This section lists the societies of South Dakota, giving details about each one and what resources and publications they offer.
Statewide and Regional Societies
County and Other Societies
Statewide and Regional Societies
South Dakota Historical Society
The association was established in 1901.
The aim of the Society is to make people aware of the history and story of South Dakota, and how that history helped to shape the lives of the people who live there today.
They have five main program areas, which are archaeology, archives, historic preservation, museum and research and publishing.
Many resources are available in their Archives, which incorporate State, County and Town Government Records, Manuscript Collections, Photographs and Maps.
Many databases are accessible, which incorporate:
- Biographical Files
- Biographies of Prominent South Dakotan’s 1897-1930
- Brand Book 1898-1899
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Civil War Veteran’s 1885 Census
- Farmer’s Alliance: Due Paying Members 1890-1894
- Fire Underwriter Maps Index
Databases also incorporate:
- General Federation of Women’s Clubs Pioneer Daughters Collection
- Gold Star Volume – American Legion Auxiliary in World War I
- Naturalisation Papers
- Newspaper Database
- Newspaper Surname Index which is a database of Marriage, Death, Birth and other Notices published in State Newspapers
- Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps Index
- Sons of the American Revolution
- Spanish American War – Roster 1898
Website:
http://history.sd.gov
County and Other Societies
Rapid City Society for Genealogical Research
Many archives can be accessed in their Library, including Books relating to some American States. These Books include:
- Apprentice Lists
- Birth, Marriage and Death Indexes
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Early Householders and Landholders
- First and Early Settlers
- Genealogies
- Historical Atlases
- Land Grants
- Land Patents
Books also incorporate:
- Mortality Schedules
- Naturalisations
- Newspaper Abstracts
- Obituaries
- Probates
- Soldiers of the Revolutionary War
- State Censuses
- Town Histories
- Wills and Estate Records
In addition, resources on Microfilm are also accessible, including
- Census Returns
- Church Registers
- Diaries
- Genealogies
- School Registers
- Scrapbooks
- Tax Lists
- WPA Graves
Some Databases and Indexes are available, which include Behrens’ Mortuary Records 1879-1971, 1890 Pennington Co. Residents and Land Owners, Obituary Indexes and Cemetery Readings.
Website:
http://rcsgr50.wixsite.com/rcgenealogy
Sioux Valley Genealogical Society
Some Databases and Indexes are accessible, which incorporate:
- 1899 Minnehaha Co. History
- 1903 Minnehaha Co. Plat Index
- City of Sioux Falls Biographies
- Deaths
- Minnehaha Co. Marriages 1872-1887 and 1879-1898
- Pioneer Certificate Database
- Veteran Data
Databases also include World War I Casualties from Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner and Moody Counties and World War II Casualties from Minnehaha, Lincoln, McCook, Turner and Moody Counties.
Obituaries are also held by the society, and for a fee, they are prepared to send a copy of the Obituary.
There is also access to lists of Cemeteries in Minnehaha, Moody and Lake, Lincoln, Turner and Hutchinson Counties on their website.
The association has a Library and there is a List of Resources on Microfilm on the site, which include:
- Cemetery Transcripts
- Church Registers
- Funeral Home Books
- Hartford Herald Newspaper
- Minnesota Related Records
- Sioux Valley News
It is possible to purchase Grave Records of Rural Minnehaha County (Not Sioux Falls) through the site.
Website:
http://www.siouxvalleygenealogicalsociety.org/