Caroline Sandoz Pifer Collection Illustrates Mari's Life, Passion
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
the Fall 2007 StoryCatcher A publication of the Mari Sandoz Heritage Society The Mari Sandoz Heritage Society newsletter has a new name and a new design and is published three times a year. Caroline Sandoz Pifer Collection Illustrates Mari’s Life, Passion In order to “celebrate the life and Caroline Sandoz Pifer kept and literature of Mari Sandoz and the assembled Mari’s artifacts at her ranch culture of the High Plains,” the staff home south of Gordon. In the decades of Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage that she maintained the collection Center must spend hours reading, before donating it to the Sandoz Center, sorting, cataloging, and saving the items Caroline added her touch by retyping that defined Mari Sandoz’s life. letters and adding cover sheets and notes It is important work. These carefully to Mari’s newspaper articles, books, and preserved pieces allow us to see both manuscripts. her personality and her passion. “It is a fine gift that Caroline kept all of Mari Sandoz defined herself by her hats. After Mari’s death, younger sister, Mari’s papers, books, letters and items together for a excellent museum and More than 30 of her hats, Native artwork, archive,” said Sybil Malmberg Berndt, and other personal items were donated to the long-time friend of Caroline and a Mari Sandoz Center. Sandoz Heritage Society board member. The Sandoz Pifer Collection contains many copies of Mari’s many “Mari’s greatest wish has come true,” manuscripts, short stories, essays she said, “to have a repository in the and poetry; personal notes; research vast Great Plains to hold her life’s work files and book-related material; for posterity and so the world might flyers, programs and invitations to benefit.” events; family documents and Mari’s The Chadron Collection correspondence. Although, the bulk of Mari Sandoz’s “There are boxes of Mari’s personal research collection is housed in Love files and many of the folders labeled in Library at the University of Nebraska- her handwriting, said Rolfsmeier. Lincoln, the Sandoz Center in Chadron, has copies of many of those documents Since July 2006, Rolfsmeier has been as well as paper items that did not go to working her way through the “paper” UNL and an assortment of her personal part of the collection in order to items. develop a cohesive research inventory that is organized and accessible. “Before sending Mari’s correspondence Rolfsmeier also found materials that to UNL, Caroline made copies of Caroline collected about her sister, many items and those documents were Sarah Polak, director, at the Mari Sandoz such as media clippings and writings by given to the Sandoz Center,” said Susan High Plains Heritage Center, steams one of others who were inspired by Mari. Rolfsmeier, archivist at the Center. Mari’s suits for a photo shoot. See Collection on page 3. The Story Catcher Fall 2007 The Story Catcher Humanities Grant Allows Society to Distribute The Story Catcher is published three DVD of Sandoz Interviews and Study Guides times a year by the Mari Sandoz Heritage Society, a 501(c)(3) non- In April, the Mari Sandoz Heritage Society received a grant for $2,500 from profit organization. the Nebraska Humanities Council to promote the reading and discussion of The Sandoz Society seeks to build Sandoz’s Crazy Horse: Strange Man of the Oglalas by distributing a DVD and study appreciation of Mari Sandoz’s body guide to all Nebraska public and private high schools. of work, to preserve the literary The DVD, entitled “Song of the Plains,” is a reproduction of a 60-minute works and legacy of this premier his- torian, and to raise funds to support video filmed in 1976 by Nebraska Educational Television (NET) in which these efforts. Mari Sandoz discusses her life, philosophy, most of her major books, and her approach to writing. Each year, the Society hosts a con- ference that celebrates and studies On the DVD, talk-show-host Dick Cavett interviews her two sisters and two the works of the author, publishes of her brothers on Mari’s life; and her work is discussed by scholars and others. the writing of scholars and students, promotes student writing contests Omaha native and late actress Dorothy McGuire reads passages from the and writing institutes; and sponsors Sandoz books. scholarships. By providing the DVD to high schools, the Sandoz Additionally, the Society provides Society hopes to spark the imagination of students collections on loan to the Mari and educators and to create classroom discussions on Sandoz High Plains Heritage Cen- Crazy Horse. Published in 1942, the book is one of ter at Chadron State College and supports its academic, archives and Sandoz’s best-known works. research programs. Written from the perspective of the Lakota people, Address changes should be mailed the book promotes an understanding of their to 2301 NW 50th Street, Lincoln, NE way of life and advances ethnic, sociological, and 68524. philosophical