About Us
The Mission of the LIWLRA
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy & Research Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder through research, events, awareness, and unwavering support for the museums and sites that honor her across the country.
History of the LIWLRA
In 2009, a group of Laura Ingalls Wilder fans and researchers met in De Smet, SD. Recognizing that no viable platform existed for presenting research and scholarship about Wilder and her works, they proposed forming an organization that would serve as a focal point for all things Laura–one committed to preserving her legacy and sharing new research.
Thus was born the Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association.
This nonprofit organization is dedicated to supporting research and preservation related to Laura Ingalls Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane, and the Little House sites. The Association supports the work of both the homesites and independent researchers and serves as a gathering space for scholars and fans, academics and educators—anyone interested in learning more about these remarkable women and the legacy they left behind.
Diversity in the LIWLRA
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy & Research Association supports efforts to bring awareness to a wide range of backgrounds, viewpoints, and abilities. We believe in promoting understanding and respect and support efforts to eliminate prejudice based on race, disability, or other differences in our communities and beyond.
We recognize that Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books contain racist depictions and language that are hurtful today. We do not condone these words or images. Attitudes that were accepted in the 1930s about the 1870s and 1880s were harmful then and should not be acceptable today. We acknowledge the pain these portrayals have caused within the Little House community.
At the same time, we believe that engaging with these works in an honest and thoughtful way can foster learning and understanding. The experiences of the fictional Laura reflect struggles with the prejudices of her time, including attitudes toward Black people, Native Americans, and immigrants. The good within the books does not erase the harm, but examining both allows us to better understand the past and challenge prejudice in the present.
LIWLRA is committed to:
- Introducing the world of Little House to a more diverse audience
- Educating our audiences about historical context and issues of diversity through conferences and programs
- Elevating and supporting inclusive voices and causes
- Encouraging presentations and discussions that address challenging or controversial topics
- Increasing diversity among our membership and board
LIWLRA is proud to be a community where Laura Ingalls Wilder’s writings are discovered, analyzed and understood within their historical context, while encouraging ongoing learning and dialog.
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