SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
& Hilton M. Briggs Library Special Collections

 
 


Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve Papers
 

Administrative Information | Search Terms | Background Note | Scope and Contents Note | Arrangement | PDF of Finding Aid
 

COLLECTION SUMMARY

Title:     Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve papers

Dates:     1887-1999, [n.d.] (bulk 1970-1997)

Creator:     Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve

Physical Description:     9.34 linear feet—17 containers, 76 photographs, 11 slides, 6 audio cassettes, 2 audio reels, 2 video cassettes

Collection number:     MA 19

Language:     Collection material in English.

Repository:     South Dakota State University Archives, Hilton M. Briggs Library, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D.

Abstract:     Collection is composed of manuscripts of books and articles written by Sneve, as well as research materials from the books and correspondence from both publishers and fans. General items related to Sneve’s career and hard cover copies of many of her books are also included.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Provenance:    Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve donated her manuscript and book collection to the archives in 1982.  South Dakota State University Archives received additions to this donation in 1998 and 1999.

Access Restrictions:     This collection is open to research. Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve retains the literary rights, including copyright, to this material.  Patrons wishing to publish from this material must obtain permission directly from Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve.  For further information, consult the staff.

Copyright Status:     Copyright 2008 by South Dakota State University and SDSU Archives. Please credit the SDSU Archives if you copy or reproduce material from this finding aid.

It is the responsibility of anyone reproducing material to determine the copyright holders and obtain permission from them if necessary. Archives staff will provide available copyright information on request. Please note that most collections, especially those received before 1997, may not have complete information on file. (Revised 15 SEP 2003)

Preferred Citation:     [Identification of item]. Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve papers, MA 19, South Dakota State University Archives, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D.

Processing Information:   Care was taken to keep the files in the same general order that Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve maintained.  Some material was removed to other boxes due to inappropriate media for storage, such as photographs, video cassettes, audio cassettes and reels, or oversize material.

This collection was processed by Crystal J. Gamradt on 4 May 1999 with revisions on July 7, 2008 (cjg).

SELECTED SEARCH TERMS

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the subject guide. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.

Persons:

  • Driving Hawk Sneve, Virginia.

Subjects:

  • Dakota Indians—Biography.

  • Dakota Indians—Juvenile fiction.

  • Dakota Indians—Legends.

  • Dakota Indians—Social life and customs.

  • Dakota Indians—Wars, 1862-1865—Juvenile fiction.

  • Dakota women—Biography.

  • Dakota women—History.

  • Health education—Juvenile literature.

  • Indian poetry—Collections.

  • Indians of North America—Captivities—Fiction.

  • Indians of North America—Fiction.

  • Indians of North America—Great Plains.

  • Indians of North America—Juvenile literature.

  • Indians of North America—Juvenile poetry.

  • Names, Geographical—South Dakota.

  • South Dakota—History.

BACKGROUND NOTE

Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve (s-navy) was born on February 21, 1933 and raised on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota.  She in enrolled as a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.  She attended Bureau of Indian Affairs day schools on the reservation and graduated from St. Mary's Episcopal High School for Indian Girls in Springfield, South Dakota in 1950.

Driving Hawk Sneve attended South Dakota State University and graduated in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science degree.  After graduation, Driving Hawk Sneve taught for a year in White, SD, teaching English and music.  The next school year she taught for only one semester at Pierre Junior High School in Pierre, SD.  From 1956 to 1964, Virginia made the decision to be a full time homemaker and stayed at home to raise her three children.  In 1965, Virginia resumed teaching at Flandreau Indian School teaching English, speech and drama.  She eventually became a guidance counselor at the Flandreau Indian School.  During this time, she also worked to receive her Master in Education degree from South Dakota State University, which she received in 1969.

In 1971, Driving Hawk Sneve made her first attempt at writing a juvenile fiction book.  Her first book was titled, "Jimmy Yellow Hawk."  She entered the manuscript for this work in a contest held by the Council on Interracial Books and was the 1971 winner.  After winning the award, publishing houses began to contact her about publishing "Jimmy Yellow Hawk."  She worked out her own contract with Holiday House, which has handled all of her books of juvenile fiction.  In 1972, her first book, "Jimmy Yellow Hawk" and her second book "High Elk's Treasure" were published by Holiday House.

In 1973, Driving Hawk Sneve expanded her writings to include non-fiction.  In that year, Brevet Press of Sioux Falls, SD published "South Dakota Geographic Names", which she edited, and "The Dakota's Heritage."  She has published more non-fiction, including her history of the Episcopal Church in South Dakota.

Driving Hawk Sneve has continued to write to the present time.  Her impressive portfolio includes adult fiction, non-fiction, short stories, articles, editorials, and book introductions, in addition to her many works for children.  Among these works are the 1995 "Completing the Circle", and "The First Americans Series" on native peoples of North America.

Driving Hawk Sneve has been actively involved in public television.  In 1977, her book, "The Chichi Hoohoo Bogeyman" was dramatized for The Vegetable Soup Children's Series.  The American Public Broadcasting Consortium also made Virginia’s second book, “High Elk’s Treasure”, into a one-hour children’s drama.  In 1980, she was a writer for the South Dakota History Series produced by South Dakota Instructional Television.  In 1981, she received a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to write a pilot for a proposed series, "I Am Different From My Brother", a Native American Consortium.

Virginia is married to Vance Sneve and resides in Rapid City, South Dakota.

SCOPE and CONTENTS NOTE

This collection is composed of manuscripts of books and articles written by Sneve, as well as research materials from the books and correspondence from both publishers and fans. General items related to Sneve’s career and hard cover copies of many of her books are also included.

The Creative Writings are comprised of Driving Hawk Sneve's creative works, both fiction and non-fiction.  Each creative work may include clippings, correspondence, manuscripts, printer's galleys, proofs, published books, research, reviews, and scripts.  The correspondence consists mainly of letters to and from publishers and letters from school children thanking Sneve for writing her book or for visiting their school.  Some of these letters include drawings by the school children.  Many of the manuscripts are edited and include comments or notes for improvements by the editor.  The research material includes notes, collected material and taped interviews.  A published book accompanies many of the titles.  A video of "High Elk's Treasure" is also included.

The General series is composed of awards, clippings, correspondence, interviews, miscellaneous items, and speaking engagement material.  The correspondence is comprised of letters to and from publishing houses, correspondence with Senator Larry Pressler, and personal correspondence.  The miscellaneous items consist of a 1901 class photograph of unidentified people, and some teaching aids.  The speaking engagement material consists mainly of correspondence that deals with arrangements of the speaking engagements but a few speeches are also included.  An item of note is an audio reel of an interview that Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve conducted with Harold Shunk, a Bureau of Indian Affairs superintendent at several South Dakota reservations.

The Other writings series is composed of Driving Hawk Sneve's works that are not considered creative.  This material includes articles published in newspapers and magazines, scripts for a South Dakota Public Radio program series, introductions and reviews for other writer's works, newspaper editorials, studies conducted for the Flandreau Indian School in Flandreau, S.D., and a contribution to "On the Wings of Peace", a compilation of short stories coordinated by Sheila Hamanaka which benefits world peace organizations.

ARRANGEMENT of the RECORDS

This collection is arranged into three series: Creative writings, General, and Other writings.

Folders are arranged in alphabetical order within each series. The Creative Writings series folders are arranged in alphabetical order by title.

SERIES 1:      Creative writings

Box 1.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

"American Indian Princesses" : Correspondence

1982-1987

2

"American Indian Princesses" : Manuscripts

[n.d.]

3

"American Indian Princesses" : Published (Country Living)

1987

4

"American Indian Princesses" : Research

[n.d.]

5

"Betrayed" : Manuscript

1974

6

"Betrayed" : Research

1973-1974

7

"Betrayed" : Text correction proof

[n.d.]

8

"The Chichi Hoohoo Bogeyman" : Book

1975

9

"The Chichi Hoohoo Bogeyman" : General

1974-1979

10

"The Chichi Hoohoo Bogeyman" : Revisions

[n.d.]

