June 27, 2012 - Dee Brown, Sigma ’31, author of the groundbreaking book Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, will be included in the “Books that Shaped America” exhibition.  The Library of Congress is hosting this exhibition which is part of the “Celebration of the Book” program.

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee has sold over four million copies and been translated into many foregin languages since its release in 1970.  Described as “a grim, revisionist tale of ruthless mistreatment and eventual displacement of the Indian by white conquerors from 1860-1890,” by the New York Times, the book describes the unfair treatment of Native Americans.  Dee created this documentary on the massacres, broken promises, and mayhems that they suffered in the late 1800s.

The “Books that Shaped America” list is not the best American books but rather, books that have creative controversy, conversation and have shaped views on America, both nationally and internationally. Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat, Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind, Benjamin Franklin’s Experiments and Observations of Electricity and L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz are a few of the 88 books on display.

Dee received a Bachelor of Arts and Education in history at the Teachers College (now the University of Central Arkansas).  He went on to earn his Bachelor of Library Science from George Washington University then received his Master of Library of Science from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.  He became a professor of library science for 13 years at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champagin before retiring. 

Over his lifetime, Dee wrote 32 books and novels.  Today, the Central Arkansas Library System has named a branch library in Little Rock after him.  He died on December 12, 2002 at the age of 94 from heart disease.

The “Books that Shaped America” exhibition runs June 25-September 29 at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.  Stop by to see the exhibit while in our Nation’s Capitol for the 45^th Grand Chapter, August 2-5, 2012.

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