Moses, Lloyd

History

Lloyd Roosevelt Moses was born on September 4, 1904 to James H. Moses and Alice O. Shelden in Fairfax, South Dakota. Alice Shelden was of Sioux heritage. Moses attended White Thunder Indian Day School in Mellette County and Colome High School, in Colome, S.D.

From 1925-1927, Moses was a rural schoolteacher for the Rosebud School District and later he was the deputy county superintendent of schools. He then studied Chemistry at the University of South Dakota from 1927-1931. He was a member of the USD ROTC and received a commission of Lieutenant in the Army Reserve. It was also at USD where he met his wife, Ruth West. They were married on February 14, 1935. In 1932, Moses was employed as an instructor of Chemistry at Sioux Falls College and he also worked for the Witte Paint and Chemical Company.

Moses served in the Army Reserves until 1940. One of his tours of duty included working with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Breckenridge, Minnesota. In 1940, he was called into active duty. Moses trained soldiers in Missouri and Alabama until 1945 when he was sent to Europe to serve with the 507^th Parachute Regiment. He worked on the European theater staff and was included in the airborne assault over the Rhine. At the end of World War II (1939-1945), he became post commander at Sendai, Japan.

Moses was once more in combat while commanding the 31^st Infantry Regiment during the Korean War (1950-1953). He served again in Japan from 1953-1954 and then returned to the United States to serve at Fort Leavenworth and Fort Dix. In 1957, he was assigned to the Southern Area Command in Munich, Germany. Moses commanded the 8^th Infantry Division from 1959-1960 and U.S. Fifth Army (1960-1964). He retired from the Army as a Major General in 1964 and settled in Vermillion, South Dakota.

After retirement, Moses served as the director of Institute of Indian Studies (the current Institute for American Indian Studies) at the University of South Dakota from 1967-1974. He was instrumental in developing Indian related Courses at USD and overhauling the direction and purpose of the Institute. Moses was active with the South Dakota State and the Clay County Historical Societies. He was an avid sportsman, writer and historian. He was also involved with publishing several books including his autobiography Whatever it Takes, Who’s Who Among the Sioux (written with T. Emogene Paulson), and Paulson’s Sioux Collections. Moses was a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and he was given the Indian name of Tokaha Waste Wicasha (good leader). Moses died on Aug. 22, 2000. Moses and his wife are buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

Scope and Content Note

The Lloyd Roosevelt Moses Collection contains eleven series: Correspondence, Maps, Manuscripts, Personal, Printed Materials, Publications, Research Materials, Typescripts, Photographs, Audio/Visual and Ephemera. Lloyd Moses first donated his papers in 1996, and T. Emogene Paulson made additional donations in 2000 and 2001, after Lloyd Moses’ death.

The Correspondence series is divided into four sub-series: Incoming, Outgoing, Other and Sympathy cards. The first three sub-series contain letters that concern topics regarding the Institute for Indian Studies, the Military and Moses’ personal interests. Many of the letters are photocopies of originals not included in this collection. The Sympathy Cards sub-series contains cards from Moses’ family and friends after his death.

The Manuscript series contains drafts of Moses’ speeches. Included in this series is the hand written Commissioning Exercise Address, which is also available in a typed format in the Typescript series.

The Maps series contains several Clay County maps including a 1982 city map of Vermillion. Also included are maps for Tripp and Mellette County and a map of Europe with Moses’ holograph notes about the various countries.

The Personal series contains biographical information on Moses and his family. There is some correspondence relating to family research. Also included are personal documents about Enoch Moses, a Moses relative who served in the Civil War, Lloyd Moses’ birth Certificate and typescripts of several versions of the Moses family tree. The series also contains, Moses’ nomination forms for SD Cowboy and Western Hall of Fame and Moses’ runner’s diary for the program “Run for Your Life”.

