Dakota Territory, North Dakota and South Dakota: Bibliography and Sources

Dakota Territory Atlas of Historical County Boundaries

John H. Long, Editor; Peggy Tuck Sinko, Associate Editor; Peggy Tuck Sinko and Deborah Skok, Historical Compilers; Emily Kelley, Research Associate; Laura Rico-Beck, GIS Specialist and Digital Compiler; Peter Siczewicz, ArcIMS Interactive Map Designer; Robert Will, Cartographic Assistant

Copyright The Newberry Library 2006


Andreas, Alfred T. Andreas’ Historical Atlas of Dakota. Chicago, 1884.

Arnold, Henry Vernon. Early History of Ransom County, Including References to Sargent County, 1835–1885. Larimore, N. Dak.: H. V. Arnold, 1918.

Bailey, Dana R. History of Minnehaha County, South Dakota: Containing an Account of Its Settlements, Growth, Development and Resources. An Extensive and Minute Sketch of Its Cities, Towns and Villages, Their Improvements, Industries, Manufactories, Churches, Colleges, Schools and Societies. Synopsis of Public Records, Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Early Settlers and Other Prominent Residents. Illustrations of Public Buildings, Residences, Farms and Scenery. Sioux Falls, 1899.

Bauman, Beth Hughes, and Dorothy J. Jackman, comps. and eds. Burleigh County: Prairie Trails to Hi-Ways. Bismarck: Bismarck-Mandan Genealogical and Historical Society, 1978.

Berg, Gunder V., ed. Walsh Heritage: A Story of Walsh County and Its Pioneers. 2 vols. Grafton, N. Dak.: Walsh County Historical Society, 1976.

Billings County Historical Society. Echoing Trails: Billings County History. Medora, N. Dak.: The Society, 1979.

Black, R. M., ed. History of Dickey County, North Dakota. Ellendale, N. Dak.: Dickey County Historical Society, 1930.

Bottineau County Diamond Jubilee, 1884–1959. N.p., 1959.

Bottineau County Historical Society. Historical Highlights of Bottineau County. Bismarck: Bismarck Tribune, 1977.

Bowdle Centennial, 1886–1986. N.p.: Bowdle Centennial Committee, 1986.

Brown County Territorial Pioneers Association. Early History of Brown County, South Dakota. Aberdeen: Western Printing, 1965.

Brule County Historical Society. Brule County History. Pukwana, S. Dak.: The Society, 1977.

Centennial Heritage Book Committee. Ramsey County, North Dakota: 1883–1983. 3 vols. N.p.: Lake Region Chautauqua Corp., 1982.

Clay County Historical Society. Clay County Place Names. Vermillion, S. Dak.: The Society, 1976.

Cochrane, Eleanor, ed. Historical Collections of Deuel County. 2 vols. N.p.: Deuel County History Book Committee, 1977–1983.

Codington County History Book Committee. First 100 Years in Codington County, South Dakota. Watertown, S. Dak.: Watertown Public Opinion Print, 1979.

“Dakota’s Counties.” Wi–Iyohi: Monthly Bulletin of the South Dakota Historical Society 13 (June 1959):1–16.

Dakota Territory. Laws of the Territory of Dakota. Yankton, Bismarck, and Grand Forks, 1862–1889. Cited as Dak. Terr. Laws.

DenBoer, Gordon. Minnesota. Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. Ed. John H. Long. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2000.

“Dickey County.” North Dakota Magazine 3 (June 1909):57–61.

Dopson, Eileen H., comp. Checklist of Printed Maps of the Middle West to 1900. Vols. 10 and 11, North Dakota and South Dakota. Robert W. Karrow Jr., genl. ed. Boston: G. K. Hall, 1981.

Douglas County History and Centennial Observances, 1961. Stickney, S. Dak.: Argus Printers, 1961.

Dubester, Henry J. State Censuses: An Annotated Bibliography of Censuses of Population Taken after the Year 1790 by States and Territories of the United States. 1948. Reprint, New York: Burt Franklin, 1969. The standard guide for its subject.

Dunham, N. J. History of Jerauld County, South Dakota: From the Earliest Settlement to January 1st, 1909. Wessington Springs, S. Dak.: N.p., 1910.

“Dunn County.” Dunn County News, 23 January 1908, p. 2.

Early History of South Dakota Counties. Vermillion, S. Dak.: State-Wide Educational Services, University of South Dakota, 1969.

