Venturing with the Vanguard – The Voices of Sarah Campbell & York

About the event:

Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026 | 6:30 pm CT

Doors open at 6:00 pm

Step into history through an evening of live Chautauqua performance and conversation.

This special event features nationally recognized living history scholars Joyce Jefferson and Marvin Jefferson portraying two remarkable figures connected to the American West and the Northern Plains: Sarah Campbell and York.

Joyce Jefferson brings to life Sarah Campbell, also known as “Aunt Sally,” an early Black Hills entrepreneur who traveled with Custer’s 1874 Black Hills Expedition and later became part of the Custer Mining Company. Through first-person storytelling, audiences will hear about Campbell’s experiences searching for gold, building community, and navigating the realities of frontier life.

Marvin Jefferson portrays York, the enslaved servant of William Clark and a vital member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. York’s story offers audiences a deeper understanding of the role of African Americans in the early American West and the complexities of freedom, exploration, and national identity.

The evening will include:

A welcome and introduction

Two live Chautauqua performances presented in character

Audience Q&A and conversation with the performers and moderator Dr. Larry Skogen

Emcee and moderator Dr. Larry Skogen, historian and president emeritus of Bismarck State College, will help guide the evening’s discussion and audience conversation.

Join us for an engaging evening of storytelling, history, and conversation that brings the past vividly into the present.

This event is presented through a partnership between the Bismarck Historical Society, BSC's Bringing Humanities to Life, and the ND250 Commission.