R. Alton Lee papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-086

Staff Only

Content Description

The R. Alton Lee collection contains three press catalogs in which his book is featured as well as a full typescript copy of his 2011 book Principle over Party: The Farmers’ Alliance and Populism in South Dakota, 1880-1900. Lee was professor emeritus of history at the University of South Dakota.

Dates

Creation: 2009 - 2012

Creator

Lee, R. Alton, 1931- (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research without restriction. Researchers are advised to contact the Archives and Special Collections prior to visiting. Advance notice may be needed to retrieve items for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers must obtain a signed Permission to Publish Form if they wish to reproduce, broadcast, or otherwise disseminate information from published and unpublished works held by ASC. Permission to reproduce, broadcast, or otherwise disseminate information materials from ASC does not constitute permission from the holder of copyright or literary rights. The researcher is responsible for securing permission from the copyright holder to publish or reproduce content from materials found in the collections.

Biographical / Historical

(Roy) Alton Lee was born to a farming family on May 24, 1931, in White City, K.S. He received both his B.S. and M.S. from Kansas State Teachers College in 1955 and 1958 respectively, and his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma in 1962. Shortly thereafter in 1963, he married Marilyn J. Kurzava. After a stint at Central State College (now University of Central Oklahoma) in Edmond, O.K. from 1961-1966, Lee eventually moved to Vermillion, S.D., where he joined the USD Department of History faculty in 1966 as an assistant professor, and retired in 1996.

During his tenure at USD, he became associate professor of history, professor of history, professor emeritus, and the chair of the USD History department (from 1970-1973.) He is also a member of the Organization of American Historians as well as Phi Alpha Theta, and received the Harry S. Truman Library research grant in 1961. Lee has published several books on Kansas and Great Plains history, and has contributed to several journals focusing on Midwestern history.