Dakota Datebook

By Prairie PublicSociety & Culture

Dakota Datebook episodes

January 22 January 22: Harriet Lake
Today is the birthday of Harriet Lake, who was born in 1909 in Valley City. Her mother was an opera singer and her father, a traveling thespian.
3 min
January 21 January 21: Pink Tea
President Theodore Roosevelt called the first Governor’s Conference in 1908. Roosevelt was concerned about the state of the environment and invited all the governors to the White House to discuss conservation. The governors found the gathering so useful that they went on to establish the National Governors Association. The organization is made up of the governors of all states and territories.
3 min
January 20 January 20: The Ties That Bind
Invented in the 1870s, the power binder cut grain and tied the stalks into bundles using twine. One person and a team of horses could accomplish work that had formerly taken six workers to do.
3 min
January 19 January 19: Remembering Louis Armstrong in Fargo
They called him “Satchmo”, or “Mr. Jazz.” His given name was Louis Armstrong, and this world-famous jazz trumpeter and singer came to Fargo in September of 1957, performing at NDSU’s fieldhouse for an “enthusiastic” audience of 3,200 fans.
3 min
January 16 January 16: Teachings of Our Elders - Alex DeCoteau on Native American Contributions to Society
In this episode of Dakota Datebook, we'll hear Alex DeCoteau, educator and enrolled Member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, share his insight into exactly what it is that Native Americans have contributed to the United States.
3 min
January 15 January 15: The North Dakota Guard
In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Dr. William Jayne as territorial governor. Jayne recognized that the territory needed some form of defense. The legislature passed "An Act to Organize and Discipline the Militia of the Territory of Dakota."
3 min
January 14 January 14: Fence Sickness
The Alien Enemies Act of 1798 was intended to prevent foreign espionage and sabotage during wartime. It allows the president to detain or deport natives and citizens of an enemy nation. The act has been invoked three times: during the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II.
3 min
January 14 January 13: William Guymer
William Guymer was born in Jamestown, North Dakota in 1925. After graduating from Jamestown High School, Bill entered the U.S. Navy in March of 1943 during World War II.
3 min
January 12 January 12: Wong Woo and Bismarck's The International restaurant
On this day in 1907, staff of the State Historical Society dined out at a new restaurant in town, The International. Owned and operated by Wong Woo, a local restaurateur, The International specialized in Chinese food for hungry residents and visitors in downtown Bismarck.
3 min
January 09 January 9: Seditious Domestic Call
Kate Richards O’Hare was one of the leading speakers within the Socialist Party in 1916. She spoke at Bowman, North Dakota, on July 11, 1917, on behalf of the Non-Partisan League.
3 min

About Dakota Datebook

From the publisher's feed

Sitting Bull to Phil Jackson, cattle to prairie dogs, knoefla to lefse. North Dakota's legacy includes many strange stories of eccentric towns, war heroes, and various colorful characters. Hear all about them on Dakota Datebook, your daily dose of North Dakota history.