Fargo, N.D., November 12, 2021— Selected essays fromPrairie Public’s radio and podcast series, “Dakota Datebook,” were compiled into a book in 2019. The book was so well received that Prairie Public is launching a second volume — with more nuggets of North Dakota history for each day of the year.
The short “Dakota Datebook” essays have been written by a variety of North Dakota researchers and authors. “We’ve been broadcasting the radio series since 2003,” said Bill Thomas, Prairie Public’s director of radio. “That grew into an online archive and a podcast, and now newspapers across the state are printing them. Over the years, we’ve collected thousands of these North Dakota bits of history — some humorous, some tragic, all fascinating.”
The first volume was prepared for publication by a UND publishing practicum led by David Haeselin, William Caraher and the UND Digital Press. Students chose their favorites for the book from all the “Dakota Datebooks” written over the years—at least one essay for each county in the state.
Prairie Public staff have published the second volume, which is debuting this month. It will be available at bookstores across the state and at Prairie Public’s online shop site.
The “Dakota Datebook” radio series is created in partnership with the Historical Society of North Dakota and is funded by the North Dakota Humanities Council, a nonprofit, independent state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Prairie Public Broadcasting, headquartered in Fargo, is a nonprofit member station of PBS and NPR that provides public television services throughout North Dakota, northwestern Minnesota, southern Manitoba and parts of Montana and South Dakota; public radio service to North Dakota; and educational and technological services to communities and individuals across its coverage area.
###