Loucks, H. L. Correspondence with R. F. Pettigrew

Henry Langford Loucks (1846–1928) and Richard F. Pettigrew (1848–1926) were prominent figures in the agrarian, populist, and progressive movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Loucks, a farmer, organizer, publisher, and political reformer, played a central role in the Farmers’ Alliance and the Populist Party, advocating cooperative economics, direct democracy, and farmer-led reform in South Dakota and nationally. Pettigrew, a lawyer, territorial legislator, and U.S. Senator from South Dakota, was instrumental in securing statehood and later emerged as a leading critic of corporate power and political conservatism within the Republican Party. The collection documents correspondence between Loucks and Pettigrew from 1914 to 1916, along with related writings and photographs, illuminating their shared commitment to progressive reform and offering valuable insight into early twentieth-century political discourse surrounding agriculture, economic justice, and democratic governance. The collection consists of correspondence between Loucks and Pettigrew from 1914 to 1916, primarily discussing political issues related to the progressive movement. It also includes photographs, Loucks’ published editorials, and his 1917 pamphlet Will the Farmer be the "Goat" Once More?, which addresses agricultural and economic concerns. Their letters provide valuable insight into early 20th-century political discourse, reflecting their efforts to challenge corporate power and advocate for reform. As leaders in the populist movement, their exchanges document key strategies and ideological shifts that shaped political activism in the Midwest, highlighting their lasting impact on American political and economic thought.