Resources in our library
More than 7,000 items help make our library one of the largest and best in the area! Our collection concentrates on Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County & South Dakota, but has items on many other areas throughout the Midwest as well as both east and west coasts and some foreign countries. You might be surprised what you find!
Titles vary from beginning research, to researching in various locations, archives, ethnic groups, and heritage societies. We also have resources from other organizations such as Daughters of the American Revolution, Mayflower Society, National Society of Sons & Daughters of Pilgrims, and Norwegian Lags.
FAMILY HISTORIES: Approximately 850 individual family histories from items in manila folders to multiple books on a family or its branches. These can be a great resource of pictures, names, and stories.
YEARBOOKS: We have close to 20 feet of shelving holding our yearbook collections. The majority are middle schools, high schools, and colleges in Sioux Falls (as well as other locations in the state) and also includes Sioux Falls High School, the predecessor to Washington High School.
NEWSLETTERS: Nearly 40 feet of shelving holds our SVGS Pathfinder Newsletters and bound copies as well as other genealogical society newsletters.
FamilySearch Affiliate Library
We are now a FamilySearch Affiliate Library! This will enable you to log in on their website and see numerous items not available to you from home. The access includes the majority of the collection from the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah; however, there are still collections that may only be accessed in their library. Please use the Sign-Up Genius to reserve a one-hour time spot per person, per day to allow others to also use this service.
State of South Dakota Research Member Cards
Available for purchase in the SVGS Library by showing a valid driver’s license and submitting a $5 fee. This card will provide access to birth certificates over 100 years, marriage certificates, and death certificates at courthouses throughout the state by presenting your Research Member card and valid driver’s license in person.
Areas & States
Arkansas, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Countries:
Denmark, England, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, and Scotland.
City Directories:
An extensive collection of Sioux Falls City Directories, the earliest is dated 1885, and directories of other South Dakota locations including Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and North Dakota.
Atlases, Plat books, County & Farm Directories, Maps, Misc.
Cemetery Records
Minnehaha County-WPA records book, burial permits, cemetery Records of many locations, including Minnehaha County abandoned cemeteries and the Minnehaha County Poor Farm Cemetery. The Poor Farm Cemetery is also known as Minnehaha Cemetery, one of two with that name in Minnehaha County. Lincoln County cemetery records. Transcribed records, indexes & microfilm.
Obituary Index
Over 170,000 entries in this index. View the index at our library or contact the library. Entries are coded for location of the obituary in our files. The obituaries may be purchased for $5 as a printed or digital copy.
Pioneer Certificate Applications
Seventy, three-inch, 3-ring notebooks holding all of almost 6,000 Pioneer Certificate Applications and supporting documents for each application. A Pioneer Certificate name index of all names in these applications is maintained, with each name referenced to a Pioneer Certificate. Apply for a Pioneer Certificate if your ancestor lived in Dakota Territory, prior to statehood Nov 2, 1889 for $15 member pricing or $30 non-member pricing per certificate.
Microfilm
Use our digital film viewer and enhance images for best viewing & better printing. SVGS has microfilm of many church records, 10 rolls of Minnehaha County Vital Records, funeral home records, 1900 & 1920 SD Federal Census, 8 rolls of Dakota Territory Census & Marriages, Revolutionary Soldiers & Pensions, Minnehaha County Probate Index 1873-1976, Index of Cherokee Roll 1835 (East of the Mississippi), Hawley family history and more. Newspapers include Canton SD-Sioux Valley News, Hartford Herald, McPherson County Herald, Evening Huronite, Ipswich Tribune, Leola-Northwest Blade, Buffalo County, Miner County, and Hand County. Inquire about using our digital viewer for viewing your own microfilm.
Vertical Scanner
This recent purchase, to use while in our library, allows one scan for both pages of an open book, but saves each page as a separate image. Built-in software removes the skewing/curve often seen in images of book pages scanned with earlier scanner types.
We have restarted our project of digitizing almost 6,000 Pioneer Certificate applications and their supporting documentation.
Correspondence files
Both sides of communication with SVGS are kept in notebooks & the names added to our Name Index.
Computer Files
Calvary Episcopal Cathedral Parish Records. These records are as up to date as laws and Church Canons allow. Use of these files was acquired through mutual agreement in February 2020 and are updated yearly. Other indexes and data files are found on our computers.
Areas & States
Begun by members who went through unindexed books in our library. Almost 108 lateral FEET of filed index cards. Each has a name and code telling where to find that name in our library items. More names added often.