The Printed Materials series contains several books including: a copy of the Vest Pocket Bible Dictionary with Moses’ holograph notes, a copy of Cambridge Concordance Bible that was given to him by servicemen Daley Barracks, Bad Kissingen, Germany and a book about Moses family genealogy. Also included are publications by the Institute for Indian Studies such as the Institute Newsletter and publications about the Head start Program. The newspaper clippings concern various events during Moses’ life. The Clippings are arranged chronologically.

The largest series in the collection is the Publications series. It contains materials from the publications Clay County Place Names, Sioux Collections, Whatever it Takes and Who’s Who Among the Sioux. Included are correspondence concerning Sioux Collections and Who’s Who Among the Sioux, copyright forms, drafts, and research Materials. Of special interest are the Resource files for Who’s Who Among the Sioux. These files contain T. Emogene Paulson’s notes, research, requests for information and correspondence on each of the book’s biographical entries. Though most of the files contain only a few items, there is more information on the most notable figures. The Resource files are filed alphabetically by entrants name.

The Research Materials contain Moses’ research on several topics including: George Armstrong Custer and the battle of Little Big Horn, Lewis and Clark’s visit to Spirit Mound, Lakota Language and Religious Studies. Also included in this series are research materials for Moses’ speeches. This series is arranged topically and contains handwritten notes and articles regarding the topics.

The Typescript series contains copies of speeches given by Moses at various events and papers written by Moses, Rich Gerry and Thomas Earl Geu.

The Photographs series is divided into several sub-series: Activities, Family, Military, Miscellaneous, Personal, Portraits, Proof Sheets and University of South Dakota. The Activities sub series contains pictures of the Archeological dig at Hell Gap, Wyoming and miscellaneous photographs of Moses in various activities such as bobsledding and boy scouting. The Family sub-series contains Moses family pictures, which includes photos of Moses’ maternal grandparents, parents, and brother. The Military Photos include pictures from Europe, Japan, Korea, Parachuting and unidentified military photos. Also included in this sub-series are photos of military correspondence, which were used in Moses’ book. The Miscellaneous sub-series contains pictures from Moses’ tour at Breckenridge, MN, the 1972 Rapid City flood, pictures from the State Historical Society and a color photograph of Dwight D. Eisenhower during a tickertape parade. The personal sub-series contains photos of football players at Colome High School and Moses’ friends. Also included in this sub series are photos of Moses’ burial service at Arlington Cemetery and pictures of the Moses home in Fairfax and Vermillion, SD. This sub series is preceded by a list, created by T. Emogene Paulson, identifying the numbered photographs in this sub-series. The Portraits sub-series contains several portraits of Enos Poor Bear Sr. and Lloyd Moses. The Proof Sheet sub-series contains proof sheets of photos used in Moses’ autobiography Whatever it Takes. The University of South Dakota sub-series contains photos of Moses’ receiving an honorary degree of letters on May 14, 1977 at the USD graduation ceremony as well as photos of the staff of the Institute of Indian Studies.

The Audio/Visual contains slides and videotapes. There are four boxes of slides. They cover Moses’ time in Europe, photos of his retirement, his work for the Clay County Historical Society and his trip to witness the Polar Bear Migration in Churchill, Manitoba Canada. The videotapes cover Moses’ autobiography press conference, a tape from his Churchill, Manitoba trip and a video made from 8mm filmstrips.

The Ephemera series contains certificates, the Oglala Sioux Tribal flag that was enclosed with a letter and a pencil sketch of Lloyd Moses. Also included are post cards of Chief Eagle, Calvin Coolidge, Germany, Hitler’s House and the Bombing of Pearl Harbor. Several programs are included in this series including those for Moses’ retirement party and his memorial service.