Box 2.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

"The Chichi Hoohoo Bogeyman" : Script

1977

2

"Completing the Circle" : Book (hardcover)

1995

3

"Completing the Circle" : Book (paperback)

1995

4

"Completing the Circle" : Charles Frazier research

[n.d.]

5

"Completing the Circle" : Characteristics of Wani (women?)

1986

6

"Completing the Circle" : Children of the Circle

1975-1992

7

"Completing the Circle" : Clippings

1991-1998

8

"Completing the Circle" : Correspondence

1991-1998

9

"Completing the Circle" : Family research

1887-1986

Box 3.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

"Completing the Circle" : French research

[n.d.]

2

"Completing the Circle" : Howe, Frazier, Ross research

[n.d.]

3

"Completing the Circle" : Jack Frazier research

[n.d.]

4

"Completing the Circle" : Lakota research

[n.d.]

5

"Completing the Circle" : Manuscript (edited)

[n.d.]

6

"Completing the Circle" : Manuscript (first draft)

[n.d.]

7

"Completing the Circle" : Manuscript (first submission)

[n.d.]

8

"Completing the Circle" : Missionary research

[n.d.]

9

"Completing the Circle" : Nordland Heritage Foundation Contribution

1987

10

"Completing the Circle" : Ponca research

[n.d.]

11

"Completing the Circle" : Reservation research

1937-1978

Box 4.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

"Completing the Circle" : Santee research

[n.d.]

2

"Completing the Circle" : Women of the Circle sources

1985-1989

3

"Completing the Circle" : Women research

1985-1986

4

"Dakota's Heritage" : General

1973

5

"Dakota's Heritage" : Manuscript

[n.d.]

6

"Dakota's Heritage" : Manuscript (First draft)

1973

7

"Dakota's Heritage" : Printer's copy

[n.d.]

8

"Dakota's Heritage" : Research

1974-1977

Box 5.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

"Dancing Teepees : Poems of American Indian Youth" : Book

1989

2

"Dancing Teepees : Poems of American Indian Youth" : Permissions

1986-1990

3

"Dried Corn" : Manuscript

[n.d.]

4

"First American Series : The Apaches" : Book

1997

5

"First American Series : The Apaches" : Correspondence

1995-1996

6

"First American Series : The Apaches" : Manuscript

[n.d.]

7

"First American Series : The Apaches" : Research

1991-1996

8

"First American Series : The Apaches" : Review

1998

9

"First American Series" : Book-of-the-Month Club Catalog

1994

10

"First American Series : The Cherokees" : Book

1996

11

"First American Series : The Cherokees" : Correspondence

1994-1996

12

"First American Series : The Cherokees" : Manuscript

[n.d.]

13

"First American Series : The Cherokees" : Review

1996

Box 6.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

"First American Series : The Cheyennes" : Book

1996

2

"First American Series : The Cheyennes" : Correspondence

1995-1996

3

"First American Series : The Cheyennes" : Manuscript

[n.d.]

4

"First American Series : The Cheyennes" : Research

[n.d.]

5

"First American Series : The Cheyennes" : Review

[n.d.]

6

"First American Series : The Hopis" : Book

1995

7

"First American Series : The Hopis" : Correspondence

1994-1995

8

"First American Series : The Hopis" : Manuscript

[n.d.]

9

"First American Series : The Hopis" : Research

[n.d.]

10

"First American Series : The Hopis" : Review

1995

11

"First American Series : The Iroquois" : Book

1995

12

"First American Series : The Iroquois" : Correspondence

1993-1997

13

"First American Series : The Iroquois" : Manuscript

1995

14

"First American Series : The Iroquois" : Research

[n.d.]

15

"First American Series : The Navajos" : Book

1993

16

"First American Series : The Navajos" : Correspondence

1992-1993

17

"First American Series : The Navajos" : Manuscript

1993

Box 7.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

"First American Series : The Navajos" : Research

n.d.]

2

"First American Series : The Nez Perce" : Correspondence

1993-1994

3

"First American Series : The Nez Perce" : Manuscript

[n.d.]

