Where the history comes from • maps, newspapers, archives
Resources
This project is built from primary sources, reputable archives, and historical collections. Below are dependable places to explore Dakota Territory-era documents, newspapers, photographs, maps, and land records — plus a simple credits ledger you can start filling in as you go.
Primary Sources
Newspapers, treaties, land records, letters, diaries, government documents.
Maps & Geography
Historic maps, survey plats, and route references for rivers, rails, and trails.
Archives
North Dakota & South Dakota historical societies + national collections.
Media Credits
A simple table to track images, audio, and documents you use on the site.
How to use these resources
Start with the question, then choose the source
If you’re checking a date or event: use newspapers and official documents. If you’re checking where something happened: use maps and survey plats. If you’re trying to capture daily life: use newspapers, letters, diaries, and photographs.
Tip: When you find a great item, add it to the Credits Ledger at the bottom so it doesn’t vanish into the prairie wind.
State archives & digital collections
North Dakota
State Archives and related digital collections for documents, photos, and research materials.
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State Archives (ND) — Research entry point:
history.nd.gov/archives
Manuscripts, photos, maps, newspapers, and more.
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Digital Horizons (ND partner collections):
Digital Horizons overview
A broad digital collection network used across ND institutions.
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ND Digital Archives (Community History Archives):
ndarchives.historyarchives.online
Searchable historic newspapers & community records (coverage varies by title).
South Dakota
State Archives, digital archives, and collection indexes.
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South Dakota State Archives:
history.sd.gov/archives
Manuscripts, government records, photographs, maps, and research help.
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South Dakota Digital Archives:
sddigitalarchives.contentdm.oclc.org
Large photo, manuscript, map, and document collection.
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Collection indexes (finding aids):
Collection indexes
Guides and indexes to plan research or request materials.
Historic newspapers
Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
Excellent for Dakota Territory-era reporting: town development, freight, steamboats, rail expansion, elections, weather disasters, crime, prices, and “what happened last week” details that make your Friends feel real.
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All digitized South Dakota titles (LoC):
Browse titles
Includes Dakota Territory-era papers such as Yankton titles.
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Example: Daily Press and Dakotaian (Yankton):
View newspaper record
Great for 1870s–1880s frontier reporting and ads.
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Territories-to-statehood research guide (LoC):
LoC guide
How to search and interpret historic newspapers.
Land & homestead records
BLM General Land Office (GLO) Records
This is where you can confirm land patents, locate survey plats and field notes, and anchor “who settled where” with real paperwork.
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GLO Records search:
glorecords.blm.gov
Search land patents; access survey plats/field notes.
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BLM Land Records overview:
Land records overview
Explains what’s available and what the database contains.
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National Archives: Land entry case files:
archives.gov land records
How homestead/land entry case files work and where to request them.
Maps & surveys
Start with survey plats, then layer historic maps
For your project, the most useful “truth layer” is often the survey plat (township/range/section). Then add period maps, rail lines, river routes, and town growth on top.
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GLO survey plats/field notes (via BLM):
GLO Records
Plats + field notes often include trails, creeks, timber, and early roads.
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Library of Congress state digital collections (SD guide):
LoC SD digital collections
A doorway into maps, prints, and primary sources relevant to SD/Dakota history.
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Library of Congress state digital collections (ND guide):
LoC ND digital collections
ND-focused LoC digital materials including maps and photos.
Recommended reading
Good starter approach (until you add your own project bibliography)
Because your site is “daily life + place-based history,” newspapers and archives will do most of the heavy lifting. For books, a smart pattern is: one general Dakota Territory history + one Black Hills mining history + one Missouri River/steamboat reference + one Plains Indigenous history.
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Suggested habit: After every major page you build, add 2–5 sources to the ledger below.
Even a messy list beats “I swear I saw it somewhere.”
Your credits ledger
Track what you use (starting today)
Copy a row when you add an image, map, document, or audio clip. If you don’t know something yet, leave it blank and fill it later. This is the part that saves your bacon when you’re polishing the site for public launch.
| Item | Type | Where used | Source | License / Rights | Notes (edits, date accessed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example: Daily Press and Dakotaian page image | Newspaper scan | /timeline | Library of Congress (Chronicling America) | Public domain (check page) | Accessed: YYYY-MM-DD |
| Example: Survey plat for Township/Range | Survey / Plat | /maps | BLM GLO Records | Public domain (typically) | Include legal description |
| [Add your next item here] |
Want this even easier? Tell me and I’ll add a “Copy Row” button (pure front-end JS) so you can duplicate rows in the browser while you’re working.