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.

ARRANGEMENT of the RECORDS 

This collection is arranged into three series:

SERIES I:     Creative Writings, 1887-1999

This series is 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.

Folders are arranged in alphabetical order by title.

Box 1.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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 Americans Series : The Apaches" : Book, 1997

  5. "First Americans Series : The Apaches" : Correspondence, 1995-1996

  6. "First Americans Series : The Apaches" : Manuscript, [n.d.]

  7. "First Americans Series : The Apaches" : Research, 1991-1996

  8. "First Americans Series : The Apaches" : Review, 1998

  9. "First Americans Series" : Book-of-the-Month Club Catalog, 1994

  10. "First Americans Series : The Cherokees" : Book, 1996

  11. "First Americans Series : The Cherokees" : Correspondence, 1994-1996

  12. "First Americans Series : The Cherokees" : Manuscript, [n.d.]

  13. "First Americans Series : The Cherokees" : Review, 1996

Box 6.

  1. "First Americans Series : The Cheyennes" : Book, 1996

  2. "First Americans Series : The Cheyennes" : Correspondence, 1995-1996

  3. "First Americans Series : The Cheyennes" : Manuscript, [n.d.]

  4. "First Americans Series : The Cheyennes" : Research, [n.d.]

  5. "First Americans Series : The Cheyennes" : Review, [n.d.]

  6. "First Americans Series : The Hopis" : Book, 1995

  7. "First Americans Series : The Hopis" : Correspondence, 1994-1995

  8. "First Americans Series : The Hopis" : Manuscript, [n.d.]

  9. "First Americans Series : The Hopis" : Research, [n.d.]

  10. "First Americans Series : The Hopis" : Review, 1995

  11. "First Americans Series : The Iroquois" : Book, 1995

  12. "First Americans Series : The Iroquois" : Correspondence, 1993-1997

  13. "First Americans Series : The Iroquois" : Manuscript, 1995

  14. "First Americans Series : The Iroquois" : Research, [n.d.]

  15. "First Americans Series : The Navajos" : Book, 1993

  16. "First Americans Series : The Navajos" : Correspondence, 1992-1993

  17. "First Americans Series : The Navajos" : Manuscript, 1993

Box 7.

  1. "First Americans Series : The Navajos" : Research, [n.d.]

  2. "First Americans Series : The Nez Perce" : Correspondence, 1993-1994

  3. "First Americans Series : The Nez Perce" : Manuscript, [n.d.]

  4. "First Americans Series : The Nez Perce" : Research, [n.d.]

  5. "First Americans Series : The Seminoles" : Book, 1994

  6. "First Americans Series : The Seminoles" : Correspondence, 1993-1994

  7. "First Americans Series : The Seminoles" : Manuscript, 1994

  8. "First Americans Series : The Seminoles" : Research, [n.d.]

  9. "First Americans Series : The Sioux" : Book, 1993

  10. "First Americans Series : The Sioux" : Correspondence, 1991-1993

  11. "First Americans 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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  • "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

  • "High Elk's Treasure" : Braille copy (2 books), 1992

Box 17. (oversize)

  1. "Betrayed" : Book Jacket Proofs, [n.d.]

  2. "Betrayed" : Printer's Proof, [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 II:     General, 1901-1996

This 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.

Folders are arranged in alphabetical order.

Box 11.

  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, [n.d.] ; 1996

  8. Correspondence : General, 1974-1979

  9. Correspondence : General, 1980-1984

Box 12.

  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.

  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, [n.d.] ; 1997

  5. Research papers on Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve (penned by others), 1988-1990

  6. South Dakota Press Women : Woman of Achievement Award, 1974-1975

  7. Speaking Engagements, 1970-1977

  8. Speaking Engagements, 1978-1986

Box 15.

  • "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. (oversize)

  1. Miscellaneous, 1901, 1972

SERIES III:     Other Writings, 1964-1996

This 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.

Folders are arranged in alphabetical order.

Box 14.

  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 17. (oversize)

  1. "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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