1870s
Emma Wold (29 sep 1871 – 21 jul 1950 | Norway SD – Washington DC) author, attorney, teacher, women’s rights expert, national disarmament delegate
Zitkala-Sa (22 feb 1876 – 26 jan 1938 | Yankton Indian Reservation SD – Washington DC) writer, editor, teacher, aka Red Bird, Native American, violinist, opera writer, political activist, aka Gertrude Simmons Bonnin
1880s
Rose Wilder Lane (05 dec 1886 – 30 oct 1968 | De Smet SD – Danbury CT) novelist, short fiction writer, political essayist
1890s
Hallie Flanagan (27 aug 1890 – 23 jul 1969 | Redfield SD – Old Tappan NJ) author, playwright, theatrical producer / director, WPA Federal Theater Project Director
Gladys Pyle (04 oct 1890 – 14 mar 1989 | Huron SD – Huron SD) life insurance agent, first female South Dakota Senator, first unmarried female US Senator
Eleanor [Nellie] Zabel Willhite (22 nov 1892 – 02 sep 1991 | Box Elder or Rapid City SD – Sioux Falls SD) first deaf female pilot to earn license, first licensed female pilot in South Dakota, founding member of all-female Ninety-Nine organization
1900s
Rosemond Teresa Marie Tuve (29 nov 1903 – 20 dec 1964 | Canton SD – Philadelphia PA) author, essayist, professor, English literature scholar, focus on Renaissance literature
1910s
Edith Louise Starrett Green (17 jan 1910 – 21 apr 1987 | Trent SD – Tualatin OR) educator, politician, Title IX advocate, women’s rights / education activist, second female US Representative in Oregon State
1920s
Blossom Iris Crawford Hawkins Keeble (16 jul 1926 – 03 jul 2007 | Lake Traverse Reservation SD – Veblen SD) teacher, education professor, aka Wahcawin [Flower Woman], Lakota language preservationist, Bureau of Indian Affairs Agency Superintendent of Education
1930s
Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve (21 feb 1933 – South Dakota US) author, focus on children’s books about Native Americans
Cynthia MacAdams (05 sep 1939 – Webster SD) author, former actress, photographer, specialist in black and white portraiture, use of natural light, infrared photography, and images of sacred architecture
1940s
Roxanne Barton Conlin (30 jun 1944 – Huron SD) author, attorney, Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) first female president, founder / first chair Iowa Women’s Political Caucus
Judith Ann [J. A.] Jance (27 oct 1944 – Watertown SD) horror / mystery novelist
Cecilia Fire Thunder (24 oct 1946 – Pine Ridge Reservation SD) nurse, aka Cecilia Apple, women’s health activist, community health planner, tribal leader of Oglala Sioux
Helen Marie Frost (04 mar 1949 – Brookings SD) poet, author, educator, young adult novelist
Kay Schallenkamp (09 dec 1949 – Salem SD) professor, education administrator, university president
1950s
Nancy Wilson Dickey (10 sep 1950 – Clark SD) physician, essayist, first female president of American Medical Association (AMA), former / first female president of Texas A&M Health Science Center
Debbie Stafford (05 apr 1953 – Rapid City SD) minister, politician, auctioneer, domestic violence counselor
Amy Marie Hill (09 may 1953 – Deadwood SD) writer, actress, comedian, performance artist