4

"First American Series : The Nez Perce" : Research

[n.d.]

5

"First American Series : The Seminoles" : Book

1994

6

"First American Series : The Seminoles" : Correspondence

1991-1993

7

"First American Series : The Seminoles" : Manuscript

1994

8

"First American Series : The Seminoles" : Research

[n.d.]

9

"First American Series : The Sioux" : Book

1993

10

"First American Series : The Sioux" : Correspondence

1991-1993

11

"First American Series : The Sioux" : Manuscript

1993

12

"Grandpa was a Cowboy and an Indian" : Correspondence

1975-1976

13

"Grandpa was a Cowboy and an Indian" : Manuscript

[n.d.]

14

"High Elk's Treasure" : Book

1972

15

"High Elk's Treasure" : Correspondence

1971-1995

16

"High Elk's Treasure" : Manuscript (edited)

[n.d.]

17

"High Elk's Treasure" : Manuscript (first draft)

1971

18

"High Elk's Treasure" : Research

[n.d.]

19

"High Elk's Treasure" : Reviews

1972-1996

Box 8.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

"High Elk's Treasure" : Script

1983-1984

2

"In Addition to Brutality" " Manuscript

[n.d.]

3

"Jimmy Yellow Hawk" : Correspondence

1970-1977

4

"Jimmy Yellow Hawk" : Manuscript

[n.d.]

5

"Jimmy Yellow Hawk" : Reviews

1971-1973

6

"The Medicine Bag" : Book (Climb the Hill textbook)

1987

Box 9.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

"The Medicine Bag" : Book (Climb the Hill workbook)

1987

2

"The Medicine Bag" : Book (More Encounters textbook)

1995

3

"The Medicine Bag" : Correspondence

1973-1979

4

"The Medicine Bag" : Correspondence

1980-1989

5

"The Medicine Bag" : Correspondence

1990-1999

6

"The Medicine Bag" : Manuscript

[n.d.]

7

"The Medicine Bag" : Short story (published in Boy's Life)

1975

8

"Mini Book Project : A Dakota Pow Wow ; The Time of the Horse ; The Tribe of the Burnt Thigh" : Correspondence

1980-1981

9

"Mini Book Project : A Dakota Pow Wow ; The Time of the Horse ; The Tribe of the Burnt Thigh" : Manuscript

[n.d.]

10

"The Reservation" : Correspondence

1971

11

"The Reservation" : Manuscript

1971

12

"A Sad Time" : Manuscript

[n.d.]

13

"The Slim Butte Ghost" : Manuscript

1984

14

"South Dakota Geographic Names" : Correspondence

1973

15

"South Dakota Geographic Names" : Manuscript (final draft)

1973

Box 10.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

"South Dakota Geographic Names" : Research

[n.d.]

2

"South Dakota Geographic Names" : Review

[n.d.]

3

"Sovereigns of the Sioux" : Manuscript

[n.d.]

4

"They Led a Nation" : Manuscript

[n.d.]

5

"Three Lakota Grandmother Stories" : Book

1975

6

"Three Lakota Grandmother Stories" : Correspondence

1971-1975

7

"Three Lakota Grandmother Stories" : Manuscripts

[n.d.]

8

"The Trickster and the Troll" : Correspondence

1996-1998

9

"The Trickster and the Troll" : Manuscript (with computer disk)

1996

10

"The Twelve Moons" : Correspondence

1976-1977

11

"The Twelve Moons" : Manuscript

[n.d.]

12

"When Thunders Spoke" : Correspondence

1973

13

"When Thunders Spoke" : Manuscript

1972

14

"When Thunders Spoke" : Proof

[n.d.]

15

"When Thunders Spoke" : Reviews

1974

16

"The White Man's Bones" : Manuscript (accompanying Maka Sica Photo Exhibit)

1987

Box 15.

Description

Dates

"Completing the Circle" Family research (audio cassette - 1)

1984-1986

"Completing the Circle" Women research (audio cassette - 1)

1986

"High Elk's Treasure" : Video (1)

1980

"The Medicine Bag" : Audio cassette (Literature and the Language Arts Audio Library)

1998

Box 16.

