The White Area Historical Society was founded in 1983. The mission of the Society is to collect, preserve and display information, artifacts and memorabilia pertaining to the culture and history of White, South Dakota and the five surrounding townships. Our purpose is to educate and to make research materials available to the public.  The Society owns three historical buildings, museum, log cabin and schoolhouse. Responsiblity for the maintenance of these buildings is the function of the society and curator is Fayriene Schafer.

Current Directors and Officers are
President: Joanne Murphy
Vice President: Robert Schulz
Secretary: Darlene Schulz
Treasurer: Sheryl Brown
Directors at Large: Lois Simmons, Fayriene Schafer

Membership Dues are $5.00 per person
Annual Meeting is held on the Second Tuesday of April
For information contact Sheryl Brown at 629-3661 or 629-6401
Darlene Schulz at 629-4031; Fayriene Schafer 629-4671

Museum

From the sale of the White History Book, the White Historical Society purchased the Methodist Church, which they turned into a Museum.

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Afton Township #15 Schoolhouse

The Afton #15 Schoolhouse was donated to the Society by the Cecil and Mildred Thomas family.  Located inside are desks, books, pictures and articles from the surrounding rural schools and the White/Deubrook School.

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Log Cabin

During the 1870’s this Log Cabin was built in Oak Lake Township in Gilley’s Grove. It is made out of oak timber. Many families lived in this cabin and additions were added to it. The cabin was donated to the Society by Dr. Harold Kurtz of St. Paul, Minnesota. The Society moved to Main Street in White where it stood for several years. In 2007, it was moved to the museum site.