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COLLECTION SUMMARY
Title:
Bert
Popowski papers
Dates:
1935-1978
Creator:
Bert
Popowski
Physical
Description:
4.32 linear feet—8 containers, 93 photographs, 7
negatives
Collection number:
MA 5
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 articles, manuscripts, and materials related to
Popowski’s career as author and hunter. Included are photographs,
illustrations, and many articles. Bulk of collection is copies of
articles authored by Popowski on the subject of hunting and wildlife.
ADMINISTRATIVE
INFORMATION
Provenance:
Bert Popowski donated his personal library of books, photographs,
manuscripts and wildlife-related materials to South Dakota State
University in 1979. Popowski is noted as an outdoor writer. He wrote
ten books concerning various aspects of outdoor sports such as hunting
and fishing. His writings emphasized the important of habitat
management.
Access Restrictions:
This collection is open to research without restriction.
Items in this collection do
not circulate and may be used in-house only.
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]. Bert Popowski papers, MA 5, South Dakota
State University Archives, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.
D.
Processing
Information:
All of the photographs have been separated from the collection and
placed in the Photograph Archives for preservation purposes.
This collection was
received prior to 1997, when SDSU Archives was established. The then
acting archivist created a preliminary inventory of materials received.
Final processing of this collection was conducted by Crystal J. Gamradt
on 31 March 1998 with revisions on June 24, 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.
Names:
-
Elliott, Gordon.
-
Popowski, Bert.
Subjects:
-
Big game hunting.
-
Fowling.
-
Game bird hunting.
-
Hunting.
BACKGROUND NOTE
Bert John Popowski was
born in Grafton, North Dakota on February 15, 1904. He lived in Grafton
throughout his elementary and high school years. He attended South
Dakota State College in Brookings, South Dakota and graduated with a
Bachelor of Science degree in printing in 1926. He married Harriet
Seymour of Aberdeen, SD in 1930. They had two sons, John Seymour and
Jerome Bert.
Throughout his career,
Bert lived in various areas of the United States and held several
different jobs, ranging from a high school principal to associate editor
for Look Magazine. From 1951 to his death in 1982, he worked as a
freelance writer, author, and contributing editor for several
publications.
During a career that
spanned half a century, Bert wrote over 2,300 articles. His first
feature story appeared in Outdoor Life in 1931. He served as
contributing editor for The American Rifleman writing a column
titled Dope Bag. He also wrote columns for several other magazines,
including Hunting for The Outdoorsman, Guns and Ammunition for
Hunting & Fishing, and The Shot Tower for Guns and Hunting.
He wrote several major books and gained national prominence with his
classic Hunting Pronghorn Antelope. Some of his works were translated
into Spanish and Japanese. He was also an award-winning photographer,
and his photographs illustrated many of his articles and books.
In his earlier years,
he was best known as an expert varmint hunter. Several of his books did
much to popularize this form of hunting. In 1932, he built a log cabin
near the Narrows on French Creek in Custer State Park. There he
weathered the Great Depression and did most of his writing. In 1949 he
won the National Crow Shooting Championship, using calls of his own
design to take first place over 51 other contestants. Bert was always
interested in natural history and wildlife management as well as
hunting.
In 1980, he donated a
collection of his books, original manuscripts, and photographs to his
alma mater, South Dakota State University. At the convention of the
Outdoor Writers Association of America in Rapid City, the State of South
Dakota presented him with a special award as the Dean of South Dakota
Outdoor Writers. In the 1980’s, Bert contracted cancer and eventually
suffered a stroke, which hospitalized him. He died on February 14,
1982.
Bibliography:
Calling All Game,
Harrisburg, Pa., Stackpole Co. [1952] SK33.P6ca
Calling All Varmints,
Harrisburg, Pa., Stackpole Co. [1952] SK33.P6c
Crow Shooting,
New York : A.S. Barnes and Company [1946]
SK325.C7 P6
Hunting Pronghorn
Antelope,
Harrisburg, Pa., Stackpole Co. [1959] SK305.A6
P6h
Hunting Small Game,
New York : Macmillian Co., 1948. SK36.P63
Manual dil Cazador de
Alimanas y Grajos,
[The varmint and crow hunter’s bible. Spanish], Barcelona :
Editorial Sintes, 1964, c 1962. SK33.P58718
Olt’s Hunting Handbook,
[Omaha?, c1948] SK313.P6
South Dakota Brags,
Custer, S.D.: The Author, 1953. F651.5.P6
The Hunter’s Book of
the Pronghorn Antelope,
Tulsa, Okla., Winchester Press, c1982.
