This is a great chance to use primary sources by talking to family members about your heritage. The Archives contains naturalization records for almost all of the counties in South Dakota. Census records dating back to 1860 are useful when tracing a family s entrance into South Dakota. Dams, power plants and irrigation projects dramatically changed much of the state. Missouri River development is documented in the records of several government agencies.
Agriculture continues to be the leading industry in South Dakota.
Students reviewing records from the Department of Agriculture will discover how the evolution of agriculture methods changed the industry and impacted the state economy. Missouri River development, soil conservation, forestry conservation, regulations and inspections, and surface mining are a few of the subjects found under the Department of Agriculture. Complementing these government collections are records from non-government sources. Students interested in missionary work among the American Indians can find information in the papers of Mary Collins, the Riggs family, and Bishop Hare. Information on the formation of Indian Reservations can be found in detail in the papers of Mary Collins, the Riggs family, John R. Brennan, and in records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.