SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
& Hilton M.
Briggs Library Special Collections
Robert F. Karolevitz papers
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Biographical
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COLLECTION SUMMARY Title: Robert F. Karolevitz Papers Dates: 1833-2005, undated (bulk 1910-1999) Creator: Robert F. Karolevitz Physical description: 65.81 linear feet—58 containers, 3,770 photographs, 346 negatives, 264 slides, 1 color transparency, 2 audio cassettes, 1 micro-audio cassette Collection number: MA 39 Language: Collection material in English. Repository: South Dakota State University Archives, Hilton M. Briggs Library, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D. Abstract: Freelance author and humorist. Articles, manuscripts, columns, commercial writing, political ghostwriting, speeches, clippings, photographs, professional and personal correspondence, and research files relating either directly to books or material of interest. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Provenance: The bulk of this collection was donated to South Dakota State University Archives by Bob and Phyllis Karolevitz in the summer of 2005. The Paper Mountain manuscript material was donated in March 1999 to the Archives by Dennis Lundgren, SDSU Printing Laboratory manager. Access Restrictions: This collection is open to research with the following restrictions:
Copyright Status: Copyright 2007 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]. Robert F. Karolevitz papers, MA 39, South Dakota State University Archives, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S. D. Processing Information: Crystal J. Gamradt, C.A., Staff Archivist, began processing this collection in March of 2006 with completion in October of 2007. 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. Names:
Butler, Frank Osgood,
1861- Subjects:
Advertising—Automobiles. Occupations:
Freelancers. Locations:
Douglas County
(S.D.)—History. Organizations:
Catholic Dioceses of
Sioux Falls (S.D.)—History. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE Robert F. Karolevitz, a native of Yankton, South Dakota, was born at Sacred Heart Hospital on April 26, 1922. He began his writing career in high school as editor of the school newspaper and yearbook. He also wrote a sports column for the Yankton Public Opinion. After graduation from Yankton High School in 1940, he began studying printing and journalism at South Dakota State College. From 1943 to 1946, Karolevitz served with the United States Army Infantry in Japan and the Philippines during World War II. He attained the rank of captain of the 25th Infantry, and, as division historian, wrote his first book, The 25th Infantry Division and World War II which was published by the Army and Nave Publishing Company in 1946. Following his military service, he returned to South Dakota State College and graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Printing and Rural Journalism. From Brookings, Karolevitz went on to study at the University of Oregon, where he earned a master’s degree in journalism. As an army reservist in 1950, Karolevitz attended a 14-week course at the Armed Forces Information School in Pennsylvania and gained national attention for his article about the program in Quill, a magazine for professional journalists. In 1951, he was recalled to active duty as a public-information officer at the Seattle (Washington) Port of Embarkation where he organized and promoted welcome home celebrations for returning Korean War veterans. Later in the Korean War, he worked as a public-information officer with the United States Eighth Army. His duties included serving in Korea as a feature writer, document censor, and press escort for the Panmunjom Peace Train. In 1951, Karolevitz and his wife, Phyllis (Gunderson) settled in Seattle, Washington. He began working as a freelance promoter and publicist for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. He also worked at political ghost writing, commercial writing, and advertising, eventually becoming president of the Seattle Advertising Club. Karolevitz established himself as a writer of popular history with his book Newspapering in the Old West: A Pictorial History of Journalism and Printing on the Frontier, published in 1965 by Superior Publishing in Seattle. He won a special award for excellence from the Washington State Chapter of Sigma Delta Chi for this book. After almost two