Memorial Society

PO Box 1032
Rapid City, SD 57709

Badger Clark was named the first Poet Laureate of South Dakota in 1937 by then Governor Leslie Jensen.  His distinctive cowboy poetry was published widely during his lifetime in such notable publications as Sunset Magazine, Pacific Monthly, Arizona Highways, Colliers, Century Magazine, the Rotarian, and Scribners.

Beginning with his first book, "Sun and Saddle Leather" in 1915, the cowboy poet's books have never been out of print, thanks to the efforts of The Chronicle Shop, Westerners, International, and more recently, the Badger Clark Memorial Society.

In addition to the books, the Memorial Society also offers souvenir items such as T-shirts, post-cards, magnets, bookmarks, matted poems, mugs and other merchandise to help support their good work.

The poet's cabin home in South Dakota's beautiful Custer State Park is open to the public free of charge, and maintained cooperatively by the State Department of Game, Fish and Parks and the Badger Clark Memorial Society. 

Shebby Lee, President of the Badger Clark Memorial Society, is the great, grand-niece of Badger Clark.  Her personal reminiscence  was awarded First Place in the prestigious Westerners, International Philip A. Danielson competition in 1984.  The paper also garnered awards at the Dakota History Conference and Black Hills History Conference for outstanding scholarship.

"Poet Laureate Gave SD Hymn of Thanksgiving" November 24, 2010.  Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

Phyllis Clark Schwartz
 1923-2010