St. Cloud State University
“Iktomi at War: Lakota Military Adaptation and Service as Resistance Since 1800,” Shaela Rabbit, St. Cloud State University