James Parker will be presenting a talk on Dr. Watson Parker at the West River History Conference on October 3, 2024.
Black Hills Ghost Towns – the Man Who Put Them on the Map
A look back at the life and work of Dr. Watson Parker, the “Dean of Black Hills History” Fifty years have passed since the publication of “Black Hills Ghost Towns”, the seminal work of Dr. Watson Parker and Hugh K. Lambert.
As a child growing up in Palmer Gulch near Hill City, I also grew up with Dad’s passion – the history of the mining camps, towns, and mills that dotted the Black Hills in the latter part of the 19th century. We spent days exploring the ruins of famous mines – the Lookout, the Golden Slipper, Addy Camp, Spokane, Tinton, and others. Dad shared his love of history with everybody who showed an interest, and he spent years digging deeper into maps, articles, and other resources to add to his store of knowledge. Weeks in the field added to his understanding of what had been, and what could never be again. Not only did he devote every spare minute to his study of the Hills, but he also went back to school, earned his Doctorate in History, and made his research available to us all.
Generations of Black Hills historians have stood on his shoulders since the publication of Black Hills Ghost Towns in 1974. As the towns fade into dust, his work has become more important, not only for his scholarly approach but for the vast body of work he left behind. This talk will trace his love affair with the towns and mines, and his personal growth as the pre-eminent authority of Black Hills history. Using archival photographs and drawing from his extensive writing, we’ll look back at his best images and anecdotes. And as Dad always said, “If it ain’t true, it oughta be!”
The Conference starts Wednesday, October 2, at the Crazy Horse Memorial