Sioux Logo and Nickname Collection, 1902, 1930, 1959, 1965, 1969-

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Collection Overview

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Collection Historical Note

Subject/Index Terms

Administrative Information

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Newspaper Clippings

The first series consists of newspaper reports, letters to the editor, and editorials, beginning in 1930.  The majority of the articles are from regional newspapers, with the Grand Forks Herald being the most prevalent.  The folders have been arranged in chronological order.  Researchers should note that the collection does not contain every single instance the logo and nickname have been reported in print.

Box 1

Folder 1: Newspaper Articles: 1930

Folder 2: Newspaper Articles: 1969

Folder 3: Newspaper Articles: 1987-1988

Folder 4: Newspaper Articles: 1991

Folder 5: Newspaper Articles: 1992

Folder 6: Newspaper Articles: 1993

Folder 7: Newspaper Articles: 1997

Folder 8: Newspaper Articles: 1999

Folder 9: Newspaper Articles: 2000

Folder 10: Newspaper Articles: 2001

Folder 11: Newspaper Articles: 2002

Folder 12: Newspaper Articles: 2003

Folder 13: Newspaper Articles: 2005

Folder 14: Newspaper Articles: 2006

Folder 15: Newspaper Articles: 2007

Folder 16: Newspaper Articles: 2008

Folder 17: Newspaper Articles: 2009

Folder 18: Newspaper Articles: 2010

Series 2: Books, Journals, and Magazines

Box 1

Folder 19: Bohnet, Lee. A Century of UND Sports: An Athletic History of the University of North Dakota. UND Foundation, 1994

Photocopies of pages 66-67

Folder 20: Brownstein, Andrew.  “A Battle Over a Name in the Land of the Sioux.”  Chronicle of Higher Education.  23 February 2001

Folder 21: Dohrmann, George.  “Face Off.” Sports Illustrated, 8 October 2001

Folder 22: Price, S.L.  “The Indian Wars.”  Sports Illustrated, 4 March 2002

Folder 23: Steinbach, Paul. “Identity Crises: Schools Weighing an Image Makeover Face Social and Financial Considerations.” Athletic Business. June 2001

Folder 24: Tovares, Paul.  “Mascot Matters: Race, History & the University of North Dakota’s ‘Fighting Sioux’ Logo.” Journal of Communication Inquiry. January 2002

Folder 25: UND Alumni Review.  March/April 2000, September/October 2000

Box 6

Folder 16: "The Fighting Sioux Conflict: Lessons on Social Justice for Higher Education"

Folder 20: "Jerking the Strings: The Guy with the Money Makes the Rules and Ralph Engelstad's Got $100 Million for UND. Plus a Few Minor Demands." by Nick Coleman. Minnesota Monthly. October 2001.

Series 3: Other Media

The third series consists of the transcript from an ESPN Outside the Lines program, entitled “Honor or Shame?” which aired on 11 March 2001.  Also included is the transcript of an ESPN moderated chat with UND Athletic Director Roger Thomas from 12 March 2001.  The actual program was recorded and can be viewed in Special Collections.

Box 1

Folder 26: “Outside the Lines: Honor or Shame?” ESPN

(see also Video Number 1467)

Item 1: Transcript from Show: 11 March 2001

Item 2: Transcript of Moderated Chat with Roger Thomas, UND Athletic Director: 12 March 2001

Series 4: University of North Dakota Materials

The fourth series contains various materials originating from the University of North Dakota.

Sub-Series 1: UND President's Office

This series consists of files kept by the President's Office.  They were deposited in Special Collections through the UND Records Management program on September 13, 2013.  The files were kept in their original order.

Box 1

Folder 50: 1982

Includes sub-folders: News Articles, FY 70-82; Athletic Dept Position, FY 77; Complaint, FY 73; SBHE Minutes, 7-21-72

Folder 51: 1987

Folder 52: 1988

Folder 53: 1989

Folder 54: 1991

Folder 55: 1992

Includes sub-folders: News Articles; Florida State Seminoles

Folder 56: 1993

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Tribal Resolutions and Correspondence; News Articles; Misc. Correspondence; Nonsupport of Nickname; Support Use of Nickname

Folder 57: 1993

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Homecoming Parade Incident; History Articles; Ford Foundation Report on Diversity; Baker Statement, 1-12-93; Florida State Univ; Univ of Illinois; Michigan Universities; SOAR (Students Organized Against Racism)

Box 2

Folder 1: 1994

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Task Force on Sioux Pride Recommendations, 10-20-93; Baker Statement, 7-27-93; News Articles; Support Use of Nickname; Non-Support of Nickname Use; Florida State & U of Wisconsin

Folder 2: 1995

Folder 3: 1998

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Resolution; Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Resolution; Support Use of Nickname; Non-Support of Nickname Use; News Articles; U of Illinois

Folder 4: 1999

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Tribal Resolutions & Correspondence; Miscellaneous Items; Nonsupport of Nickname Use;  Senate Bill 217, House Resolution 3024; Student Government Resolution; Support Use of Nickname; Sioux Tribes in North America; News Articles

Folder 5: Alumni Hockey Survey: 2000

This is a large file and consists of a letter written by Ralph Engelstad to UND President Charles Kupchella on 28 April 2000.  Attached to the letter are 1997 resolutions from 383 former UND hockey players requesting a return to the "old Indian head logo on the University of North Dakota hockey jerseys."  A photocopy of a letter written from Engelstad to UND President Kendall Baker on January 26, 1998, regarding the survey.

Folder 6: 2000

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: News Articles-Other Schools; News Articles-UND; Misc. Articles; Misc. Items; FacTalk Discussion on Logo

Folder 7: 2000

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Kupchella Statements; Ben Brien Logo Assignment; Misc. Correspondence; Nonsupport of Nickname Use; Tribal Correspondence & Resolutions; Nickname/Logo History (Vorland); Songs of UND

Folder 8: 2000

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Support Use of Nickname; Survey; Student Survey

Box 3

Folder 1: 2000

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Executive Summary; Membership List; Member Biographical Sketches; Invite to Serve on Committee; Meeting Agenda/Correspondence; Nominations for Committee; Misc.; Reference Documents

Folder 2: 2001

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Kupchella Statements; Tribal Support: The Committee for Understanding and Respect; Tribal Resolutions; Letters of Non-Support; Letters of Support

Folder 3: Miscellaneous Correspondence: 2001

Folder 4: 2001

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Misc. Items, Tribal Correspondence; Univ. of Illinois

Folder 5: UND Alumni, Employees, Students and Minority Students Survey Results: October 23, 2000

The survey was conducted by the UND Social Science Research for the Commission to Study the Fighting Sioux Athletic Team Nickname

Folder 6: News Articles, 2001

Box 4

Folder 1: 2001: Reference Documents

Folder 2: 2001: UND Nickname Study Commission

Folder 3: 2002

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Correspondence; Misc Items; News Articles; Statement

Folder 4: 2003: Correspondence

Folder 5: 2003

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: NCAA; News Articles; Audet, Maury-Paper; Tribal Resolution

Folder 6: 2004

Folder 7: 2006: Letters of Support

Box 5

Folder 1: 2006

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Tribal Correspondence; Am. Indian Student/Alumni Support; Nickname-Legal Aid Offered; Letters of Support-Financial; Letters of Non-Support; Misc Correspondence

Folder 2: 2006: NCAA Letters

Folder 3: 2006

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Florida State University Appeal; University of Illinois Appeal; Williams and Mary College Appeal; Nickname-Kupchella Statement; Indian Related Programs Meeting; Other Misc Items; Process Chronology; Material from Gordon Caldis; News Articles

Folder 4: 2007

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Non-support; Misc Corr.; Dartmouth; Support-Am. Indians; Support-Financial; Support

Box 6

Folder 1: 2007: NCAA Ruling on Nickname

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Standard Response Letter to Opponents; President's Statements; Spirit Lake Tribe Resolution; Misc. Items; Univ. of Minnesota; News Articles

Folder 2: 2007: NCAA Ruling on Nickname

This is a large folder with the following sub-divisions: UND Presidential Actions/Statements; UND Internal; Tribal Statements; Organization Resolutions; Petitions; Faculty Petitions; Misc; Recent Print Media; Letters to Keep Name; Letters to Change Name; Other Universities

The folder is historical in nature.

Folder 3: 2007: NCAA Ruling on Nickname: NCAA Document Requests

Folder 4: 2015: Nickname Voting Process

Folder 6: Confidential Draft "Fighting Sioux"

Folder 7: 2007: Letter from Louise Erdrich to President Kupchella

Folder 8: "Ideas & Suggestions About Enhancing the UND's Native American Programs . . .", ca. 2001

Folder 9: "Recommendations to the Department of Athletics on American Indian Programming", 1993

Folder 10: "Diversity & Cultural Pluralism at the UND", 1993

Folder 11: UND Cultural Diversity Forums, 1993-1994

Folder 12: UND Campus Climate Surveys: Students, Faculty, and Staff, 1996

Folder 21: 2008: NCAA Ruling on Nickname

This is a large folder with the following sub-divisions: Settlement Agreement w/ NCAA; 1969 Grand Forks Herald Article on Standing Rock Right to Use Name; Sioux Referendum; Tribal Letters; Settlement Agreement-Statement by Attorrney General Stenehjem; Support Letters; Non-Support Letters; Miscellaneous Correspondence; Nickname Change Suggestions; News Articles

Folder 22: 2009: Nickname and Logo

This is a large folder with the following sub-divisions: Support Nickname; Oppose Nickname; Name Change Suggestions; News Articles; Ralph Engelstad Arena Correspondence; Tribal Correspondence

Folder 23: 2010: Nickname and Logo

This is a large folder with the following sub-divisions: Chancellor's Letter; Legal; Miscellaneous Correspondence; Tribal Correspondence; Tribal Correspondence; Support Nickname; Do Not Support Nickname; Name Change Suggestions; News Articles; Transition Team-Agendas; Transition Team-Minutes;Transition-President's Statement; Transition-Organizational Chart; Transition-Team; Transition-General Correspondence

Box 8

Folder 1: 2011: Nickname and Logo

This is a large folder with the following sub-divisions: NCAA; Miscellaneous Correspondence; NDUS/SBHE Correspondence; Tribal Resolutions; Big Sky Conference; Legislation; News Articles

Folder 2: 2011: Nickname and Logo - Transition Background Research

This is a large folder with the following sub-divisions: SBHE Info-Logo/Nickname Committee; UND Info; Outside Info; Tribal Info; NCAA Info; History of Use; Surveys; "Campus racial climate as perceived by undergraduate American Indian students attending the University of North Dakota," 2006 Ph.D. dissertation by Cynthia Lindquist; A Century of UND Sports by Lee Bohnet

Folder 3: 2011: Nickname and Logo Transition - Honoring History and Tradition Committee

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Members; Charge; Time Line; Agenda and Minutes; 1st Charge-Recommendations; 106 Group; Correspondence

Folder 4: 2011: Nickname and Logo Transition - Communications Committee

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Members and Charge; Agendas and Minutes; Correspondence;Timeline; Strategy and Message; Padela, Speer and Breadsley

Folder 5: 2011: Nickname and Logo - Transition

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Transition Team; Transition Cabinet; Transition Partners; Transition Connectors; Transition Connectors and Newsletter Briefings; Chancellor's Letter, 4-9-10; President's Statement, 5-6-10; Chronological History; Time Line; Organizational Chart; Correspondence

Folder 6: 2011: Nickname and Logo - Transition

This is a large folder with several sub-folders: Logo-Explanation; Tribal Resolutions; NCAA Settlement Agreement; NDUS/SBHE; Legislation; Paul Omodt; Vendors/Licenses; American Indian Contacts; News Articles; Q and A Guide; Core Messages/Talking Points; Miscellaneous; "A Report on the Transition Process for the Retirement of the UND Athletic Nickname and Logo," Submitted by Dr. Robert Boyd, Transitional Officer

Sub-Series 2: Miscellaneous UND (Non President's Office)

Box 1

Folder 27: “UND Yells and Songs,” 1902

Folder 28: Photocopied Photographs (Originals in University Archives Photograph Collection), 1959, 1969, 1971

Item 1: UND President George Starcher in Headdress at “Know Your Indian Neighbor” Convocation: February 1959  (UAP#15,728)

Item 2: UND President George Starcher in Headdress at “Know Your Indian Neighbor” Convocation: February 1959  (UAP#15,729)

Item 3: UND President George Starcher at Standing Rock Pow-Wow at Memorial Union, July 1969  (UAP#15,730)

Item 4: UND President George Starcher in Headdress, May 1971 (UAP#15,876)

Item 5: UND President George Starcher in Headdress, May 1971 (UAP#15,873)

Item 6: UND President George Starcher in Headdress, May 1971 (UAP#15,874)

Folder 29: “UND Native American Logo Survey” by the UND Division of Student Affairs: 1987

Folder 30: “The Fighting Sioux Team Name and Logo at the University of North Dakota: An Historical and Contextual Summary.” Report to UND President Charles Kupchella by David Vorland, Assistant to the President.  February 2000

Folder 31: UND Nickname Commission: October 2000

Item 1: Survey to all UND Employees: 3 October 2000

Item 2: Meeting Notice:  23 October 2000

Folder 32: UND President’s Office Correspondence: 2001-

Item 1: Letter to the Editor, Grand Forks Herald: 12 January 2001

Item 2: Letter to UND Faculty, Staff, and Students: 21 March 2001

Item 3: Letter to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA): 7 June 2006

Item 4: Letter to the University Community: 28 September 2009

Folder 33: UND Provost's Office Correspondence: 2009-

Item 1: Letter to UND Faculty: 10 September 2009

Folder 34: “Northern Plains Conference on American Indian Team Names and Logos,” UND: October 2001

Item 1: Conference Announcement and Agenda

Folder 35: “Graphic Design Regulations: Logo and Name.” UND Office of University Relations. 2001

Folder 36: Various Sioux Logos (Originals in University Archives Photograph Collection)

Item 1: “A Changing Face” Historical Retrospective of UND Sioux Logos, Grand Forks Herald

Item 2: Sioux Logo on the Nickel Trophy (UAP#6319, 6320)

Item 3: “Sammy Sioux” (UAP#6316)

Item 4: Sioux Logo Used on Cover of Notebooks and Folders Sold at the UND Bookstore (UAP#6317, 6318)

Item 5: “UND Sioux, a Century of Sucking: 1890-1990.”  Design on Apparel Worn at Athletic Contests Between UND and NDSU

Item 6: “Blow Us: We Saw, They Sucked, We Came.” Design on Apparel Worn at Athletic Contests Between UND and NDSU

Folder 37: University Senate resolution to retire the logo and nickname: 19 November 2009

Folder 38: Twamley Shuffle (Satirical Student Newspaper): 23 April 2010

Folder 39: UND Logo and Nickname Transition: 2010-

Item 1: Statement by UND President Robert Kelley: 9 April 2010

Item 2: Materials from the Public Briefing on the Transition: 20 September 2010

Box 6

Folder 5: UND Factalk Exchanges, 2001-2006

Factalk is a listerv for UND faculty

Folder 15: Sioux Logo Mascot Die (for use on a printing press)

Series 5: Native American Perspective

The fifth series contains materials which document the perspective of Native Americans in regards to the logo and nickname.

Box 1

Folder 40: “A Report on the UND Mascot Issue,” Standing Rock Sioux Tribe: 2005

Folder 41: Pro-Nickname and Anti-Nickname Materials from the Spirit Lake Referendum: 2009 (Obtained by Tu-Uyen Tran, Grand Forks Herald)

Folder 42: Anti-Nickname Material: undated

Item 1: “UND Change the Name” Button

Item 2: "UND Change the Name" Protest Tag

Item 3: “Fighting Sioux Gazette” Satirical Publication: undated

Folder 43: Native Directions (Publication of the UND School of Communications, Indians into Journalism Initiative): 1994-2002

Item 1: “Reclaiming the Issues” by Robin Powell.  Autumn 1994

Item 2: “Other Voices, Other Views: What’s Going On?” by Nancy Harles. Autumn 1994

Item 3: “Indian Mascots: An Intellectual Point of View” by Robin Powell. Autumn 1994

Item 4: “I’m a Sports Freak.” By Keith Richotte, Jr. Spring 1996

Item 5: “Mascots & Manifest Destiny” by Robin Powell. Winter 1995/1996

Item 6: “Pennies From Heaven, Nickname From?” by Dean Birdsbill. Fall 1996

Item 7: “Native Reflections of UND’s New Sculpture” by ReNae L. Bear King. Fall 1996

Item 8: “Where is the Honor?” by Don Grey Day. Winter 1998

Item 9: “It is Time for Native People to Claim Our Rightful Place” by Wambdi Awanwicake Wastewin. Winter 1998

Item 10: “Protesting UND’s Mascot” by Chase Iron Eyes. Fall 1998

Item 11: “Fighting the ‘Fighting Sioux’ Tradition” by Holly Annis. Spring 1999

Item 12: “Frequently Asked Questions: Indigenous People as Symbols & Mascots” by Holly Annis. Spring 1999

Item 13: “If It’s Honor, Prove it” by Michaela Saunders. Spring 1999

Item 14: "Students Design Cover Art” Spring 1999

Item 15: "Feedback” (Letter to the Editor) by Dick Graham. Spring 1999

Item 16: “Building Roads into Diverse Groups Empowering Students: Bridges” Fall 1999

Item 17: “Wahoo Chant Chop” by Vernon Bellecourt. Fall 1999

Item 18: “Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth” by Itancan Win. Spring 2000

Item 19: “The More Things Change…” (Comic Strip) by L. Martinson. Spring 2000

Item 20: “Dear Friends.” Spring 2000

Item 21: “The Truth…As I See it, Hear it & Read it” by Itancan Win. Fall 2000

Item 22: “As Long As We’re on the Topic…” by Monique Vondall. Fall 2000

Item 23: “Letters to Native Directions” by George Hsu, Thomas Smith, and Anonymous. Fall 2000

Item 24: “Ahhh… the power of visual communication.” Spring 2001

Item 25: “Journal Entry” by Melanie Schmucker. Spring 2001

Item 26: “Gone Far For a Rez Girl” by Monique Vondall. Spring 2001

Item 27: “LaDuke Responds to Logo Debate” by Jeff Achen and Monique Vondall. Fall 2001

Item 28: “NCAA & OCR Tap Into the Fighting Sioux Controversy” by Ruth Hopkins Cankudutawin (Red Road Woman). Fall 2002

Item 29: “Let the Races Begin!: UND Sees Racism From the Other Side Thanks to Display” by Monique Vondall. Fall 2002

Item 30: “Greetings to All of You Out There in Engelstad Land!” by Dean P. BirdsBill Sagaga-Bush. Fall 2002

Folder 44: American Indian Movement (AIM) Buttons from anti-nickname rally: 30 September 2009

Series 6: Miscellaneous

Box 1

Folder 45: Engelstad, Ralph (see also OGLMC 1451)

Item 1: “An Open Letter to the People of Grand Forks and the State of North Dakota.” Grand Forks Herald.  8 October 1988

Item 2: “Learning of a Casino Owner’s Birthday Parties for Hitler, Even Jaded Vegas is Outraged.”  People Weekly. 24 October 1988

Item 3: “To Ralphie from Adolph: Ralph Engelstad and the War Room at the Imperial Palace” in License to Steal: Nevada’s Gaming Control System in the Megaresort Age by Jeff Burbank.  University of Nevada Press, 2000

Item 4: “Blunt Letter Strikes a Nerve.” Grand Forks Herald. 16 January 2001

Item 5: “Hockey Arena at U. of North Dakota Will Take All of Controversial Donor’s $100 Million Gift.” Chronicle of Higher Education. 17 August 2001

Item 6: “A Capitol Idea.” Grand Forks Herald. 27 August 2002

Item 7: “Engelstad in the Hall.” Grand Forks Herald. 27 August 2002

Item 8: “Benefactor’s Passing Stalls REA Transfer.” Grand Forks Herald. 8 January 2003

Item 9: “Making Sure it Stays ‘The Ralph’.” Grand Forks Herald. 31 January 2003

Item 10: “The Ralph: The Center of the Hockey World.” Grand Forks Herald. 6 November 2004

Item 11: “Musings Upon the Fascistic Head Palace Theory of Engelstad Noncontradiction” by John W. Hoff: undated

Folder 46: National Indian Education Association resolution against the logo and nickname: October 2009

Item 1: North Dakota State Board of Higher Education: 1972-

Item 2: Report of Meeting in the “UND Faculty Letter”: 4 August 1972

Item 3: Meeting Minutes: 21 December 2000

Item 4: “Statement by President Charles Kupchella Regarding State Board of Higher Education Decision”: 21 December 2000

Item 5: Meeting Minutes: 25-26 January 2001

Item 6: “Letter from UND President Robert O. Kelley Concerning the Decision by the State Board of Higher Education”: 14 May 2009

Item 7: Statement from the State Board of Higher Education: 1 October 2009

Item 8: Letter from William Goetz, Chancellor, to UND President Robert Kelley: 2 March 2010

Folder 47: Davidson v. State: 2009-2010 (Unsuccessful suit against the State Board of Higher Education regarding efforts by the Board to retire the logo and nickname before the agreed upon deadline of 30 November 2010)

Item 1: Northeast Judicial District Court Ruling: 18 December 2009

Item 2: North Dakota Supreme Court Ruling: 8 April 2010

Folder 48: Welk, Lawrence

“HoWa Ste” North Dakota Rural Electric Magazine. October 1965 (Article Describing Welk’s Induction into the Standing Rock Tribe)

Folder 49: North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, 1972-

Box 6

Folder 13: Logos: Geometric Logo Table Tent

Folder 14: Various Sioux Logo Stickers

Folder 17: Anit-Nickname Poster

Folder 18: The Sioux Were Silenced Business Card

Folder 19: Flyer for the Grand Forks Heritage Rifle, undated

Printed by American Legacy Firearms, this flyer was distributed in the Grand Forks Herald. A picture of the rifle indicates that Grand Forks is the "Home of the Flying Sioux."

Series 7: Oversize Materials

Oversize Folder 1

Item 1: "Democracy Over All?" sign

The sign was created by UND student Greg Plautz to protest the lack of a referendum at Standing Rock regarding the Sioux logo and nickname. Plautz displayed his sign outside the UND Memorial Union during an anti-nickname rally which took place there on 30 September 2009.

Item 2: "For a Better UND: People Not Logos" sign

Numerous copies

Box 7

Item 1: "Sammy Sioux" sweatshirt, undated

Sweatshirt features the caricature "Sammy Sioux" used by UND in the 1950s and into the early 1960s.

Item 2: John "Gino" Gasparini hockey jersey, 1964-1967

Gasparini played hockey for UND from 1964-1967, returning to serve as head coach of men's hockey from 1978-1994, winning 3 NCAA national championships (1980, 1982, and 1987). This jersey features the iconic "Blackhawk" variant of the Sioux logo that UND utilized from 1964-1993.