decades in the Seattle, Washington, area, Karolevitz returned to South Dakota with his wife Phyllis and two daughters, Jan and Jill. Here he continued his freelance writing career and began building a publication list that included numerous historical works. These included Where Your Heart Is: The Story of Harvey Dunn, Artist which earned Karolevitz the National Cowboy Hall of Fame Wrangler Award, presented to outstanding writers in the field of western literature; Challenge: The South Dakota Story an historical overview of the state written in conjunction with the South Dakota Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and for which he was presented the Western Writers Award for Achievement by the Center of Western Studies at Augustana College, in Sioux Falls, S.D; and Flight of Eagles: The Story of the American Kościuszko Squadron in the Polish-Russian War, 1919-1920, written with Ross Fenn. This is the story of a group of World War I American fliers who choose to stay in Europe to fight with Polish forces during a year-long war against Russia. Karolevitz and Fenn were awarded a Gold Merit Cross from the Polish Government-in-Exile in London. Along with his historical works, Karolevitz authored a column entitled “Writer at Large,” which appeared in a number of South Dakota newspapers. He also wrote “The Way It Was,” a historical column featured in the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan. He compiled his favorite columns into two books, Tears in My Horseradish (1983) and Toulouse the Goose and Other Ridiculous Stories (1985). Karolevitz has served as a board member for many institutions, including Yankton County Historical Society, the South Dakota Hall of Fame, and the South Dakota Art Museum. He was elected to the South Dakota State Historical Society Board of Trustees in 1973 and served for over thirty years, retiring in June 2005. He also played a role in the establishment of the South Dakota State Historical Society Press in 1997, acting as financial advisor and author’s advocate. He has served as president of the South Dakota State University Alumni Association and has received its Distinguished Alumni Award. He is past chairman of Sacred Heart Hospital board of trustees and the South Dakota Health Systems Agency. He was chairman of the board of Lewis & Clark Health Education & Service Agency, and served on the board of directors of the Yankton Area Health Education Center. Throughout most of his professional career, Karolevitz has published nearly forty books, written dozens of columns, and sold over one thousand magazine articles, features, and poems, many to national publications. In honor of his years of achievement, he was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 1973 and selected as the organization’s Writer of the Year in 1986. The South Dakota Newspaper Association named him Distinguished Citizen of the Year in 1981, and the South Dakota Council of Teachers of English named his Author of the Year for 1989-1990. Karolevitz received the Pankow Media Award in 1991 and was chosen as Yankton’s Citizen of the Year in 1981 for his literary work and civic involvement. He also earned the Bishop Dudley Media Award from the Diocese of Sioux Falls (2004) and the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award (2005). Bibliography: Bishop Martin Marty: “The Black Robe Lean Chief.” Yankton, S.D.: Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Covent, 1980. A Century of Love: The First 100 Years of the Children’s Home Society of South Dakota, 1893-1993. Mission Hill, S.D.: Dakota Homestead Publishers for the Children’s Home Foundation, 1993. Challenge: The South Dakota Story. Sioux Falls, S.D.: Brevet Press, 1975. A Commitment to Care: The First 100 years of Sacred Heart Hospital, 1897-1997. Mission Hill, S.D.: Dakota Homestead Publishers, 1997. Doctors of the Old West: A Pictorial History of Medicine on the Frontier. Seattle, Wash.: Superior Pub. Co. 1967. Douglas County: “The Little Giant.” Armour, S.D.: Douglas County Historical Society, 1983. “E.G., “Inventor by Necessity: The Story of E. G. Melroe and the Melroe Company. Aberdeen, S.D., North Plains Press, 1968. Everything’s Green … but My Thumb. Aberdeen, S.D., North Plains Press, 1971. Flight of Eagles: The Story of the American Kosciuszko Squadron in the Polish-Russian War 1919-1920. With Ross S. Fenn. Sioux Falls, S.D.: Brevet Press, 1974. From Quill to Computer: The Story of America’s Community Newspapers. N.p.: National Newspaper Foundation, 1985. George Washington: Northwest City Builder, Chicago, Ill., Johnson Publishing, 1963 The Golfer’s Good Book. Mission Hill, S.D.: Dakota Homestead Publishers, 1991. An Historic Sampler of Davison County. Virginia Beach, Va.: Donning Co., 1993. Joe Floyd : A Helluva Salesman. Mission Hill, S.D., Dakota Homestead, 1990. Kemper Freeman, Sr., and the Bellevue Story. Mission Hill, S.D.: Homestead Publishers, 1984. Newspapering in the Old West; A Pictorial History of Journalism and Printing on the Frontier. Seattle, Superior Pub. Co., 1965. Old-time Agriculture in the Ads: Being a Compendium of Magazine and Newspaper Sales Literature, Reminiscent of the Days When Farming Was a Way of Life, and Horsepower Came in Horses. Aberdeen, S.D.: North Plains Press, 1970. Old-time Autos in the Ads: Being a Hodge-podge of Automotive Memorabilia. Yankton, S.D.: Homestead Publishers, 1973. Paper Mountain: The Story of Frank Osgood Butler. Brookings, S.D.: F.O. Butler Foundation, 1980. Pioneer Church in a Pioneer City: The Story of Sacred Heart Parish, Yankton, South Dakota, 1871-1971. Aberdeen, S.D., North Plains Press, 1971. The Prairie is My Garden: The Story of Harvey Dunn. Aberdeen, S.D.: North Plains Press, 1969. Public Relations: Rx for the Health Care Team. Saint Louis, Mo: Catholic Health Association of the United States, 1983. Tears in My Horseradish: Being a Collection of Columns by Bob Karolevitz with Photographic Embellishments by Bernie Hunhoff, Jr. Gayville, S.D.: The Observer, 1983. The 25th Infantry Division and World War II. Baton Rouge, La: Army & Navy Publishing, 1946. They Always Called Him Coach: A Biography of Carl Ivan Youngworth. Mission Hills, S.D.: Dakota Homestead Publishers, 1993. This Was Pioneer Motoring: An Album of Nostalgic Automemorablia. Seattle, Wash., Superior Pub. Co. 1968. This Was Trucking: A Pictorial History of the First Quarter Century of Commercial Motor Vehicles, Seattle, Wash., Superior Pub. Co., 1966. Torchy! : The Biography and Reminiscences of Roscoe C. Torrance. Mission Hill, S.D., Dakota Homestead Publishers, 1988. Toulouse the Goose and Other Ridiculous Stories: A Collection of Columns by Bob Karolevitz, with Fun Photography by Bernie Hunhoff, Jr., and Dave Dringman. Yankton, S.D.: Missouri Valley Observer, 1985. Uniquely South Dakota. With Bernie Hunhoff, Jr. Norfolk, Va.: Donning Co., 1988. Where Your Heart Is: The Story of Harvey Dunn, Artist. Aberdeen, S.D.: North Plains Press, 1970. With a Shirt Tail Full of Type: The Story of Newspapering in South Dakota, N.p.: South Dakota Press Association, 1982. With Faith, Hope and Tenacity: The First One Hundred Years of the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls, 1889-1989. Mission Hill, S.D.: Dakota Homestead Publishers, 1989. Yankton: A Pioneer Past. Aberdeen, S.D.: North Plains Press, 1972. Rev. etc., Mission Hill, S.D.: Dakota Homestead Publishers, 1997. Yankton: The way It Was: Being a Collection of Historical Columns. Yankton, S.D.: Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan, 1998. Yankton College: A Continuing Story. Mission Hill, S.D., Dakota Homestead Publishers, 2003. Yesterday’s Motorcycles. Mission Hill, S.D.: Homestead Publishers, 1986. SCOPE and CONTENTS NOTE The papers of Robert F. Karolevitz (1922-) span the years 1833-2005, with the bulk of the material dating from 1910-1999. The papers are organized in the following series: Personal Files, Professional Files, and Research Files. The Personal Files series (MA 39.1) spans the years 1894-2005, with the bulk of the material dating from 1968-1981. The papers are organized in the following subseries: Audiovisual Material, Awards and Recognition, Clubs and Organizations, Committees and Boards, Correspondence, Education, Ephemera and Collected Material, Family, Financial and Legal, and Other Interests and Activities. The bulk of this series is composed of material relating to personal areas of Karolevitz’s life not directly related with his professional writing career. The exception to this would be the correspondence series which is composed of material related to both his professional and personal life and includes correspondence with family members and friends. The Professional Files series (MA 39.2) spans the years 1947-2002, with the bulk of the material dating from 1960-1969. The papers are organized in the following subseries: Articles, Books and Manuscripts, Business, Columns, Commercial Writing and