Additional Resources

Manuscript Collections

Indian Community Action Project, Records 1966-1971, Richardson Collection, Special Collections, University of South Dakota

Institute of American Indian Studies, University Archives, Special Collections, University of South Dakota

Institute of Indian Studies, University Archives, Special Collections, University of South Dakota

Moses, Ruth West Collection, Richardson Collection, Special Collections, University of South Dakota

Publications

Clay County Historical Society (S.D.). Historic Sites Committee

Clay County place names. Lloyd R. Moses, editor. Vermillion, S.D.: Clay County Historical Society, c1976.

Moses, Lloyd Roosevelt, 1904-2000

Education in the army. [s.l. : s.n., 1961?]

The Korean War Journal of Lloyd R. Moses. edited by Gerald W. Wolff. South Dakota historical collections; v.40, 1981

The training of loss replacements. Military Review; v.31, no.9, 1951

The training of loss replacements. Military Review; v.31, no.10, 1952

Whatever it takes: the autobiography of General Lloyd R. Moses. Vermillion, SD: Dakota Press, University of South Dakota Press, c1991.

Paulson, T. Emogene and Lloyd R. Moses

Who's who among the Sioux. Vermillion, S.D.: Institute of Indian Studies, The University of South Dakota, 1988 (Pierre, S.D.: State Publishing Co.)

Paulson, T. Emogene.

Sioux collections. University of South Dakota, [Pierre : State Publishing Company] 1982.

Subjects:

Moses, Lloyd Roosevelt, 1904-2000

Siouan Indians – South Dakota

“General L.R. Moses Retires Will Reside in Vermillion”, The University of South Dakota Bulletin, 1964, Nov. 1

“General Moses named President of Consortium on Indian Projects”, 1968, Oct.

“Major General (Ret.) Lloyd Moses waves to the Crowd.”, Plain Talk, 1984, Oct. 17 (Photocopy)

“Former General Sorts his Life”, The Sioux City Journal, 1984, Oct. 29 (Photocopy)

“American Indian achievement, promise must be recognized”, Argus Leader, 1987, Mar. 2

“’Who’s who among the Sioux,’ is a chronicle to promote understanding”, Lakota Times, 1987, July 29

“Who’s Who Among the Sioux Fills Literary Gap”, Plain Talk, 1988, Dec. 15

“Officer, scholar, author; Moses’ autobiography out” Plain Talk, 1991, Nov. 28

“Retired Gen. Lloyd Moses, author of 2 books, dies at 95”, Plain Talk, 2000, Aug. 30

Testimony to Support Senate Bill 2498, designating the Nokota Horse as North Dakota’s honorary equine

“The Institute of Indian Studies- Centralization or Decentralization of Authority”, 1975, May

“The Tao of Jurisprudence: Chaos, Brain Science, Synchronicity and the Law”, 1993

“The Mineral Aspect of the Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks of the Northern Black Hills, SD, 1931, May

“Fifth USD Army and the Midwest”, Presentation made at Chamber of Commerce Dinner, Winner, S.D., 1962, May 2

Acceptance upon his adoption by the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council at Rosebud, S.D., 1962, July 4

Remarks at Sioux Falls, SD National Guard Bureau Fifth Army Area Conference, 1962, Oct. 17

Remarks at Chicago, Illinois, Fifth US Army Civilian Aides’ Conference, 1962, Oct. 26

“A Remembering”, Memorial service for Captain Paul S. Halkovich, 1978, July 9

“The Art of Rating Others on Their Efficiency, Attention to Duty, and Their Future Usefulness.”, USD Emeritus Club, Vermillion, SD, 1990, Mar. 7(2 copies)

Remarks given at the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross Award, The University of South Dakota, 1997, Sept. 18

“ How are Intervention Forces Supported with the Necessary Materials and Services?”, Rotary Club, 1998, Jan. 10

Dinner invitation in honor of The United State Ambassador and Mrs. Bruce, 1958, Jan. 20

Graduation Program from Rosebud School District no. 54 Tripp County, South Dakota, 1926, Apr. 23

Oglala Sioux Tribal Flag, enclosed with correspondence from Enos Poor Bear, 1991, Mar. 5