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Former BSC president and award-winning author returns to campus to discuss his American Indian education history books

Published: Nov 06 2026
Former BSC president and award-winning author returns to campus to discuss his American Indian education history books - Photo
Bismarck State College (BSC) President Emeritus and award-winning author Dr. Larry C. Skogen will share insights into the history of American Indian education and the research behind his two-volume collection, “To Educate American Indians,” during a free public workshop Thursday, Nov. 12, from 3 to 5 p.m. in Skogen Hall, Conference Room 204.

Presented by Bringing Humanities to Life, the workshop, “Behind the Curtain: ‘To Educate American Indians,’ A Research, Writing, and Publishing Journey,” will take attendees behind the scenes of Skogen's work, from historical research and writing to publication. The workshop is free and open to BSC faculty, staff, students and the public. Skogen Hall is located at 1400 Schafer St., on the BSC campus.

Published by the University of Nebraska Press, the two-volume collection, “To Educate American Indians: Selected Writings from the National Educational Association’s Department of Indian Education,” examines American Indian education from 1900 to 1909. The first volume, covering 1900-1904, received the Western History Association's 2025 Dwight L. Smith (ABC-CLIO) Award for “significant bibliography or research tool.” The second volume covers 1905-1909.

Drawing on his research, Skogen will explore the federal government's motivations for developing an American Indian school system and share insights into the historical policies and perspectives that shaped American Indian education. He will also discuss the challenges and lessons learned throughout the research, writing and publishing process.

A native of Hettinger, N.D., Skogen served as BSC's sixth president from 2007 to 2020 and was named president emeritus upon his retirement. Larry C. Skogen Hall was named in his honor in 2024 in recognition of his leadership and commitment to advancing arts and humanities education. Today, the building is fondly referred to as Skogen Hall by the BSC campus community. A historian and published author on federal Indian policy, Skogen holds a doctorate in history from Arizona State University and a master's degree in history from the University of Central Missouri.