Early Settlers Organization, Dunn County, North Dakota. Dauntless Dunn: Stories of Some of Its Early Settlers. N.p.: Early Settlers Association, 1970.

Eastern Custer County Historical Society. Our Yesterdays. Hermosa, S. Dak.: The Society, 1971.

Eastern Pennington County Memories. Wall, S. Dak.: American Legion Auxiliary, Carrol McDonald Unit, [1965].

“Eddy County Originated in Spring of ’85.” New Rockford Transcript [newspaper], 4 September 1958, p. 1.

Ellis, Caleb Holt. History of Faulk County, South Dakota, Together with Biographical Sketches of Pioneers and Prominent Citizens. 1909. Reprint, Aberdeen: North Plains Press, 1973.

Engebretson, Pat, Kay Heck, and Helen Herrett, comps. History of Butte County, South Dakota. Dallas, Tex.: Curtis Media Corp., 1989.

Everton, George B., Jr., and Louise Mathews Everton. Handy Book for Genealogists: United States of America. 8th ed. Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers, 1991.

Everts and Kirk. Official State Atlas of Nebraska: Compiled from Government Surveys, County Records and Personal Investigations. 1885. Reprint, Evansville, Ind.: Unigraphic, 1976.

Filby, P. William, comp. American and British Genealogy and Heraldry: A Selected List of Books. 3d ed. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1983.

Filby, P. William, comp. American and British Genealogy and Heraldry: 1982–1985 Supplement. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1987.

Filby, P. William, comp. Bibliography of American County Histories. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1985.

Foster County History Book Committee. History of Foster County. N.p.: The Committee, 1983.

Gnirk, Adeline S., comp. Saga of the Missouri River Reveille. Gregory, S. Dak.: Gregory Times-Advocate, 1982.

Hall, Luella J. “History of the Formation of Counties in North Dakota.” Collections of the State Historical Society of North Dakota 5 (1923):167–250. Carefully done study of the development of and changes in counties in both North and South Dakota.

Hanson, Myrle George. “History of Harding County, South Dakota, to 1925.” South Dakota Historical Collections 21 (1942):515–565.

Harlow, Dana D. Prairie Echoes: Spink County in the Making. Aberdeen: Hayes Brothers, 1961.

Historical Records Survey, North Dakota. Golden Valley County (Beach). Inventory of the County Archives of North Dakota, no. 17. Bismarck: North Dakota Historical Records Survey, 1941. Cited as HRS N. Dak., Golden Valley.

Historical Records Survey, North Dakota. Mercer County (Stanton). Inventory of the County Archives of North Dakota, no. 29. Bismarck: North Dakota Historical Records Survey, 1941. Cited as HRS N. Dak., Mercer.

Historical Records Survey, North Dakota. Williams County (Williston). Inventory of the County Archives of North Dakota, no. 53. Bismarck: North Dakota Historical Records Survey, 1938. Cited as HRS N. Dak., Williams.

Historical Records Survey, South Dakota. Bennett County (Martin). Inventory of the County Archives of South Dakota, no. 3. Mitchell: South Dakota Historical Records Survey, 1940. Cited as HRS S. Dak., Bennett.

Historical Records Survey, South Dakota. Clark County (Clark). Inventory of the County Archives of South Dakota, no. 12. Mitchell: South Dakota Historical Records Survey, 1941. Cited as HRS S. Dak., Clark.

Historical Records Survey, South Dakota. Faulk County (Faulkton). Inventory of the County Archives of South Dakota, no. 24. Mitchell: South Dakota Historical Records Survey, 1942. Cited as HRS S. Dak., Faulk.

Historical Records Survey, South Dakota. Haakon County (Philip). Inventory of the County Archives of South Dakota, no. 27. Mitchell: South Dakota Historical Records Survey, 1941. Cited as HRS S. Dak., Haakon.

Historical Records Survey, South Dakota. Jackson-Washabaugh Counties (Kadoka). Inventory of the County Archives of South Dakota, no. 35. Mitchell: South Dakota Historical Records Survey, 1941. Cited as HRS S. Dak., Jackson-Washabaugh.

