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South ��ֱ���� State University Archives and Special Collections has announced a new effort to preserve and share a powerful piece of South ��ֱ����’s history. 

Thanks to a grant from the Mary Chilton Daughters of the American Revolution Foundation, SDState Archives will be able to digitize and publicly disseminate 35 rare 16mm films from the collection of Ben Reifel — South ��ֱ����’s only Native American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and the first Lakota member of Congress. 

The audiovisual materials showed signs of degradation and were inaccessible due to lack of specialized equipment that could play the fragile films without damaging them. SDState Archives partnered with Archiving Life Media to carry out the cleaning, preservation and digitization process of the 16mm films. Once digitized, SDState Archives will create metadata and upload the audiovisual materials to YouTube, reaching historians, educators, students and citizens who are seeking to engage with South ��ֱ����’s history. 

These films contain valuable footage of Reifel’s life and work: campaign messages, public statements, visits to farms and communities across South ��ֱ���� and interactions with national figures, including President Richard Nixon. They offer a firsthand look at a statesman who championed agricultural development, Indigenous education and civil rights throughout his life of public service. 

“The digitized films illuminate the dynamic political landscape of the mid-20th century, offering significant insights into a South ��ֱ����n’s role in shaping national policies,” SDSU Archivist Michele Christian said. “His legacy highlights a remarkable chapter in United States history, showcasing the impact of leadership and commitment to public good.” 

Born in 1906 on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, Reifel attended a reservation boarding school before earning a B.S. in agriculture from South ��ֱ���� State University in 1932. From 1933 to 1960, he dedicated much of his career to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, while also serving in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1942 to 1946. Reifel further distinguished himself academically, earning both a master's degree and doctorate in public administration from Harvard University, in 1950 and 1952 respectively. 

Serving in Congress from 1961 to 1971, he helped shape key legislation, supported the establishment of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts, and played a pivotal role in bringing the Earth Resources Observation and Science Center to South ��ֱ����. 

Reifel was a dedicated public servant who advocated for rural and Indigenous communities. Digitizing these films will ensure that Reifel’s remarkable story continues to educate and inspire future generations, Christian said.