William Sherman Ku Klux Klan and Anti Garb Law Research Collection
Collection
Identifier: Mss 2932
Scope and Contents
The collection contains research complied by William C. Sherman from the 1970’s through the early 2000’s. The collection contains oral histories from priests and North Dakotans about cross burnings, harassment, KKK meetings from when the KKK was active in the early to mid-1920’s in North Dakota. The Collection also contains research on the Anti-Garb law, which did not allow nuns to wear habits while they taught in public schools, a law that was supported by the KKK.
Dates
- 1923-2009.
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection are held by the NDSU Archives.
Biography
William C. Sherman was born on July 8, 1927 in Detroit, Michigan. He attended school in Oregon, Hankinson, N.D. and Lidgerwood, N.D., and graduated from St. John’s University, Collegeville, M.N. He then attended St. John’s School of Theology and graduated in 1955. He served parishes in Verona, Grand Forks, and Enderlin, N.D., and also the Newman Center at North Dakota State University as a Catholic priest. In 1965 he received a master’s degree in sociology from the University of North Dakota and also studied at North Dakota State University from 1966 to 1968. He began teaching at NDSU in 1970 in the area of rural sociology. He retired from NDSU as professor emeritus. He now lives in Grand Forks, N.D.
Father Sherman has done extensive research and writing on the ethnic dimensions of the Northern Great Plains as well as the KKK in North Dakota and the Anti-Garb laws directed towards nuns teaching in public schools. Among his major works are Prairie Mosaic: An Ethnic Atlas of Rural North Dakota (1983); Plains Folk, co-edited with Playford Thorson (1988); Scattered Steeples: Historical Essays Concerning the Diocese of Fargo, co-edited with Jerry Lamb and Jerry Ruff (1988 and 2006); AfricanAmericans in North Dakota, with Thomas Newgard (1994); Prairie Peddlers: the Syrian-Lebanese in North Dakota, with Paul Whitney and John Guerrero (2002); Valerian Pączek: Priest, Soldier, Quiet Hero, with John Guerrero(2004), and Wagons North: Minnesota to Oregon, with John Guerrero (2009).
Extent
.5 Linear Feet (0.5 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The collection contains research complied by William C. Sherman from the 1970’s through the early 2000’s. The collection contains oral histories from priests and North Dakotans about cross burnings, harassment, KKK meetings from when the KKK was active in the early to mid-1920’s in North Dakota. The Collection also contains research on the Anti-Garb law, which did not allow nuns to wear habits while they taught in public schools, a law that was supported by the KKK.
Provenance
Donated by William Sherman in 2010. (Acc. 2932)
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the William Sherman Ku Klux Klan and Anti Garb Law Research Collection
- Description rules
- Appm
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu