Dakota Resources

The Written Legacy of Robert F. Karolevitz

J E N N I F E R L. L I T T L E F I E L D

A native South Dakotan who left the state to seek his fortune, RobertF. Karolevitz eventually returned to find rich subject matter in hisown backyard. Over the past fifty years, this journalist, historian, andhumorist has become one of South Dakota's most prolific and popularwriters, telling the stories of the state both past and present.

Karolevitz was born 26 April 1922 and raised in Yankton, SouthDakota. He began his writing career in high school as editor of theschool newspaper and yearbook. With his sights set on college andfunds tight during the Great Depression, he also wrote a sports col-umn for the Yankton Public Opinion to earn extra money. His Englishand journalism teacher, Verna Emanuel, suggested he use his talentfor writing to enter essay contests, and he eventually won enoughscholarship money to pay for college.'

Karolevitz began studying printing and journalism at South DakotaState College in Brookings, but his studies were interrupted from1943 to 1946 while he served with the United States Army Infantry inJapan and the Philippines during World War II. Karolevitz attainedthe rank of captain of the Twenty-fifth Infantry, and, as division histo-rian, wrote his first book. The 2^th infantry Division and World War II.

Published by the Army and Navy Publishing Company in 1946, thevolume has since become a collector's item. Following his militaryservice, Karolevitz returned to South Dakota State College and gradu-

I. Lisa Papenhausen, "Why Bob Writes Books," South Dakota Magazine i6 (Mar./Apr.2001): 26; Sioux Falls Argus-Leader. 31 Dec. 1989. ,

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I 2 O South Dakota History VOL. 36, NO. I

ated in 1948 with a bachelor's degree in printing and rural journal-ism. From Brookings, Karolevitz went on to study at the University ofOregon, where he earned a master's degree in journalism.^

As an army reservist in 1950, Karolevitz attended a fourteen-weekcourse at the Armed Forces Information School in Pennsylvania andgained national attention for his article about the program in Quill, amagazine for professional journalists. In 1951, he was recalled to ac-tive duty as a public-information officer at the Seattle (Washington)Port of Embarkation where he organized and promoted welcome-home celebrations for returning Korean War veterans. Later in the Ko-rean War, he worked as a public-information officer with the UnitedStates Eighth Army. His duties included serving in Korea as a featurewriter, document censor, and press escort for the Panmunjom PeaceTrain. Upon returning to the United States, Karolevitz found himselfamong the honorées at one of his own homecoming celebrations.3

Karolevitz had settled in Seattle in 1951 with his new wife, PhyllisGunderson, also a native of South Dakota. Using the writing and pro-motional experience he had gained in the military, he began workingas a freelance promoter and publicist for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair.He also worked at political ghost writing, commercial writing, and ad-vertising, eventually becoming president of the Seattle AdvertisingClub. Karolevitz established himself as a writer of popular historywith his book Newspapering in the Old West: A Pictorial History of Jour-nalism and Printing on the Frontier, published in 1965 by Superior Pub-lishing in Seattle.4

As their daughters, Jan and Martha, reached school age, the Karole-vitzes decided to relocate to a smaller town. After visiting communi-ties in several states, they chose to return to southeastern SouthDakota and moved to the 240-acre Cedar Crest Farm near MissionHill in the mid-1960s. From his office in the farmhouse, Karolevitz

2. Sioux Falls Argus-Leader. 31 Dec. 1989; Nomination Form. Robert Francis Karolevitz,South Dakota Cowboy and Western Heritage Hall of Fame, 14 Nov. 1975. copy in Biographi-cal File "Karoievitz, Robert Francis." State Archives, South Dakota State Histórica] Society,Pierre.

3. Nomination Form; Papenhausen, "Why Bob Writes Books," p. 27.4. Ibid.

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SPRING 2006 Dakota Resources I 121

Robert Karolevitz poses In his farmhouse office with someof the nearly forty books he has published during his long

continued his freelance writing career and began building a publica-tion list that included numerous historical works.5

In 1970, Karolevitz published one of his most acclaimed books.Where Your Heart Is: The Story of Harvey Dunn, Artist. Dunn, a South

Dakotan best remembered for his paintings of prairie pioneer life,had left the state in 1902 and gone on to become a well-known illus-trator for the Saturday Evening Post and other publications. In con-ducting his research, Karolevitz traced Dunn's career path across theUnited States to New York, where he interviewed several of the artist's

5. Papenhausen, "Why Bob Writes Books," pp, 27-29.

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1 2 2 South Dakota History VOL. 36, NO. I

former students. The book garnered Karolevitz the National CowboyHall of Fame Wrangler Award, presented to outstanding writers in thefield of western literature.^

In conjunction with the South Dakota Division of Elementary andSecondary Education, Karolevitz also set out to write an historicaloverview of the state. The result was Challenge: The South Dakota Story,an account of the state's history from its earliest American Indian be-ginnings to contemporary times.? Karolevitz dedicated the book to"South Dakotans of all eras—Indian and non-Indian, men and women—and especially to those who have faced and conquered the chal-lenges in anonymity."** The South Dakota Bicentennial Commissionprovided funds for all public and private schools in the state to pur-chase copies of Challenge: The South Dakota Story for use as a class-room text. 9

During a speaking engagement in Yankton in the early 1970s,Karolevitz was approached by Ross Fenn, a World War I memorabiliacollector, with an idea for another book. Karolevitz, whose back-ground is Polish, became fascinated with the story of the KosciuszkoSquadron, a group of World War I American fliers who choose to stayin Europe to fight with Polish forces during a year-long war againstRussia. Although none of the Americans were of Polish ancestry, theywere recognized for heroism with Poland's highest military honors.Karolevitz and Fenn collaborated and coauthored Flight of Eagles: TheStory of the American Kosciuszko Squadron in the Polish-Russian War,1919-1920, compiled from the veterans' diaries, logbooks, personal pa-pers, and reminiscences. For their efforts, the authors were awarded aGold Merit Cross from the Polish Government-in-Exile in London at abanquet surrounded by grateful and emotional Polish war heroes."=

Karolevitz next turned his focus toward a project associated with the

6. Ibid., p. 29; Nomination Form.7. Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan, 7 Aug. 1975.8. Karoievitz, Challenge: The South Dakota Story (Sioux Falls, S.Dak.: Brevet Press, 1975),

p. iii.9. Freeman Courier, 27 Nov. 1975.10. Papenhausen, "Why Bob Writes Books," p. 29; Karolevitz and Fenn, Flight of the Ea-

gles: The Story of the American Kosciuszko Squadron in the Polish-Russian War. 1919-1920(Sioux Falls, S.Dak.: Brevet Press. 1974), back cover.

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SPRING 2006 Dakota Resources I 123

statehood centennial in 1989, coauthoring Uniquely South Dakotawith Bernie HunhofF. Commissioned by Norwest Bank South Dakota,this volume was designated the official pictorial history of the SouthDakota centennial. Karolevitz and Hunhoff described the state's firstone hundred years in nine essays divided into East-River and West-River sections. The volume is illustrated throughout with paintings byHarvey Dunn and American Indian artist Oscar Howe, as well as hun-dreds of photographs from collections throughout the state."

Karolevitz also published a number of works pertaining to the his-tory of his hometown, Yankton. The author had a close personal con-nection to the subject of his book A Commitment to Care: The First 100years of Sacred Heart Hospital, í8gy-ic)C}y. He had been born at Sacred

Heart Hospital, received his early education from the Benedictine Sis-ters, and returned years later to serve as president of the hospitalboard. Karolevitz also wrote a biography of the first Catholic bishop in

II. Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, 31 Dec. 1989,

CHALLENGETHE SOUTH DAKOTA STORT

Karolevitz considers Challenge: The South Dukota Storyto be among his best works of state and local history.

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124 I South Dakota History VOL. 36, NO. I

Dakota entitled Bishop Martin Marty: "The Black Robe Lean Chief." Healso produced Yankton: A Pioneer Past, originally published in 1972and reprinted in 1997, and a history of Yankton's Sacred Heart Churchcalled Pioneer Church in a Pioneer City: The Story of Sacred Heart Parish,Yankton, South Dakota, lSyi-igyj, which won a National Commenda-tion from the American Association for State and Local History in1972 for its outstanding portrayal of local history.'^

Along with his historical works, Karolevitz authored a column enti-tled "Writer at Large," which appeared in a number of South Dakotanewspapers. He also wrote "The Way It Was," a historical column fea-tured in the Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan. Well known for his senseof humor, Karolevitz continually finds fodder for his pen in his ethnicbackground, his family, and their attempts at farming. He compiledhis favorite columns into two books. Tears in My Horseradish (1983)and Toulouse the Goose and Other Ridiculous Stories (1985). These popu-lar books helped earn Karolevitz the title "the male Erma Bombeck"{nationally known humorist and newspaper columnist).^?

At the same time, Karolevitz remains a serious supporter of histori-cal and community organizations. He has served as a board memberfor many institutions, including the Yankton County Historical Soci-ety, the South Dakota Hall of Fame, and the South Dakota Art Mu-seum. He was elected to the South Dakota State Historical SocietyBoard of Trustees in 1973 and served for over thirty years, retiring inJune 2005. During his tenure, he helped raise funds to preservearchival and museum collections, reviewed nominations of propertiesto the National Register of Historic Places, and contributed to the so-ciety's quarterly journal. South Dakota History. He also played a role inthe establishment of the South Dakota State Historical Society Pressin 1997, acting as financial advisor and author's advocate and con-tributing his years of experience and knowledge.'^

12. Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan. 25 |uly 1997; Nomination Form.13. Papenhausen, "Why Bob Writes Books," pp. 30-31.14. Jay D, Vogt, director, South Dakota State Historical Society, to Zemi W. Wicks III,

South Dakota State University, 19 Oct. 2005, and Nancy Tystad Koupal, director. Researchand Publishing, South Dakota State Historical Society, to Zeno W Wicks III, 18 Oct. 2005,both in Biographical File "Karolevitz, Robert Francis."

Copyright © 2006 by the South Dakota State Historical Society. All Rights Reserved.

SPRING 2 o o 6 Dakota Resources I 125

During his half-century of writing, Karolevitz has published nearlyforty books, written dozens of columns, and sold over one thousandmagazine articles, features, and poems, many to national publica-tions. In honor of his years of achievement, he was inducted into theSouth Dakota Hall of Fame in 1973 and selected as the organization'sWriter of the Year in 1986. The South Dakota Newspaper Associationnamed him Distinguished Citizen of the Year in 1981, and the SouthDakota Council of Teachers of English named him Author of the Yearfor 1989-1990. Karolevitz received the A. H. Pankow Media Award in1991 and was chosen as Yankton's Citizen of the Year in 1998 for hisliterary work and civic involvement. Most recently, he earned theBishop Dudley Media Award from the Diocese of Sioux Falls (2004)and the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award (2005).'^

Karolevitz considers his major contributions to South Dakota's her-itage to be his Pioneer Church in a Pioneer City: The Story of Sacred

Heart Parish; Yankton: A Pioneer Past: Where Your Heart Is: The Story of

Harvey Dunn, Artist: and Challenge: The South Dakota Story.'''^ "I never

meant to write history," Karolevitz told the Yankton Daily Press and Da-kotan in 1997- "I just enjoy writing the story."'? Despite this assertion,Karolevitz's highly readable works display a knowledge of and passionfor history that will make the author's written legacy one that will lastfar into the future.

15. "More Than You Wanted to Know about Bob Karolevitz," Biographical File "Karolevitz,Robert Francis." Karolevitz is quick to share credit for his achievements with his wife Phyl-hs, an experienced researcher who also prods him to meet deadlines. Papenhusen, "WhyBob Writes Books," p. 31.

16. Nomination Form.17. Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan, 25 July 1997.

WORKS BY ROBERT F . KAROLEVITZ

Bishop Martin Marty: "The Black Robe Lean Chief." Yankton, S.Dak.: Benedic-tine Sisters of Sacred Heart Convent, 1980.

A Century of Love: The First 100 Years of the Children's Home Society of SouthDakota, i8ç)3-iQg3. Mission Hill S.Dak: Dakota Homestead Publishers,1993.

Challer^e: The South Dakota Story. Sioux Falls, S.Dak.: Brevet Press, 1975.

Copyright © 2006 by the South Dakota State Historical Society. All Rights Reserved.

120 I South Dakota History VOL. 36, NO. I

A Commitment to Care: The First 100 Years of Sacred Heart Hospital, i8gy-iç)Ç)y. Mission Hill, S.Dak.: Dakota Homestead Publishers, 1997.

Doctors of the Old West: A Pictorial History of Medicine on the Frontier. Seattle,Wash.: Superior Publishing, 1967.

Douglas County: "The Little Giant." Armor, S.Dak: Douglas County HistoricalSociety, 1983.

E. G., Inventor by Necessity: The Story ofE. G. Melroe and the Melroe Company.Aberdeen, S.Dak.: North Plains Press, 1968.

Everything's Green . . . but My Thumb. Aberdeen, S.Dak.: North Plains Press,1971.

Flight of Eagles: The Story of the American Ko^ciuszko Squadron in the Polish-Russian War, 1919-1920. With Ross S. Fenn. Sioux Falls, S.Dak.: BrevetPress, 1974.

From Quill to Computer The Story of America's Community Newspapers. N.p.:National Newspaper Foundation, 1985.

George Washington; Northwest City Builder. Chicago, III,: Johnson Publishing,1963.

The Golfer's Good Book. Mission Hill, S.Dak: Dakota Homestead Publishers,1991.

An Historic Sampler of Davison County. Virginia Beach, Va.: Donning Co.,1993.

Joe Floyd: A Helluva Salesman. Mission Hill, S.Dak.: Dakota Homestead Pub-lishers, 1990.

Kemper Freeman. Sr.. and the Bellevue Story. Mission Hill, S.Dak: DakotaHomestead Publishers, 1984,

"Life on the Home Front: South Dakota in World War II." South Dakota His-tory 19 (1989): 392-423.

Newspapering in the Old West: A Pictorial History of Journalism and Printing onthe Frontier. Seattle, Wash.: Superior Publishing, 1965.

"The 1949 Portland Newspaper Strike: A Study of Its Effects on the Commu-nity." Master's thesis. University of Oregon, 1950.

Old-time Agriculture in the Ads: Being a Compendium of Magazine and News-paper Sales Literature Reminiscent of the Days When Farming Was a Way ofLife and Horsepower Came in Horses. Aberdeen, S.Dak.: North Plains Press,1970.

Old-Time Autos in the Ads, Being a Hodge-Podge of Automotive Memorabilia.Yankton, S.Dak: Homestead Publishers, 1973,

Paper Mountain: The Story of Frank Osgood Butler, 1S61-1955. Brookings,S.Dak: F. O. Butler Foundation, 1980.

Copyright © 2006 by the South Dakota State Historical Society. All Rights Reserved.

SPRING 2006 Dakota Resources 127

Pioneer Church in a Pioneer City: The Story of Sacred Heart Parish, Yankton,South Dakota, 1S71-1971. Aberdeen, S.Dak: North Plains Press, 1971.

The Prairie Is My Garden: The Story of Harvey Dunn, Artist. Aberdeen, S.Dak.:North Plains Press, 1969.

Public Relations: Rx for the Health Care Team. Saint Louis, Mo.: CatholicHealth Association of the United States, 1983.

Tears in My Horseradish, Being a Collection of Columns by Boh Karolevitz withPhotographic Embellishments by Bemie Hunhoffjr. Gayville, S.Dak.: The Ob-server, 1983.

The 2^'^ Infantry Division and World War ¡I. Baton Rouge, La.: Army & NavyPublishing, 1946-

They Always Called Him Coach: A Biography of Carl Ivan Youngivorth. MissionHill, S.Dak.: Dakota Homestead Publishers, 1993.

TTits Was Pioneer Motoring: An Album of Nostalgic Automemorabilia. Seattle,Wash.: Superior Publishing. 1968.

This Was Trucking: A Pictorial History of the First Quarter Century of Commer-cial Motor Vehicles. Seattle, Wash.: Superior Publishing, 1966.

Torchy!: The Biography and Reminiscences of Roscoe C. Torrance. Mission Hill,S.Dak.: Dakota Homestead Publishers, 1988.

Toulouse the Coose and Other Ridiculous Stories: A Collection of Columns by BobKarolevitz. with Fun Photography by Bemie Hunhoff,jr., and Dave Dringman.Yankton, S.Dak.: Missouri Valley Observer, 1985.

Uniquely South Dakota. With Bernie Hunhoff, Jr. Norfolk, Va.: Donning Co.,1988.

Where Your Heart Is: The Story of Harvey Dunn. Artist. Aberdeen. S.Dak.:North Plains Press, 1970.

With a Shirt Tail Full of Type: The Story of Newspapering in South Dakota. N.p.:South Dakota Press Association. 1982.

With Faith, Hope and Tenacity: The First One Hundred Years of the Catholic Dio-cese of Sioux Falls. î88ç}-ig8g. Mission Hill, S.Dak.: Dakota HomesteadPublishers, 1989.

Yankton: A Pioneer Past. Aberdeen, S.Dak.: North Plains Press, 1972. Rev. ed..Mission Hill, S.Dak.: Dakota Homestead Publishers, 1997.

Yankton—The Way It Was!: Being a Collection of Historical Columns. Yankton,S.Dak.: Yankton Daily Press fij Dakotan, 1998.

Yankton College: A Continuing Story. Mission Hill, S.Dak.: Dakota HomesteadPublishers, 2003. ,

Yesterday's Motorcycles. Mission Hill, S.Dak.: Dakota Homestead Publishers,1986.

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