Historical Records Survey, South Dakota. Mellette County (White River). Inventory of the County Archives of South Dakota, no. 47. Mitchell: South Dakota Historical Records Survey, 1940. Cited as HRS S. Dak., Mellette

Historical Records Survey, South Dakota. Miner County (Howard). Inventory of the County Archives of South Dakota, no. 48. Mitchell: South Dakota Historical Records Survey, 1941. Cited as HRS S. Dak., Miner.

History of Pembina County. N.p.: Pembina Centennial Committee, 1967.

History of Pioneer Sanborn County. N.p.: County Historical Association, 1953.

History of the Red River Valley, Past and Present, Including an Account of the Counties, Cities, Towns, and Villages of the Valley from the Time of Their First Settlement and Formation. 2 vols. Chicago: C. F. Cooper & Company, 1909.

History of Tripp County, South Dakota. Winner, S. Dak.: Winner Chamber of Commerce, Diamond Jubilee History Committee, 1984.

Hoover, Herbert T., Carol Gross Hoover, and Elizabeth A. Simmons, eds. Bon Homme County History. Tyndall, S. Dak.: Bon Homme County Historical Society, 1994.

Hyde County Historical and Genealogical Society. Hyde Heritage. Highmore, S. Dak.: The Society, 1977.

Iowa Territory. Laws of the Territory of Iowa. Dubuque, Burlington, and Iowa City, 1839–1846. Cited as Iowa Terr. Laws.

Iowa Territory. Revised Statutes of the Territory of Iowa, Revised and Compiled by a Joint Committee of the Legislature: 1842–1843. Iowa City, 1843. Cited as Iowa Terr. Rev. Stat. 1843.

Iseminger, Gordon L. Quartzite Border: Surveying and Marking the North Dakota–South Dakota Boundary, 1891–1892. Sioux Falls, S. Dak.: Center for Western Studies, Augustana College, 1988.

Kane, Joseph Nathan. American Counties: Origins of Names, Dates of Creation and Organization, Area, Population, Historical Data, and Published Sources. 3d ed. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1972.

Lainhart, Ann S. State Census Records. [Baltimore]: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1992.

Lamar, Howard Roberts. Dakota Territory, 1861–1889: A Study of Frontier Politics. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1956.

Leola Centennial Anniversary Book, 1884–1984. Leola, S. Dak.: Leola Centennial Committee, 1984.

Long, John H., ed. Historical Atlas and Chronology of County Boundaries, 1788–1980. 5 vols. Boston: G. K. Hall, 1984.

MacDonald, Grace E., comp. Check-List of Session Laws. New York: H. W. Wilson Co., 1936. Complemented by Pollack (below), this guide lists all state session laws through 1935.

MacDonald, Grace E., comp. Check-List of Statutes of States of the United States of America, Including Revisions, Compilations, Digests, Codes and Indexes. Providence, R.I.: Oxford Press, 1937. The most complete guide to state codes through 1937.

Marshall County Historical Society. Marshall County, South Dakota. Britton, S. Dak.: The Society, 1979.

Mellette County, South Dakota, 1911–1961. White River, S. Dak.: Mellette County Centennial Committee, 1961.

Michigan Territory. Laws of the Territory of Michigan. 4 vols. Lansing, 1871–1884. Cited as Mich. Terr. Laws.

Minnesota. Laws of Minnesota. Minneapolis and St. Paul, 1858–. Cited as Minn. Laws.

Minnesota Territory. Session Laws of the Territory of Minnesota. St. Paul, 1849–1857. Cited as Minn. Terr. Laws.

Missouri. Laws of a Public and General Nature of the State of Missouri. 2 vols. Jefferson City, Mo., 1842. Cited as Mo. Laws Pub. and Gen.

Mitchell 75th Anniversary Association. Diamond Jubilee,

1881—Celebration—1956: 75 Years of Progress Through Perseverance, Featuring “Prairierama” a Grand Historical Spectacle. Mitchell: Educator Supply Co., 1956.

Nebraska. Laws of the State of Nebraska. Des Moines, Iowa, and Lincoln, 1866–. Cited as Neb. Laws.

“North and South Dakota” [map]. In Columbian Atlas of the World We Live In. Compiled by Hunt and Eaton. New York, 1893.

North Dakota. Laws of North Dakota. Bismarck, 1890–. Cited as N. Dak. Laws.

North Dakota. North Dakota Revised Code of 1943. 7 vols. North Dakota Revised Code Commission, 1943. Cited as N. Dak. Rev. Code 1943.

