Archives Library

The Library of the South Dakota State Historical Society collects materials about the history of South Dakota and the surrounding northern plains region. Major subject areas include Lewis and Clark exploration, westward expansion, fur trade era, pioneer and frontier life, Indian wars, Sioux (Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota) tribal histories and biographies, homesteading, territorial period, statehood, mining and agriculture, and Missouri River development.

Unique items in the library include a large collection of family histories, memoirs, city and county histories, church histories, county atlases, city directories, maps and cemetery indexes.

In addition, the collection also contains newspapers published in South Dakota, South Dakota magazines and periodicals, pamphlets, treatises, South Dakota law, annual reports and documents published by state government agencies, and books written by South Dakota authors. Popular fiction about South Dakota, ranging from "Deadwood Dick" days to the present, is also represented in the collection.

The largest known collection of South Dakota newspapers, consisting of 1000 titles preserved on approximately 12,000 microfilm reels, is available for research at the State Archives. This expanding collection is benefiting from work of the South Dakota Newspaper Project, which is currently collecting, filming and cataloging all South Dakota newspapers known to exist. Catalog records containing newspaper titles and basic publishing information can be found in the South Dakota Library Network (SDLN). Online indexes to selected articles from some newspapers (Sioux Falls Argus Leader and various Deadwood newspapers) are also searchable in the South Dakota Library Network. Microfilmed newspapers may be used on site at the State Archives or they may be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

Over 250 South Dakota county atlases dating from 1893 to the present are in the library collection. Modern atlases contain township maps showing landowners, directories of rural inhabitants, and photographs of farms. About 60 of these atlases are "standard atlases" from the early 1900's, containing plat books of cities, towns and townships and names of original residents. Many of the early atlases are on microfilm and may be borrowed through interlibrary loan. The county atlases are cataloged in the South Dakota Library Network (SDLN)

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Around 800 published histories for South Dakota counties and towns are in the library collection and are cataloged in the South Dakota Library Network (SDLN). A number of South Dakota gazetteers, including Doane Robinson's Encyclopedia of South Dakota, South Dakota Place Names by the WPA, and South Dakota Geographic Names, can provide additional facts on settlements, counties and towns of the past and present.

Our collection of over 1000 published family histories serve as a valuable reference for genealogists. Complementing the family history collection are biographies of South Dakota individuals and families and a significant collection of published resources for New England genealogy. An additional source of information on people are county and town histories which often provide brief biographical sketches of pioneers and leading citizens. All these genealogical resources are cataloged in the freely accessible South Dakota Library Network (SDLN). We also maintain a notable South Dakotans biographical file, composed of unpublished material, clippings, and pamphlets. Newsletters from family societies and genealogical societies are also maintained.

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A limited collection of professional reference material is available for use by the public and may be borrowed through interlibrary loan. This collection contains books on preservation; organizing and managing archives and manuscripts; developing local history, oral history and photograph collections; museum management; and performing genealogical research. These books are cataloged in the South Dakota Library Network (SDLN) and are identified with the annotation "STAFF" in the location field of the catalog record.

Library Services

Our Rare Book library is non-circulating. We do, however, lend microfilm and staff development items from the collection through interlibrary loan. Most of the library collection is cataloged on the South Dakota Library Network (SDLN), which may be searched for free by anyone with Internet access. Items are searchable by author, title, keyword, or subject.

Individuals may write to the State Archives with specific research questions, and may expect a written reply within two weeks. Due to staff limitations, we are not able to perform extensive research. For photocopy requests, staff will evaluate the condition of an item as well as copyright law before photocopying. Consult the current fee schedule for prices for staff research and photocopying.

Only newspapers and other materials on microfilm or books identified as "STAFF" (see Professional Reference Collection above) may be borrowed through interlibrary loan. The State Archives does not loan items directly to individuals. Give the title, dates, and reel numbers to your local librarian, along with prepayment of $8.48 per reel (or book). Loans may be made for 30 days. Up to 4 reels may be borrowed at a time. Film must be viewed in the borrower's library.

The State Archives library is open to the public from 9 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Out of town patrons should consider calling ahead (605-773-3804) for confirmation of hours before making a trip to the archives. Patrons doing on-site research are asked to register on their initial visit and sign in on a daily basis. Limited assistance is provided by one staff person and volunteers. Archives staff can help locate pertinent sources, but usually cannot assist with personal research. Stack areas are closed to the public. Materials may be used in the reading room, but may not be checked out. There is no fee to use library and archives material on site, but there are reproduction fees. Staff perform all photocopy functions, while the microfilm reader/printers are self serve. (Consult current fee schedule for prices.) Free parking is available.

How You Can Help Preserve South Dakota History

We depend heavily on donations to expand our library collection. If you have family histories, city or county histories, cemetery indexes, books by South Dakota authors, or other material which you feel might enhance our collection, please contact us. Gifts of cash and other materials are tax-deductible.

SD State Archives, 605-773-3804, fax 605-773-6041; email archref@state.sd.us