Advertising, Military Writings, Other Material Related to Writings, Other Writings, Political Ghostwriting, Publishers, and Speeches. This series consists of material created by Karolevitz during his career. Included are articles that were published in various periodicals, manuscripts and other material related to books written by Karolevitz, columns written for several different newspapers, commercial writing and advertising material, political ghostwriting material and speech files. Also included is material related to publishers, other writings, and other material related to writings, such as layout material, rejection slips, and catalogs that listed his books for sale. The Research Files series (MA 39.3) spans the years 1833-2005, with the bulk of the material dating from 1910-1999. The papers are organized in the following subseries: Automotive, Catholic Church, General Topics, Journalism, Kościuszko Squadron, Medicine, Persons, South Dakota, State Capitols (U.S.) and Photographs. This sub-group is composed of material collected by Karolevitz relating either directly to research for books and articles that he wrote or material that was of interest to him. Material consists mainly of clippings of newspapers and magazine articles, publications, booklets, brochures, pamphlets, photographs and illustrations, correspondence, notes written by Karolevitz and other miscellaneous collected material. Many folders contain only one or a few items. ARRANGEMENT of the PAPERS The Robert F. Karolevitz Papers are arranged into three subgroups; Personal Files, Professional Files, and Subject Files, and thereunder into series. SUB-GROUP I: PERSONAL FILES (MA 39.1), 1894-2005, undated (bulk 1968-1981) Audiovisual Material, 1996, undated This series is composed of two audio cassettes that consist of radio interviews of Karolevitz by King Radio in Seattle, Washington and KYNT Radio of Yankton, South Dakota. Also included is a micro-audio cassette that is unidentifiable. This material is arranged alphabetically by title. Box 1.
Awards and Recognition, 1931-2004, undated This series is composed of awards, certificates of appreciation and other items related to recognizing Karolevitz for his work. Material includes certificates of appreciation, appreciation for participation, plaques, etc. Folders are arranged in alphabetical order. The oversize material has been separated and is arranged according to size. Box 1.
Box 2.
Box 51. [oversize]
Clubs and Organizations, 1953-1987 This series is composed of material collected by Karolevitz as a result of his membership in various clubs and organizations, including the National Newspaper Association and the Seattle (Washington) Advertising Club. Folders contain clippings, correspondence, photographs, minutes, directories, newsletters, photographs, and handwritten notes. Folders are arranged in alphabetical order. Box 2.
Box 52. [oversize]
Committees and Boards, 1905-2005, undated This series is composed of files related to committees and boards on which Karolevitz served, including the Benedictine Health Foundation, the Health Services Center Building Utilization and Planning Committee, the Lewis & Clark Health Education and Service Agency, the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail Advisory Council, the Ruth School for Girls, Sacred Heart Hospital, Shared Resources, Inc., the SDSU Alumni Association, the South Dakota Hall of Fame, the South Dakota Health Services Agency, the South Dakota Hospital Association, the South Dakota State Historical Society, the South Dakota Regional Medical Programs/ Community Health Programs (RMP/CHP) Advisory Group, the South Dakota State Historical Society, the Yankton Area Health Education Center, the Yankton (S.D.) Chamber of Commerce, and the Yankton County Historical Society and Old Settlers Association. Folders contain agendas, minutes, annual reports, correspondence, clippings, photographs, and speeches. The subseries are arranged alphabetically. Folders within each subseries are arranged in alphabetical order and thereunder chronologically. Oversize material has been separated and is arranged according to size. Box 2. Benedictine Health Foundation
Box 3. Health Services Center Building Utilization and Planning Committee (State of SD)
Lewis & Clark Health Education and Service Agency
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail Advisory Council
Ruth School for Girls
Sacred Heart Hospital
Box 4. SDSU Alumni Association
Shared Resources, Inc.