North Dakota Blue Book 1995. Bismarck: North Dakota Secretary of State, 1995. Contains brief histories of counties and information on dates of organization.

North Dakota Supreme Court. North Dakota Reports. 79 vols. 1890–1953. Reports of cases heard before the Supreme Court of North Dakota. Cited as N. Dak. Rpts.

Parry, Clive, ed. Consolidated Treaty Series. 231 vols. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, 1969–1981.

Paullin, Charles O. Atlas of the Historical Geography of the United States. Edited by John K. Wright. Washington, D.C., and New York: Carnegie Institution of Washington and American Geographical Society of New York, 1932. Excellent section on international and interstate boundary disputes.

Perkins, John B. History of Hyde County, South Dakota, From Its Organization to the Present Time. N.p., 1908.

Peterson, E. Frank. Topographical Map of Union County, South Dakota: Compiled and Drawn from Official Records and a Special Survey by E. Frank Peterson. Philadelphia, 1892.

Peterson, E. Frank, and Mrs. E. F. Peterson, comps. History of Charles Mix County, South Dakota. Geddes, S. Dak.: H. C. Tucker & Sons, [1907?].

Peterson, Marion Plath, comp. and ed. Morton Prairie Roots. Dallas, Tex.: Taylor Publishing Company, 1975.

Pioneers and Progress. N.p.: Burke County and White Earth Valley Historical Society, 1972.

Pollack, Ervin H., comp. Supplement with Bibliographical Notes, Emendations and Additions to the Check List of Session Laws, Compiled by Grace E. MacDonald. Preliminary ed. Boston: National Association of State Libraries, 1941. Fills gaps in MacDonald’s 1936 compilation (above) to produce the most complete list of state session laws through 1935.

Proving Up: Jones County History. Murdo, S. Dak.: Book and Thimble Club, 1969.

Reminiscing: A Centennial History of Sanborn County and Woonsocket. N.p.: Jostens Publications, 1983.

Revised Codes of the Territory of Dakota, A.D. 1877: Compromising the Codes and General Statutes Passed at the Twelfth Session of the Legislative Assembly, and All Other General Laws Remaining in Force. Published and edited by George H. Hand. Yankton, 1877. Cited as Rev. Codes Dak. 1877.

Revised Statutes of the Territory of Minnesota, Passed at the Second Session of the Legislative Assembly, Commencing January 1, 1851. Compiled by M. S. Wilkinson. St. Paul, 1851. Cited as Rev. Stat. Terr. Minn. 1851.

Roberts County Centennial Committee. Roberts County History. Sisseton, S. Dak.: Courier Print, 1961.

Robinson, Elwyn B. History of North Dakota. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1966.

Royce, Charles C., comp. “Indian Land Cessions in the United States.” Part 2 of Eighteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology, 1896–1897. Washington, D.C., 1899. The standard authority in its field; state maps detail all Indian land-cession treaties with the federal government.

Rural Cass County: The Land and People. West Fargo, N. Dak.: Cass County Historical Society, 1976.

Rylance, Dan, and J. F. S. Smeall, comps. Reference Guide to North Dakota History and North Dakota Literature. Grand Forks: Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, 1979.

Saunders, J. G. Map of Stark, Billings and Part of Mercer Counties 1897 [blueprint]. N.p., 1897.

Schell, Herbert S. Clay County: Chapters Out of the Past. Vermillion, S. Dak.: Vermillion Area Chamber of Commerce, 1985.

Schell, Herbert S. History of Clay County, South Dakota. Vermillion, S. Dak.: Clay County Historical Society, 1976.

Schell, Herbert S. History of South Dakota. Rev. ed. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1968.

Sealock, Richard B., Margaret M. Sealock, and Margaret S. Powell. Bibliography of Place-Name Literature: United States and Canada. 3d ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 1982.

“Settlement at Sioux Falls.” South Dakota Historical Collections 6 (1912):133–180.

Shafer, George F. “Early History of McKenzie County.” Collections of the State Historical Society of North Dakota 4(1913):4–57.

Sinko, Peggy Tuck. Guide to Local and Family History at the Newberry Library. Salt Lake City: Ancestry Publishing, 1987.

Slaughter, Linda W. “Fort Randall.” Collections of the State Historical Society of North Dakota 1 (1906):423-429.

Smith, Charles A. Comprehensive History of Minnehaha County, South Dakota: Its Background, Her Pioneers, Their Record of Achievement and Development. Mitchell: Educator Supply Co., 1949.