themes. More than a description of Contributions to the Mari Sandoz an individual, Crazy Horse is an in-depth look at the Heritage Society are tax-deductible. culture and spirituality of the Oglala Sioux. For membership information, see page 7, call 402-304-8103, e-mail “On the DVD, Sandoz explains how she approached marisandoz_society@windstream. getting into the psychology of another race as she wrote Crazy Horse,” said net, or www.marisandoz.org. Ron Hull, producer of the original video and past president of the Sandoz Heritage Society. Mari Sandoz Crazy Horse: Strange Man of the Oglalas was chosen as the literary work for the Mari Sandoz (1896-1966) came from 2007 One Book One Nebraska statewide reading program that encourages the Sandhills of Nebraska to write citizens to read the book and participate in discussions and related community some of America’s most enduring events. books on Great Plains history. As the author of Old Jules, Chey- While proclaiming Crazy Horse as the 2007 One Book selection Gov. Dave enne Autumn, and Crazy Horse, the Heineman said the reading of Crazy Horse provides a common ground for Strange Man of the Oglalas, and Nebraska citizens to come together to learn about and discuss Native-American others, she was a tireless researcher, culture, plains history and contemporary issues. a true storyteller, and an artist pas- sionately dedicated to a place The “Song of the Plains” DVD can be purchased for $9.95 from Nebraska little known and a people largely Education Television by calling: 402-472-3611 or 800-634-6788. b misunderstood. As a historian and as a novelist, Sandoz stands in the front ranks of western writers and Activities to mark the 2007 celebration of One Book One Nebraska are being has achieved a secure place as coordinated by the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center at Chadron one of the finest authors in Ameri- State College. Go to www.onebookonenebraska.org for discussion questions can literature. and program ideas. Book Club Kits are available from the Nebraska Library She created vivid stories of the Commission and the Nebraska Regional Library Systems at www.nlc.state.ne.us/ last days of the American frontier, ref/bookclubkits.html. 2007 One Book One Nebraska is cosponsored by the Mari and was an internationally known Sandoz Heritage Society, Nebraska Center for the Book, Nebraska Humanities chronicler of the West and one of Council, Nebraska Library Association, Nebraska Library Commission and other Nebraska’s most important writers. organizations. The Story Catcher 2 Fall 2007 Collection Illustrates Mari’s Passion (continued from Page 1) “I became immersed in her life,” apartment from the time of her death, Rolfsmeier said. “Her writing her clothes and personal effects, her was so eloquent and she used her infamous collection of about 30 hats, correspondence to advocate for better Native American artwork, dishes, treatment for the Sioux and Cheyenne collectibles, books and photos. tribes.” Most Items Are Categorized She was not asking for handouts or Sandoz Center Director Sarah Polak further government welfare, she said, said that almost all of the “three- but Mari was working to shed light on dimensional objects” in the Pifer the challenges native people faced and collection are in the Center’s database Mari’s youngest sister, Caroline Sandoz Pifer, she was soliciting positive economic and that many of the thousands of changes for them. As an indicator of who lives in Gordon, recently celebrated her photographs are scanned into the 98th birthday. her commitment, Sandoz went on computer and are “searchable.” a game show called “Strike It Rich” and used the proceeds to buy art and Because Rolfsmeier is leaving her cataloging of the entire collection is athletic supplies for Indian schools. position as archivist, her goal was to get completed. the paper collection in order As with any venture in organization, “I was moved so that Sandoz scholars to tears reading Rolfsmeier, too, found the peculiar and and others interested in her hard to categorize. She discovered a her words, personal documents will be seeing her scrap of paper that was headed, “No able to find what they need Time For.” Listed below were people dedication to with greater ease. this cause and The Caroline Sandoz Pifer Collection on whom Sandoz no longer wanted to her tremendous includes many items from Mari’s clothes “After months of going waste time. passion for and personal effects. through boxes and piles For additional information about the the people of paper, examining, Caroline Sandoz Pifer Collection or and the land,” Rolfsmeier said, “Most organizing, and putting specific items within the collection, of my previous work has been with documents into new folders and please contact Sarah Polak at the Mari natural history collections and, while protective boxes,” Rolfsmeier said, “the Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center: I anticipated enjoying the challenge end product is almost in sight.” 308-432-6401 or [email protected].