R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

South Dakota
Research Outline
   

Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
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
Comments And Suggestions

BIBLE RECORDSLook this term up in the glossary.

The Daughters of the American Revolution have compiled some South Dakota Bible records. These are on microfilm at the Family History Library (FHL film 855209) and indexed in E. Kay Kirkham, An Index to Some of the Bibles and Family Records of the United States, vol. II (Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, 1984; FHL book Ref 973 D22kk v.2; fiche 6089184).


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BIOGRAPHYLook this term up in the glossary.

The best collection of published biographies in South Dakota is at the South Dakota Office of History in the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Building, East Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD. Another biographical collection is found at the University of South Dakota at Vermillion. There is no statewide biographical index or major manuscript collection. Many statewide, regional, and county histories have biographical sections which can be searched. Examples of such books are:

Memorial and Biographical Record: An Illustrated Compendium of Biography Containing a Compendium of Local Biography. Chicago: G.A. Ogle Co., 1897. (FHL film 1000587 item 2.)

Fox's Who's Who Among South Dakotans: A Biographical Directory of Citizens Who Are Prominent in Professional, Political, Business and Civic Affairs of the State. 2 vols. Pierre, S.D.: Fox Kindley, 1929. (FHL film 1000589 items 6-7.)

Kingsbury, George Washington. History of Dakota Territory and South Dakota: Its History and Its People By George Martin Smith. 5 vols. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Co., 1915. (FHL book 978.3 H2k; films 1000584-86.) Volumes 4 and 5 contain biographical sketches.

Holley, Frances Chamberlain. Once Their Home: or Our Legacy From the Dahkotahs. Chicago: Donohue & Henneberry, 1892. (FHL film 1000589 item 5.)


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CEMETERIESLook this term up in the glossary.

There is no major statewide collection or index of cemetery transcriptions from South Dakota. The Family History Library has records from some graveyards in Butte, Lawrence, Pennington, and a few other counties. Tombstone inscriptions have also been published in some periodicals. See the United States Research Outline for suggestions on locating cemetery records.


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CENSUSLook this term up in the glossary.


FederalLook this term up in the glossary.

Many of the federal census records you'll want to use are found at the Family History Library and the National Archives and other federal and state archives. The United States Research Outline provides more detailed information about these records.

The Family History Library has the U.S. federal censuses for South Dakota for 1900, 1910, and 1920. The 1890 census has been destroyed. The 1890 veterans schedule and index are available at the Family History Library and at the National Archives.

A statewide soundexLook this term up in the glossary. (phonetic) index is available on microfilm for the 1900 and 1920 censuses. The schedules and indexes are also available at the South Dakota State Historical Society.


TerritorialLook this term up in the glossary. and StateLook this term up in the glossary.

South Dakota was included in the 1836 Wisconsin, the 1840 Iowa, the 1850 Minnesota (Pembina District), and the 1860, 1870, and 1880 Dakota territorial censuses.

Indexes to the federal censuses of the WisconsinLook this term up in the glossary., IowaLook this term up in the glossary., MinnesotaLook this term up in the glossary., and DakotaLook this term up in the glossary. territories have been published in book and fiche format for 1836, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. A partial soundex (phonetic) index is also available on microfilm for the 1880 census of Dakota Territory.

In addition to the federal censuses, territorial and state censuses exist for 1885 (Dakota territory), 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935, and 1945. Most of the 1895 census was destroyed. Unique information found in the 1905 to 1945 censuses includes ethnic background, education, maiden name, church affiliation, and military service.

The territorial and state censuses are at the South Dakota State Historical Society. The 1885 and 1895 censuses are also available at the Family History Library. The 1885 census has been indexed.

See the section on “Native Races” for information on tribal census reports.

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