This collection of letters between Gordon Aadland and Al Neuharth is now open for research. Aadland and Neuharth met at the University of South Dakota, where they both worked on the student newspaper the Volante. Aadland graduated in 1949 and Neuharth in 1950. After college, both worked on SoDak Sports, a statewide weekly newspaper on South Dakota sports co-founded by Neuharth. Afterwards, both left the state to lead successful lives on their chosen paths.
These letters span from the early 1970s through 2013, their pages consisting of joy, jokes, and pranks, the words revealing a friendship that spanned decades. Although most of the letters were received from Neuharth, Aadland’s side of the correspondence also appears occasionally, allowing for the reader to witness both Neuharth and Aadland’s sense of humor, wit and repartee.
Contact the Archives and Special Collections for a copy of the guide to the collection.
Pictured above are Gordon Aadland and Al Neuharth respectively. The photos are taken from their senior pictures in the Coyote yearbook (Aadland: 1949 and Neuharth 1950).
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