R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

North Dakota
Research Outline
   

Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
Native Races
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Vital Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

GAZETTEERSLook this term up in the glossary.

A guide that will help you identify North Dakota place names is Mary Ann Barnes Williams, Origins of North Dakota Place Names (Washburn, N.D.: Mary Ann Barnes Williams, 1966; FHL book 978.4 E5w; film 1036251 item 2).


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GENEALOGYLook this term up in the glossary.

Most archivesLook this term up in the glossary., historical societiesLook this term up in the glossary., and genealogical societiesLook this term up in the glossary. have special collections and indexes of genealogical value. These must usually be searched in person. A notable genealogical collection is the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Collection. This collection includes transcripts of Bible records, cemetery records, church records, marriages, deaths, obituaries, and wills from 3 counties—Barnes, Burleigh, and Towner. It was microfilmed in 1971 at the DAR Library, Washington, D.C., and is at the Family History Library (FHL films 859737-40).

Histories of the earliest settlers of North Dakota are in Collections of the State Historical Society of North Dakota, 7 vols. (Bismarck, N.D.: The North Dakota State Historical Society, 1906-1925; Vols. 1-3, 6-7 in FHL book 978.4 B2h; films beginning with film 1697422, vols. 1-7).

A source that lists the names of almost 100,000 French-Canadians who emigrated to the North Central states is Paul J. Lareau and Elmer Courteau, French-Canadian Families of the North Central States: A Genealogical Dictionary, 8 vols. (St. Paul, Minn.: Northwest Territory French and Canadian Heritage Institute, 1980; FHL book 973 D2la; fiche 6010503-11).


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HISTORYLook this term up in the glossary.

The following important events in the history of North Dakota affected political boundaries, record keeping, and family movements.

1803-1818

The United States acquired the southwestern half of North Dakota as part of the Louisiana PurchaseLook this term up in the glossary. from France. The northeastern half was acquired in 1818 by treaty with Britain.

1812

The first permanent white settlement in present-day North Dakota was made at Pembina by Scottish pioneers from Canada.

1861-1868

The Dakota TerritoryLook this term up in the glossary. was organized. Its boundaries were reduced to include the area of the two Dakotas of today when the Montana TerritoryLook this term up in the glossary. was created in 1864 and the Wyoming TerritoryLook this term up in the glossary. in 1868.

1863

Free land was offered under the first Homestead ActLook this term up in the glossary., but the Civil WarLook this term up in the glossary. and Indian warsLook this term up in the glossary. delayed settlement.

1871

White settlement began in earnest in northern Dakota when railroads reached the Red River from St. Paul and Duluth, Minnesota.

1878-1886

The eastern region was settled in the first Dakota boom era.

1889

The Dakota Territory was divided, and both North and South Dakota were admitted to the Union.

1898-1915

Additional lands were settled in a second Dakota boom. The peak year for new homesteadsLook this term up in the glossary. was 1906.

Helpful sources for studying the history of North Dakota are:

Robinson, Elwyn B. History of North Dakota. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1966. (FHL book 978.4 H2r.)

Lounsberry, Clement A. Early History of North Dakota. Washington, D.C.: Liberty Press, 1919. (FHL book 978.4 H2L; film 1036397; 1916 edition with biographical volumes is on films 982024-5.)

A bibliography of local histories for North Dakota is included in Daniel Rylance and J.F.S. Smeall, Reference Guide to North Dakota History and North Dakota Literature (Grand Forks: Chester Fritz Library of the University of North Dakota, 1979; FHL book 978.4 A3r).


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LAND AND PROPERTYLook this term up in the glossary.

When the United States acquired North Dakota, most of the land became part of the public domainLook this term up in the glossary.. The federal government administered the land through the General Land OfficeLook this term up in the glossary.. Available land was surveyed into townships and transferred to private ownership through a process called land entry. The first General Land Office was established at Pembina in 1870. The local land officesLook this term up in the glossary. kept tract booksLook this term up in the glossary. (recording transactions for each section of land), and township platsLook this term up in the glossary. (maps of land entries for each township).

Land entry in North Dakota was based either on cash payment for the land (cash entriesLook this term up in the glossary.), or on conditions of settlement (homesteadsLook this term up in the glossary. after 1862). Once a settler completed the requirements for land entry, his case file was sent to the General Land Office in Washington, D.C., where a patentLook this term up in the glossary. or first-title deedLook this term up in the glossary. was issued.

To locate the land-entry or homestead case fileLook this term up in the glossary. for your ancestor, you will need to know either the patent numberLook this term up in the glossary. or the legal descriptionLook this term up in the glossary. (range, township, section of the land). The county recorder of deedsLook this term up in the glossary. may be able to tell you the legal description of the land from county land records, or you may be able to pinpoint the exact location by searching the entries in the tract book covering the approximate area concerned.

For original patents and copies of tract books and township plats, contact the Bureau of Land ManagementLook this term up in the glossary., BLM, 222 North 32nd Street, Box 36800, Billings, MT 59101, Telephone: 406-255-2940. The National Archives has the original homestead entry filesLook this term up in the glossary., cash entry filesLook this term up in the glossary., tract books, and township plats. See the United States Research Outline for address and telephone. Records of the local land offices are also at the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Township plats are also at the North Dakota Water Commission, 900 East Boulevard, Bismarck, ND 58505, Telephone: 701-328-2750, Fax: 701-328-3696.

After land was transferred from the government by sale or grant to private owners, it could be sold again, inherited, lost by foreclosureLook this term up in the glossary. of a mortgageLook this term up in the glossary., or redistributed through a divorce. These transactions are recorded by the registrar of deeds in each county in the form of deeds and mortgages. The Family History Library has not acquired copies of the land records from the county courthouses in North Dakota.

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