SK305.P76 P66 1982
The Redbook of Big
Game Hunting,
Skokie, Ill., Publishers Development Corp., 1961.
SK33.P588
The Varmint and Crow
Hunter’s Bible,
Garden City, N. Y., Doubleday, [1962].
SK33.P587
Varmint Hunting,
Paterson, N. J., Athletic Activities Pub. Co., 1971.
SK336.P66
SCOPE and CONTENTS
NOTE
This collection is
composed of articles, manuscripts, and materials related to Popowski’s
career as author and hunter. Included are photographs, illustrations,
and many articles. Bulk of collection is copies of articles authored by
Popowski on the subject of hunting and wildlife.
ARRANGEMENT of the
RECORDS
The Bert Popowski
Papers are arranged into eight series: General, Illustrations, Japanese
Magazine: Modern Hunting, Manuscripts, Phonograph Record, Photographs,
Published Articles, and Research Material.
Many of the
manuscripts are accompanied by correspondence sent to publishers and an
information card, which notes to which publications Popowski sent his
manuscripts, whether or not they were published and the amount he was
paid for these manuscripts. Several of the manuscripts were published
in books as collected works.
The largest series is
Popowski’s collection of articles he had published in various hunting
and wildlife publications. These articles cover a wide range of
subjects from big game, crow and varmint hunting to safety and
conservation issues. Included also is an autographed copy of The
Outdoorsman (June 1947) in which Popowski wrote an article titled
“Off-Season” Duck Hunting.
There are several
black and white photographs, mostly of wildlife and hunting, and a few
negatives. Some items of note are 22 matted and signed black and white
photographs that Popowski entered into a photography contest at the Iowa
State Fair. He won first prize for these photographs.
The illustrations
consist of several loose-leaf illustrations of crows drawn by Gordon
Elliott for Popowski's book titled Crow Shooting and include 29
ink drawings. Also included are two folders of photograph proofs (37
pages) for Popowski’s book titled Hunting Pronghorn Antelope, 1
mat board drawing of a fireplace in what is suspected to be Popowski’s
cabin and drawn by C. Greenidge and one phonograph record titled
Crow Calling.
SERIES I: General,
1942-1976, [n.d.]
Box 1.
-
Correspondence, 1942-1951
-
Correspondence, 1952
-
Correspondence, 1953-1976
-
Miscellaneous, [n.d.]
SERIES II: Illustrations, [n.d.]
Box 8.
-
Drawings: 29 Ink Drawings, [n.d.]
-
Drawings: 1 Matted Drawing of a Fireplace drawn by C.
Greenidge, [n.d.]
-
Proofs: Crow Shooting Illustrations (33 Pgs.), [n.d.]
SERIES III: Japanese Magazine: Modern
Hunting,1968-1970
Box 7.
-
Translation Of Article Titles, 1968-1970
-
[No Articles Found], 1968 Jun.
-
Crow Shooting; Pp. 30-38, 1969 Aug.
-
Crow Shooting (Last - Decoy); Pp. 56-64, 1969 Sep.
-
Decoying Ducks; Pp. 54-61, 1969 October
-
Detail Survey Of Deer Hunting By Calling (Part 1);
Pp. 30-35 and Calling For Ducks: Pp. 98-101, 1969 November
-
Detail Survey Of Deer Hunting By Calling (Part 2);
Pp. 30-37, 1969 December
-
Aim Of Elk Hunting; Pp. 38-43, 1970 January
-
Decoying The Divers: Pp. 17-24, 1970 February
SERIES IV: Manuscripts, 1946-1978, [n.d.]
Box 2.
-
Alaska, 1967-1974
-
Big Game, 1957-1970
-
Big Game: Antelope, 1957-1975
-
Big Game: Bear, 1955-1957
-
Big Game: Bison, 1957-1969
-
Big Game: Deer, 1955-1976
-
Big Game: Elk, [n.d.]
-
Big Game: Moose, [n.d.]
-
Big Game: Sheep, 1975-1976
-
Big Game: Turkey, 1958-1977
-
Binoculars and Scopes, 1973, [n.d.]
-
Book: Calling All Crows, [n.d.]
-
Book: Call Of The Wild, [n.d.]
-
Book: Hunting Pronghorn Antelope, 1959
Box 3.
-
Camping, 1959, [n.d.]