South Dakota Hall of Fame
South Dakota Health Services Agency
Box 51. [oversize]
Box 4. South Dakota Hospital Association
South Dakota Regional Medical Programs/Community Health Programs
South Dakota State Historical Society
Box 5.
Yankton Area Health Education Center (in association with USD)
Yankton (S.D.) Chamber of Commerce
Yankton County Historical Society and Old Settlers Association
Correspondence, 1939-2005, undated This series is composed of professional and personal correspondence. Folders contain letters to and from friends, business associates, and research sources, as well as invitations to speak, correspondence with researchers, and book orders. Much of the correspondence consists of letters from correspondents and includes Karolevitz’s response. Karolevitz utilized various filing schemes in filing correspondence: alphabetical, chronological, active, and deceased. The processor chose the arrangement based on the bulk of the material. This series is minimally processed in that the correspondence has been sorted by year only. Material within each folder has not been arranged any further. Folders are arranged in chronological order. Box 5.
Box 6.
Box 7.
Box 8.
Education, 1947, 1964-1969, 1977, 1988, undated This series is composed of material related to Karolevitz’s work as an instructor at Mount Marty College and the University of Washington as well as workshops presented by Karolevitz, and course work completed by Karolevitz as a student. Folders contain course material, schedules, correspondence, clippings, and material related to Karolevitz’s academic career and includes notes and course work. Folders are arranged in alphabetical order. Box 9.
Ephemera and Collected Material, 1907-1914, 1939-1972, 1978, 1983-2005, undated This series is composed of various ephemera and collected material that did not fit into any other subgroups or series, but had intrinsic value to the collection. Folders contain a variety of materials including clippings about Karolevitz, business cards, name tags, signs, and other similar material. Also included is the typewriter Karolevitz used to write his many books, articles and columns. Folders are arranged in alphabetical order. Box 9.
Box 53. [oversize]
Box 50. [oversize]
Box 11.
Family, 1933, 1954-1996, undated This series is composed of correspondence with family members: Phyllis, Jan, Jill, Frank, and Ruth Hagen Karolevitz. Folders contain letters, greeting cards, clippings, and photographs. Folders are arranged in alphabetical order. Box 9.
Box 10.
Financial and Legal, 1894, 1902, 1907, 1913, 1920-2000 This series is composed of materials related to financial and legal matters, including property, stocks, and insurance. Folders contain insurance policies, mortgage and contracts for deed, abstracts for title of property, stock holder information, and vehicle information, including loans, insurance and licensing. Folders are arranged in alphabetical order. Box 10.
Box 50. [oversize]
Other Interests and Activities, 1955-1991, undated This series is composed of files for activities in which Karolevitz was involved including church membership, college alumni material, and projects in which Karolevitz had some involvement. Folders contain correspondence and clippings. Folders are arranged in alphabetical order. Box 10.
SUB-GROUP II: PROFESSIONAL FILES (MA 39.2), 1947-2002, undated (bulk 1960-1969) Articles, 1937, 1940-1942, 1944, 1947-1999 Karolevitz wrote well over 1,000 articles during his career. This series is composed of many of those articles and their original manuscripts. The published article title may differ from the original manuscript title. In order to maintain consistency, articles were filed by the original manuscript title. Articles for which no original manuscript was located are filed by published article title. Manuscripts for the articles are annotated by Karolevitz as to which periodical the article was submitted to and whether the manuscript was accepted or rejected. Some folders contain more that one draft of the manuscript. Also included is correspondence, clips of the published articles, photographs, and illustrations. Folders are arranged in alphabetical order by manuscript title. Folders are arranged in alphabetical order by manuscript title. Box 12.
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