Description

Dates

"High Elk's Treasure" : Braille copy (2 books)

1992

Box 17.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

"Betrayed" : Book jacket proofs

[n.d.]

2

"Betrayed" : Printers proofs

[n.d.]

3

"Dancing Teepees : Poems of American Indian Youth" : Manuscript

1989

4

"First Americans Series : The Apaches" : Galleys, proofs

1996

5

"First Americans Series : The Cherokees" : Galleys, proofs

1996

6

"First Americans Series : The Iroquois" : Galleys, proofs

1994

7

"First Americans Series : The Navajos" : Galleys, proofs

1992

8

"First Americans Series : The Nez Perce" : Galleys, proofs

1994

9

"First Americans Series : The Seminoles" : Galleys, proofs

1993

10

"First Americans Series : The Sioux" : Galleys, proofs

1993

11

"Jimmy Yellow Hawk" : Galley (first proof)

1971

12

"Jimmy Yellow Hawk" : Manuscript

[n.d.]

13

"Jimmy Yellow Hawk" : Photostat of book jacket

[n.d.]

14

"When Thunders Spoke" : Galley

1973

SERIES 2:      General

Box 11.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

Article about Sneve ("Indian Women" by Bernie Hunhoff)

1995

2

Bicentennial/American Issues Forum Series

1975-1976

3

Clippings

1968-1980

4

Clippings

1994-1999

5

Corporation for Public Broadcasting grant

1977-1978

6

Correspondence : Center for Western Studies

1983-1987

7

Correspondence : Elementary school students

1996, [n.d.]

8

Correspondence : General

1974-1979

9

Correspondence : General

1980-1984

Box 12.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

Correspondence : General

1985-1995

2

Correspondence : Holiday House

1976-1995

3

Correspondence : Larry Pressler

1976-1995

4

Correspondence : McClanahan & Company

1991-1992

5

Correspondence : Personal

1976-1992

6

Dakota Indian Foundation calendar "Honoring American Indian Women"

1993

7

National League of American Pen Women

1972-1980

8

Native American Public Broadcasting Consortium : "I Am Different From My Brother"

1976-1985

Box 13.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

Native Americans of the 20th Century (Sneve biographical booklet)

1976

2

NEA Author-Illustrator Human Rights award

1996

3

North American Indian Prose award

1996

4

Photographs

1997, [n.d.]

5

Research papers on Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve (penned by others)

1988-1990

6

South Dakota Press Women : Women of Achievement award

1974-1985

7

Speaking engagements

1970-1977

8

Speaking engagements

1978-1986

Box 15.

Description

Dates

"ABC's of Pluralism" : audio cassette (tape 1)

1978

"ABC's of Pluralism" : audio cassette (tape 2)

1978

Commentary at Indian Awareness Days : audio reel (1), sheet

[n.d.]

Harold Shunk conversation - audio reel (1)

[n.d.]

NEA Author-Illustrator Human Rights award : banquet video (1)

1996

Box 17.

Folder

Description

Dates

15

Miscellaneous

1901, 1972

SERIES 3:      Other writings

Box 14.

Folder

Description

Dates

1

Articles

1975-1978

2

Classroom Television Series : "South Dakota Adventures" (scripts)

1980

3

Introduction to "The Black Hills; or Last Hunting Grounds of the Dakotahs" by Annie D. Tallent

1974-1975

4

Introduction to "Legends of the Mighty Sioux" compiled by Workers of the SD Writers' Project

1987

5

Newspaper editorial (Bill Janklow)

1978

6

"On the Wings of Peace" coordinated by Sheila Hamanaka : contribution

1994-1996

7

Reviews of other works

1974-1980

8

Studies for Flandreau Indian School

1964-1985

9

Study guide of Zitkala-Sa (Gertrude Bonnin)

1988-1989

Box 16.

Description

Dates

"On the Wings of Peace" coordinated by Sheila Hamanaka :   posters (2)

1995

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Updated 8 July 2008 by cjg

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