-
Conservation, 1960-1976
-
Cookery, 1973-1978
-
Dogs, 1974-1975
-
Firearms, 1955-1978
-
Fishing, 1947-1957
-
Game Birds, 1953-1975
-
Game Birds: Grouse, 1958-1975
-
Game Birds: Pheasant, 1964-1974
-
Game
Birds: Prairie Chicken, 1964-1968
-
Game Birds: Quail, [n.d.]
-
Game Preparation, 1964-1970
-
Hunters, 1973-1975
-
Hunting, [n.d.]
-
Hunting and Game Laws, 1968-1973
-
Hunting Gear, 1964-1970
Box 4.
-
Hunting Techniques, 1956-1975
-
Miscellaneous, 1966-1973
-
Safety, 1973-1976
-
Small Game, 1975-1978
-
Small Game: Crow, 1952-1977
-
Small Game: Dove, 1973-1974
-
Small Game: Bobcat, 1955-1957
-
Small Game: Coyote, 1946-1970
-
Small Game: Fox, [n.d.]
-
Small Game: Magpie, 1952, [n.d.]
-
Small Game: Mink, 1956
-
Small Game: Porcupine, [n.d.]
-
Small Game: Prairie Dog, 1958
-
Small Game: Rabbit, 1956-1973
-
Small Game: Rat, 1952
-
Small Game: Squirrel, 1967-1975
-
Small Game: Woodchuck, 1977
-
Waterfowl: Duck, 1947-1973
Box 5.
-
Waterfowl: Goose, 1955-1957
-
Weather, 1970
-
Wildlife, 1954-1973
SERIES V: Phonograph record, [n.d.]
Box 8.
SERIES VI: Photographs, 1937-1939, 1949, [n.d.]
Box 7.
-
Award-winning photographs, 1939
-
Hunting and fishing, [n.d.]
-
Hunting techniques, [n.d.]
-
Miscellaneous, 1937-38, [n.d.]
-
Portraits, 1949, [n.d.]
-
Proofs-Hunting Pronghorn Antelope: Final set, [n.d.]
-
Proofs-Hunting Pronghorn Antelope: Rough draft,
[n.d.]
-
Tomahawks, [n.d.]
-
Wildlife, [n.d.]
SERIES VII: Published Articles, 1935-1964, [n.d.]
Box 5.
-
Ammunition, 1938-1964
-
Big Game, 1948-1962
-
Big Game: Antelope, 1948-1962
-
Big Game: Bear, 1951-1962
-
Big Game: Bison, 1959
-
Big Game: Deer, 1941-1963
-
Big Game: Elk, 1952-1962
-
Big Game: Moose, 1962
-
Big Game: Mountain Goat, 1950
-
Big Game: Mountain Lion, 1958
-
Big Game: Turkey, 1960
-
Cabins, 1935-1941
-
Conservation, 1948
-
Cookery, [n.d.]
-
Dogs, 1952-1959
-
Firearms, 1939-1963
-
Fishing, 1938-1962
-
Game Birds, 1939
-
Game Birds: Grouse, 1958-1961
-
Game Birds: Partridge, 1960
-
Game Birds: Pheasant, 1937-1963
-
Game Preparation, 1960
-
Hunters, 1945-1958
Box 6.
-
Hunting, 1947-1962
-
Hunting Gear, 1951
-
Hunting Guides, 1950-1963
-
Hunting Techniques, 1942-1962
-
Miscellaneous, 1935-1938
-
Photography, 1945
-
Small Game, 1942-1962
-
Small Game: Bobcat, 1952-1961
-
Small Game: Coyote, 1953-1959
-
Small
Game: Crow, 1938-1963
-
Small Game: Fox, 1941-1943
-
Small Game: Magpie, 1961
-
Small Game: Owl, 1948-1960
-
Small Game: Prairie Dog, 1941-1962
-
Small Game: Rabbit, 1942-1959
-
Small Game: Raccoon, 1960
-
Small Game: Snake, 1943
-
Small Game: Squirrel, 1940-1943
-
Small Game: Woodchuck, 1939-1961
-
Waterfowl: Duck, 1940-1962
-
Waterfowl: Goose, 1942-1963
-
Weather, 1944
-
Wildlife, 1945
SERIES VIII: Research Material, 1946-1973
Box 1.
-
Magazine Articles, 1946-1973
-
Magazines, 1949-1971
-
Newspaper Clippings, 1952-1957
-
Statistics, 1938-1958
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