South Dakota. Laws of South Dakota. Pierre, 1890–. Cited as S. Dak. Laws.

South Dakota. South Dakota Code of 1939. 4 vols. Pierre: State Publishing Co., 1939. Cited as S. Dak. Code 1939.

South Dakota. South Dakota Compiled Laws 1929. 2 vols. Pierre: Hipple Printing Co., 1929–1930. Cited as S. Dak. Comp. Laws 1929.

South Dakota. South Dakota Revised Code 1919. 2 vols. Pierre: Hipple Printing Co., 1919. Cited as S. Dak. Rev. Code 1919.

South Dakota Supreme Court. South Dakota Reports. 90 vols. 1890–1976. Reports of cases heard before the Supreme Court of South Dakota. Cited as S. Dak. Rpts.

South Dakota’s Ziebach County: History of the Prairie. Dupree, S. Dak.: Ziebach County Historical Society, 1982.

Spokesfield, Walter E. History of Wells County and Its Pioneers. Jamestown, N. Dak.: W. E. Spokesfield, 1929.

Stephenson, Richard W., comp. Land Ownership Maps: A Checklist of Nineteenth Century United States County Maps in the Library of Congress. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1967. Most of the maps listed here have been reproduced on microfiche by the Library of Congress.

Stilgebouer, Cece, and Ruth Stilgebouer. Gettysburg, South Dakota 75th Anniversary, July 11–12, 1958, Through 75 Years, 1883–1958. Pierre: State Publishing, 1958.

Supplement to History of Pioneer Sanborn County. N.p.: County Historical Association, [1953].

Swindler, William F., ed. Sources and Documents of United States Constitutions. 10 vols. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, 1973–1979. The most complete and up-to-date compilation for the states.

Territorial Papers of the United States. Vols. 1–26 edited by Clarence E. Carter; vols. 27–28 edited by John P. Bloom. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1934–1975. Cited as Terr. Papers U.S.

Thorndale, William, and William Dollarhide. Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790–1920. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1987. An atlas of well-designed county outline maps for each state, accompanied by a bibliography and an explanation of methodology.

Tidball, Rose, ed. Taming the Plains. Keldron, S. Dak.: Rose Tidball, 1979.

Trenholm, Virginia Cole, ed. Wyoming Blue Book. 3 vols. Cheyenne: Wyoming State Archives and Historical Department, 1974.

Turchen, Lesta Van Der Wert, and James D. McLaird. County and Community: A Bibliography of South Dakota Local Histories. Mitchell: Turchen, 1979.

United States. Statutes at Large of the United States of America. Vols. 1–17. Boston: Little, Brown, 1845–1874. Vols. 18– . Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1875– . Cited as U.S. Stat.

U.S. Census Bureau. “Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present.” http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html.

U.S. Engineer Department. Dakota Territory [map]. 3d ed. Prepared by Order by Brig. Gen’l. A. H. Terry. Revised and Corrected Under Lieut. Edward Maguire, 1878.

Van Zandt, Franklin K. Boundaries of the United States and the Several States. Geological Survey Professional Paper 909. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1976. The standard compilation for its subject.

Whitehead, James R. Compiled Laws of Wyoming, Including All the Laws in Force in Said Territory at the Close of the Fourth Session of the Legislative Assembly of Said Territory, Together with Such Laws of the United States as are Applicable to Said Territory. Also the Treaties Made with the Sioux and Shoshone Tribes of Indians in the Year 1868; with a Synopsis of the Pre-emption, Homestead and Mining Laws of the United States. Cheyenne, Wyo., 1876.

Williams, Mary Ann Barnes. Pioneer Days of Washburn, North Dakota and Vicinity. Washburn, N. Dak.: Washburn Leader, 1936.

Williams County Historical Society. Wonder of Williams: A History of Williams County, North Dakota. 2 vols. N.p.: The Society, 1975.

Wisconsin Territory. Laws of the Territory of Wisconsin. Belmont and Milwaukee, 1836–1848. Cited as Wis. Terr. Laws.

Within These Borders: McCook County From Its Beginning to the Present Day. McCook County, S. Dak., 1976.

Woods, Ellen, and Euvagh Wenzel. Emmons County History: Compiled for the Bicentennial, 1976. Linton, N. Dak.: Emmons County Historical Society, 1976.