Sitting Bull to Phil Jackson, cattle to prairie dogs, knoephla to lefse. North Dakota's legacy includes many strange stories of eccentric towns, war heroes, and various colorful characters. Hear all about them on Dakota Datebook, your daily dose of North Dakota history.
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Dakota Datebook is made in partnership with the State Historical Society of North Dakota, and funded by Humanities North Dakota, a nonprofit, independent state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities North Dakota or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
You can find all Dakota Datebooks from 2018-today below. Our archive of Datebooks from 2003-2017 can be found here.
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In this episode of Dakota Datebook, we'll hear from Kevin Locke, enrolled member of the Standing Rock Nation, in part one of “Hinhan Kaga and The Milky Way.” -
An epidemic of bank robberies and safecracking swept across North Dakota in the early 20th century. In 1907, the Bismarck Daily Tribune reported that “Yeggmen are still committing depredations over the state.” “Yeggmen” was a colloquial term for safecrackers.
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In 1921, the Independent Voters Association (IVA) was urging the recall of Governor Lynn Frazier, Attorney General William Lemke, and Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor John Hagen—all Nonpartisan League (NPL) officials – in a vote scheduled for October 28th.
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Durum wheat was imported from Russia and first cultivated in North Dakota in the 1890s. The North Dakota Experimental Station recognized the benefits of durum and encouraged farmers to plant more of it. Durum wheat yields more bushels per acre and is more resistant to drought compared to other types. It’s also the hardest of all wheats, which means it has a high protein content and strong gluten, making it the preferred choice for premium pasta.
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On this date in 1971, the University of North Dakota's student newspaper, The Dakota Student, reported on remarks made by visiting speaker Lucy Komisar at the Memorial Union the previous day. Komisar, now a political radical, feminist, theater critic, and author known for her praise of Julian Assange, was in 1971 serving as the vice president for public relations at the National Organization for Women.
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In the early 1900s, Frank Slatky served as one of Minot’s street commissioners. Some of the details of his job were noted in local reports. He initiated a night patrol to check the town’s electric lights and ensure they were working properly. During flooding, he helped construct a passageway across the Mouse River. An article in the Ward County Independent praised his “very good work” on the road leading to the Minot Flouring Mill.
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When the North Dakota Agricultural College opened, the need for a quality academic library became apparent. In 1904, NDAC President John Worst wrote to philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and asked if he would build a library on the campus. Carnegie donated $17,400 dollars. Worst raised another $4,500 dollars and the library was underway.
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On July 15, 1864, Captain James Fisk led ninety-seven wagons out of Fort Ridgley, Minnesota, bound for the gold fields of Montana. Fisk planned to avoid the most dangerous territory by following a shorter, unmapped and untried route. Unfortunately, he failed to consider the increased hostility on the part of indigenous tribes in the wake of the US-Dakota War. He was confident as the wagon train left Fort Rice. He thought a large force of soldiers under General Sully was traveling ahead of him, but eighty miles west of Fort Rice, Fisk learned that Sully veered north and the expedition was now protected by the small number of soldiers with the train.
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In the 1950s and 60s, as environmental concerns grew in the United States, there was increasing recognition that the National Park and National Forest systems were inadequate to safeguard wilderness areas from commercial interests. Conservationists, alarmed by the encroachment on these natural spaces, lobbied Congress for more robust protections. This movement culminated in the signing of the Wilderness Act into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on this date in 1964.
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In this episode of Dakota Datebook, we'll hear from Janet Claymore-Ross, enrolled member of the Sisseton, Wahpeton, Oyate, in Part Two of “Iktomi and the Ducks.”
Dakota Datebook is made in partnership with the State Historical Society of North Dakota, and funded by Humanities North Dakota, a nonprofit, independent state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the program do not necessarily reflect those of Humanities North Dakota or the National Endowment for the Humanities.