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South Dakota Community Foundation supports State Historical Society’s Pioneer Girl Project

With funding support from the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF), the South Dakota Historical Society Press released its third Pioneer Girl Project publication.

“Pioneer Girl: The Revised Texts,” written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and annotated and edited by Nancy Tystad Koupal, deepens readers’ understanding of Laura Ingalls Wilder and the process through which she ultimately became an icon of young adult literature.

“Laura Ingalls Wilder is a great American storyteller whose work has stood the test of time,” says Tystad Koupal, Pioneer Girl Project director. “We are able to continue our study into her works and legacy because of organizations like the South Dakota Community Foundation, and we are eternally grateful for their support.”

Founded in 2010, the Pioneer Girl Project is dedicated to exploring Wilder’s life and works. The project’s first publication, “Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography,” edited by Pamela Smith Hill, was released in 2014 and became a “New York Times” bestseller. It gave readers access to Wilder’s original account for the first time. The second publication, “Pioneer Girl Perspectives: Exploring Laura Ingalls Wilder,” edited by Tystad Koupal and released in 2017, directed essay contributors to delve into the myths and realities of Wilder’s life. “Pioneer Girl: The Revised Texts” informs scholars and readers about the original manuscript’s metamorphosis into novels and about the intriguing editorial relationship between Wilder and her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane.

“The Pioneer Girl Project helps us better understand Laura Ingalls Wilder and her connection to South Dakota,” says Stephanie Judson, SDCF president. “The Community Foundation is proud to be a part of her continued study.”

Pioneer Girl Project books can be ordered by visiting sdhspress.com or calling 605-773-6009. For more about the story behind the project, visit pioneergirlproject.org. To become a donor, please contact the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation at 605-773-6003 or info@sdhsf.org. You can also make a direct donation to the Pioneer Girl Project, supporting its next publication, at sdhsf.org/donate/special_projects/pioneer.html.

For State Historical Society membership information, please visit history.sd.gov/membership or call 605-773-6000.

To find out more about the South Dakota Community Foundation, visit sdcommunityfoundation.org.

Pictured, left to right, South Dakota Community Foundation Senior Program Officer Ginger Niemann, South Dakota Historical Society Press Marketing Director Jennifer McIntyre, Pioneer Girl Project Director Nancy Tystad Koupal, South Dakota Historical Society Foundation CEO Catherine Forsch, South Dakota Historical Society Press Director Dedra Birzer, South Dakota Historical Society Press Managing Editor Cody Ewert.

About the South Dakota State Historical Society
The South Dakota State Historical Society is a division of the Department of Education; the South Dakota Historical Society Press is a program of its Research and Publishing Office and Affiliate Member of the Association of University Presses. The State Historical Society, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution since 2013, is headquartered at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. The center houses the society’s world-class museum, the archives, and the historic preservation, publishing, and administrative/development offices. Call 605-773-3458 or visit history.sd.gov for more information. The society also has an archaeology office in Rapid City; call 605-394-1936 for more information.

About the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation
The South Dakota Historical Society Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and serves as the fundraising partner of the South Dakota State Historical Society. The foundation assists in securing funds to collect, preserve, research, exhibit, and interpret history for the lifelong education and enrichment of present and future generations. For more information go to sdhsf.org or call 605-773-6003.

About the South Dakota Community Foundation
SDCF is a public non-profit organization established in 1987. SDCF, with offices in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen administers over 1050 funds benefiting hundreds of charitable organizations annually. The Foundation distributed nearly $18 million in grants in 2020 which made a tremendous difference in communities statewide. This would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors. If you have a specific cause you would like to support or would prefer to give for the general good of our state, please visit sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving to learn more or call 1-800-888-1842.